This 1914 image shows Abraham Lincoln and the Downfall of American Slavery. This image depicts Lincoln as the heroic figure who ended slavery in the United States.¹ The artist here speaks to a larger cultural effort aimed at showing Lincoln’s image both as the savior of the Union and as a symbol of moralities. There was a drive toward unity and heroism, and art such as this played a large part in shaping that narrative. It is reverential, symbolic, and idealized, turning this portrait into a statement on progress, freedom, and the eternal strength of leadership meant to inspire generations long after the events themselves. Reading and annotating the historical context provided through three different secondary sources allows for a clearer understanding of what this Lincoln image means beyond initial view. #Lincoln #makingchange #slavery
These sources provide a deep view emphasizing Lincoln’s heroism. #leader The image carries ideas about leadership, justice, and moral courage in a manner that encourages viewers to perceive him as an eternal representation of American core values. Lincoln, through his efforts, was changing American history forever. Composition, symbolism, and attention to detail all reflect considerations not simply of Lincoln himself but of the greater struggle for freedom and equality. This helps connect history and culture, reminding us how society elects to remember and honor its most influential figures.
Knowing the historical context from the secondary sources gives deeper meaning to this image. As read in the textbook, the war was favored in the Southern states determination to preserve slavery as an economic and social system. Personally opposed to slavery, Lincoln made cautious movements toward emancipation, balancing moral concerns with political realism. As historian Mark E. Neely Jr. writes, Lincoln was working toward national unity, and he evolved his antislavery movement carefully.²
More than a single image of Lincoln, this further represents one way in which Americans, decades after his death, remembered him. As with many of his positions on race and slavery, Lincoln’s views changed over time, shaped by shifting social norms and the political climate.³ This illustration celebrates Lincoln as a strong liberator; however, there were still many instances where he acted cautiously and strategically to achieve his political and social aims. In the image, the end of slavery is depicted as straightforward and triumphant, but in reality it was a complicated part of the Civil War. An early twentieth century interpretation of Lincoln as a moral hero leading steadily against slavery can be seen in the article “Abraham Lincoln” in the 1961 Economic Weekly. Rather than portraying him simply as a politician, Lincoln is presented as a human being who clung to his ideals with steadfastness, fairness, and humanity.⁴ This reflects early twentieth century historiography that emphasized individual moral heroism rather than the collective historical action of enslaved people, abolitionists, and soldiers. The context of 1914 is also extremely important. By this time, Americans were well into the process of solidifying a national memory of the Civil War and Reconstruction, often simplifying complex events into heroic narratives for public audiences.
Abraham Lincoln and the Downfall of American Slavery (1914). Flickr.. https://www.flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/14743924976/
Neely, Mark E., Jr. “Lincoln, Slavery, and the Nation.” OAH Magazine of History 23, no. 2 (April 2009): 17–21.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/25622304
.
Clow-Levesque, C. C. “Lincoln, Slavery, and Race: Tracking Change Over Time.” The Gettysburg Historical Journal 1, no. 1 (2017).
https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=glihist
.
“Abraham Lincoln.” Economic Weekly 13, no. 6 (February 1961): 255–58.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/4404695