audiobook Fighting Slavery in Chicago: Abolitionists; the Law of Slavery and Lincoln by Tom Campbell in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A great piece of history - a "page turner"By Peter L. BaumbuschWhen I ordered this book; I didn't know what to expect. I knew the author (who has a distinguished career as a Chicago lawyer); and I wanted to see what he had created. I was blown away. Indeed; I found myself pushing forward to each next page with curiousity and excitement. While we all know the results of the U.S. Civil War; I certainly had only a passing understanding of the ongoing build-up to the cataclysm. And; I had never focused on how important Chicago (and Illinois) were to the chain of events that led to the war. Thanks to the well written story (including some excellent pictures); I now have a much better understanding of the politics in Illinois at the time and how they affected Lincoln's decision-making and the events that led to the creation of the Republican party. In addition; and for example; the book also helped answer such questions as why did Lincoln support the Fugitive Slave Law while at the same time being against slavery. And; for the first time; I believe I finally understand why the Compromise of 1850 led; almost inexorably; to the Civil War. The best part of this book is its clarity of thought. It reads well and it takes the reader on a fascinating and straight-forward journey through time with the result that; I; at least; feel that I now have a good understanding of what was going on. In this year in which our first black President took office (having been a Senator from Illinois); this is a timely and excellent story that is exceptionally well told.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. "Fighting Slavery in Chicago" by Tom Campbell is a Must!By C. C. MoynihanThe subtitle of Tom Campbell's book -- "Abolitionists; the Law of Slavery; and Lincoln" -- reflects the fascinating historical conflicts bearing on Abraham Lincoln's early career in Illinois; and the key activists whose commitment to the abolition of slavery culminated in securing his nomination for President. Well illustrated with photographs and documents; the story told by this research skillfully interweaves the details of those dangerous times; from the threats of violent mobs assassinating a newpaper editor and forcing the Mormons to leave the state; to the great risks faced by the individuals involved in the unlawful transport of fugitive slaves to safety in Canada via the network known as the "Underground Railway". This moving depiction of those passionate struggles is important for its illumination of the social and legal problems of the era; and how they contributed to the courses chosen by Lincoln and his supporters leading up to his tumultuous Presidency in the Civil War years. Highly recommended for all strong history buffs -- as well as for schools and libraries!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Beautifully Printed History of Abolition Movement in ChicagoBy E. ClintonThis book is a thorough and thoughtful history of the abolition movement in Chicago. The book is beautifully printed with numerous photographs and reproductions of original documents from the abolition period such as the old Chicago Wigwam; where Abraham Lincoln was nominated for President of the United States; the Northwest Ordinance of 1787; which prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territories; an advertisement in a Chicago newspaper for the so-called Underground Railroad among others. This book allows the reader to have contact with many of the original source documents reviewed by the author. In that way it is a teaching tool for the next generation of Chicagoans.I learned a great deal from this book.