Prof. Allen Guelzo: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+14+Guelzo.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Focus

According to Garrison, what is wrong with gradual abolition of slavery? Does he think the Constitution is pro-freedom or pro-slavery? Why does Garrison not endorse political reform as the cure for the nation’s ills? What is the key principle that Lincoln proposes for the “fusion” of various political interests into a new party? Contrast Lincoln’s approach to eliminating slavery with Garrison’s. What does Lincoln mean by comparing America to “a house divided against itself”? What is Frederick Douglass’s view of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution? Does he view blacks in the United States as Americans? What do blacks in America need to flourish as human beings and as citizens? Why is Lincoln not an abolitionist?

Readings

William Lloyd Garrison, Selections

To the Public (January 1, 1831)

On the Constitution and the Union (December 29, 1832)

Declaration of National Anti-Slavery Convention (Dec. 14, 1833)

Declaration of Sentiments by Peace Convention (Sept. 28, 1838)

Address to the Slaves of the United States (June 2, 1843)

The American Union (January 10, 1845)

Dred Scott and Disunion (March 12, 1858)

Southern Desperation (November 16, 1860)

Frederick Douglass, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” (July 5, 1852)

Frederick Douglass, “Speech on the Dred ScottDecision” (May 11, 1857)

Fornieri, The Language of Liberty

Protest on the Slavery Question (March 3, 1837)

Letter to Owen Lovejoy (August 11, 1855)

Letter to George Robertson (August 15, 1855)

Letter to Joshua Speed (August 24, 1855)

The Dred Scott Decision: Speech at Springfield, Illinois (June 26, 1857)

Speech at a Republican banquet in Chicago (Dec. 10, 1856)

Letter to Lyman Trumbull (December 28, 1857)

Jaffa, Crisis of the House Divided, chap. 13

Supplemental/Optional Readings:

Jaffa, Crisis of the House Divided, chaps. 7-8

Diana Schaub, “Frederick Douglass’s Constitution”