« Back to The 54th MA Infantry Regiment: Courage & Sacrifice
1. The Emancipation Proclamation
[1] American Memory
The Emancipation Proclamation was a document written by President Abraham Lincoln. It was passed and put forth on January 1, 1863, after some mixed reactions from Cabinet members. Lincoln postponed his proclamation for a while so he could gain more support from Americans, as well as abolitionists who were sure to agree with the proclamation. In this wood engraved print, Thomas Nast portrays and "envisions a somewhat optimistic future of free blacks in the United States." [2] On the left side of the print Nast portrays the brutality and cruelty of slavery in the south, under the Confederacy. On the right side of the print he shows a hopeful future for African American slaves, after the Emancipation Proclamation has been issued. The center of the print portrays an even further look into the future, where family unity and bonding occurs.
[1] Nast, Thomas. 1865. [Emancipation]. American Memory. [Online.] Available HTTP: http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/app/3a/3a00000/3a06245v.jpg; [October 26, 2005].
[2] Nast, Thomas. 1865. [Emancipation]. American Memory. Summary. Available HTTP:
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/app/3a/3a00000/3a06245v.jpg; [October 26, 2005].
