1865

From the final bloody battles of the Civil War and the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the role of freed slaves and Abraham Lincolns assassination, Americans faced a remarkable range of critical issues in 1865. In this illuminating collection, prominent historians of nineteenth-century America offer insightful overviews of the individuals, events, and issues that together made 1865 one of the most momentous years in American history. Following an introduction by renowned Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer, nine new essays explore the end of the Civil War, Lincolns death, and the start of the tentative peace. Topics include the sending of the Thirteenth Amendment to the states for ratification, General Ulysses S. Grants crucial last thrusts against Robert E. Lee and Lincolns management of the overall war effort, Lincolns meeting with Confederate emissaries who sought to reverse the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincolns second inaugural address, and Lincolns dramatic April 4 walk through Richmond. Turning to Lincolns assassination, essays examine Booths organizational efforts leading up to the events of that fateful day and the trial of the assassination conspirators. Other chapters cover the African American experience in the final year of the war and the use of the visual arts to preserve the life and legacy of the martyred president. With appendixes that include a close look at Lincolns activities and writings from January 1 through April 14 and other pertinent materials, this thoughtful collection provides an engaging evaluation of one of the most pivotal years in the evolution of America.