Final Freedom looks at the struggle among legal thinkers; politicians; and ordinary Americans in the North and the border states to find a way to abolish slavery that would overcome the inadequacies of the Emancipation Proclamation. Michael Vorenberg tells the dramatic story of the creation of a constitutional amendment and argues that the crucial consideration of emancipation happened after; not before the Emancipation Proclamation; that the debate over final freedom was shaped by a level of volatility in party politics underestimated by previous historians; and that the abolition of slavery by constitutional amendment represented a novel method of reform that transformed attitudes toward the Constitution. Michael Vorenberg is an assistant professor of history at Brown University in Providence; Rhode Island. He was a research assistant to David Herbert Donald for his prize-winning biography; Lincoln; and he is a contributor to the Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association and the Reader's Companion to the American Presidency. This is his first book.
#1795160 in Books Cambridge University Press 1990-03-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.98 x .63 x 5.98l; .69 #File Name: 0521387396216 pages
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Environmental Perspective on Socially Diverse RegionBy Brady CrytzerThroughout A New Face on the Countryside Timothy Silver presents the American South as a diverse and unique mix of cultures then-unseen in the New World. Using specific examples from a large variety of sources; Silver examines the contributions and conflicts of several ethnic and colonial groups including English; French; and Spanish settlers as well as reviewing the impact of African slave labor and Native American tribes. One of the major themes seen throughout A New Face on the Countryside is not only the clash of cultures; but the interaction of these very different groups with a very similar and unforgiving environment. Silver begins his examination of the aforementioned interaction by discussing the unique qualities of American Southern geography. By identifying what he believes to be the natural "borders" of the Southern region; Silver systematically breaks down the characteristics that have made the area so troubling; and profitable; for the parties involved. Using the Atlantic Ocean on the east; the Appalachian Mountains on the West; the Okefenokee on the South and the Chesapeake Bay Region in the North; Silver discusses the boundless supply of wildlife and sultry hot climate most conducive to agricultural production. The next section is used to identify the peoples of the region. Silver discusses the diverse societies of Native Groups in the region; claiming that "Europeans found the division of labor within Indian society even more difficult to comprehend." (44) Silver gives high praise to the Indians' efficient methods by citing that some groups; according to Captain John Smith; lived almost exclusively on fish in the summer months. The author claims that ideas of conservation and waste would not be readily understood in the Indian psyche and that "Indians simply did what was necessary to ensure their survival." (66)Following an examination of European arrival; Silver begins his examination of the altered landscape of the American South. "A more civil landscape; it seems; had its price." (185) Silver's writing explains that although the European settlers did ultimately have success in farming; there was a great price to be paid including many lost crops; broken dreams; regional diseases and labor issues. Silver claims that "even as colonists; Indians; and Africans were changing the land; the land was changing them." (194) It is the subsequent discussion that proves to have the most impact when further evaluating A New Face on the Countryside.Timothy Silver is a professor of history at Appalachian State University. After receiving his Ph.D. from the College of William and Mary; Silver was subsequently hired at Appalachian State where he went on to publish two books. His first book published in 1990; A New Face on the Countryside: Indians; colonists; and slaves in South Atlantic forests; 1500-1800; was followed later by Mount Mitchell and the Black Mountains: An Environmental History of the Highest Peaks in Eastern America in 2007. Silver has focused the majority of his interests in the study of the environmental history of North America as well as in the history of America's State and National Parks.Silver employs several different sources in the writing of A New Face on the Countryside; and while he places heavy emphasis on the environmental perspective; the majority of his sources in the monograph are secondary. Silver uses scientific writings in his sources such as Freshwater Fish in Native North America by Erhard Rostlund. Silver also cites unique biological works like The Wild Turkey: Its History and Domestication by A.W. Schorger and Wildlife Biology by Raymond F. Dassman. In his later examinations Silver regularly cites from Transactions of the American Philosophical Society as well as employing the resources of North Carolina State Department of Archives and History.The American South is an area of historical study that is rarely approached from the perspective that Silver offers. Using an ecologically grounded method of thought; Silver abandons the traditional focus on the Antebellum time period of Southern History. While the various groups of region are studied separately; Silver uses the natural climate and circumstances to bind the factions together. Silver used ecological patterns and historic evidence to effectively portray that the trends that he proposes are genuine and factual. Although A New Face on the Countryside employs an environmental perspective; some of the most useful information is still to be found in the populations themselves. Silver is quite boastful of the Native American's subsistence techniques; and his use of primary sources to show the respect given by Europeans was truly insightful.While the American South is often studied because of its melting pot qualities; Timothy Silver presents a view of the region that is not divided; but unified; under the constraints of the natural landscape. By using a variety of sources; Silver highlights the contributions and collisions of European Settlers; Indians; and African slaves in this unique and naturally volatile region.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. this is why we cant have nice things; a story of how humans have changed N. AmericaBy CustomerSUPER INTERESTING. it is an environmental history of parts of North America and offers a really valuable perspective that one doesn't often get for this time period
