The Scorpion's Sting - Antislavery and the Coming of the Civil War (Hardcover)

Surrounded by a ring of fire, the scorpion stings itself to death. The image, widespread among antislavery leaders before the Civil War, captures their long-standing strategy for peaceful abolition: they would surround the slave states with a cordon of freedom. They planned to use federal power wherever they could to establish freedom: the western territories, the District of Columbia, the high seas. By constricting slavery they would induce a crisis: slaves would escape in ever-greater numbers, the southern economy would falter, and finally the southern states would abolish the institution themselves. For their part the southern states fully understood this antislavery strategy. They cited it repeatedly as they adopted secession ordinances in response to Lincoln's election.

The scorpion's sting is the centerpiece of this fresh, incisive exploration of slavery and the Civil War: Was there a peaceful route to abolition? Was Lincoln late to emancipation? What role did race play in the politics of slavery? With stunning insight James Oakes moves us ever closer to a new understanding of the most momentous events in our history.

General

Imprint:	W W Norton & Co Inc
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	May 2014
First published:	May 2014
Authors:	James Oakes
Dimensions:	218 x 152 x 20mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover - Rough front
Pages:	208
ISBN-13:	978-0-393-23993-5
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > World history > 1750 to 1900 Books > Humanities > History > American history > General Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political control & freedoms > Slavery & emancipation Books > History > American history > General Books > History > World history > 1750 to 1900 Promotions
LSN:	0-393-23993-4
Barcode:	9780393239935

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