The Crooked Path to Abolition

Abraham Lincoln and the Antislavery Constitution

By: James Oakes

Narrated by: Bob Souer

An award-winning scholar uncovers the guiding principles of Lincoln's antislavery strategies.

Lincoln adopted the antislavery view that the Constitution made freedom the rule in the United States, slavery the exception. Where federal power prevailed, so did freedom. Where state power prevailed, that state determined the status of slavery, and the federal government could not interfere. It would take state action to achieve the final abolition of American slavery. With this understanding, Lincoln and his antislavery allies used every tool available to undermine the institution. Wherever the Constitution empowered direct federal action, they intervened. As a congressman in 1849 Lincoln sponsored a bill to abolish slavery in Washington, DC. He reentered politics in 1854 to oppose what he considered the unconstitutional opening of the territories to slavery by the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

President Lincoln took full advantage of the antislavery options opened by the Civil War. The Emancipation Proclamation, a military order of the president, undermined slavery across the South. It led to abolition by six slave states, which then joined the coalition to affect what Lincoln called the "King's cure": state ratification of the constitutional amendment that in 1865 finally abolished slavery.

©2021 James Oakes (P)2021 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Lincoln on some Makaveli tip

Sorta opened my eyes that Lincoln always wanted to abolish, but was pragmatic and reserved in showing his full hand till it was socially cool. Let’s be real here: the north would have completely let the slave states own slaves in their containment forever but apparently people keep voting for chuds who seem to FOFA.

Lincoln’s Transformation

The Crooked Path to Abolition continues the story of the slow growth of abolitionist sentiment in the Republican Party, among the public in northern states and Lincoln’s drive to keep slavery out of border states and new states entering the union. Follow’s up Oates Scorpion book - focusing in on Lincoln.

great read about Lincoln

I liked the book as it historically viewed Lincoln as human. He wasn't a Wuqker abolitionist nor was he a KKK .ideology supporter . His anti slavery ideology went through evolution and it is very nuanced.

An important history of abolition

While many people use a superficial understanding of the evils of slavery to stoke anger and outrage , this careful history lays out facts of the process of abolition. Of course, other issues of bigotry and racism remained after abolition, but the evolution of Lincoln on rights of African Americans plus his active policies are described here quite well. This is an important biok for today.

Crooked Path Indeed!

I was introduced to this book by The Marathon County Historical Society Book Club in Wausau Wisconsin. My understanding of abolition was extremely superficial until I was introduced to this book by this month’s reading recommendations. The path to abolition was intricate and multi-pronged. Lincoln was a skilled statesman and politician . He weaved a path to abolition with skill, talent and patience in order to accomplish his life long goal of emancipation of slavery in the United States.

The presentation was expertly done and the speaker’s voice commanded attention. The writing was tight and concise. I listened to the audio and read the book twice. Thank You.