In regards to literature in both of their eras, it becomes seemingly and obviously so that Whitman both inspired and paved the way for Ginsberg. Both Walt Whitman and Allen Ginsberg are reflecting upon political and cultural controversies they are experiencing in the times they are living in. While they again are living in different times and generations, they both are writing in respects to their own personal thoughts and opinions regarding their own personal political and societal changes within their current America. However, this is not where the similarities of the two end, while the likeness is expressed in the content of both author’s works, the structure and style in which each poem is written is also notably alike. Walt Whitman writes his poem in independent stanzas that despite flowing flawlessly with the rest of the poem could just as effortlessly tell a story on their own.
Upon review of the documents, it appears to me that Abraham Lincoln has many different political and personal views. Abraham Lincoln’s political viewpoints on slavery seem to be always changing. However, his feelings about the actual slaves and blacks living in America remained the same. Lincoln had always been opposed to the idea of slavery, calling it a “monstrous injustice.” He recognized slavery as a severe issue in our country, yet later on in his presidency felt it was essential to the southern way of life. Lincoln’s standpoints on the issues of slavery varied throughout the documents but his concern for the well-being of the slaves themselves was constant.
William Seward was a leading anti-slavery figure who later became secretary of state in the Lincoln administration. He believed that the two systems held by the North and the South (free labour and slavery) were “incompatible”. He stated that eventually America would have to become either fully a free labour nation or a slaveholding nation. While not everyone felt so strongly about this in the North (many didn’t care about the slavery issue at all) it was a reason that soldiers and leaders on either side went to war and fought for (in the North to end it, in the South to defend it). Lincoln was of the opinion that while he would never accept the extension of slavery he would make no direct attempt to interfere with it where it existed.
Even though Brown thought that performing viciousness actions such as organizing a rebellion for abolitionists was the only ways that can help slaves gain their own freedom, he only executed the errors of a passionate anti-slavery person. In addition, John Brown was a firm believer in anti-slavery so his only intention was to free all of the slaves using violence for good purposes. Moreover, he wasn’t trying to perform a crime and his action shows that he wasn’t a felon since his deed wasn’t for the pursuit of selfish fulfillment nor was it in disregard’s of other people’s feelings. For instance, john Brown risked his own life and even his family lives so the slaves can find their happiness and peace. He also performed these good deeds knowing that it won’t benefit him at all which shows us his heroic characteristics such as being brave and courages.
Newspapers and literature in general had a very influential impact on society's view of slavery. The “Liberator,” written by Garrison, influenced the opposition to slavery by providing everyone with a piece that touched them and presented them with ideas about slavery. Garrison himself was a very strict and harsh man, criticizing the Constitution for even condoning slavery when the Declaration of Independence states otherwise. He appealed to society (via the American Anti-Slavery Society) with such passion to refute slavery that it sparked the interest of many. His refusal to give up and even die for the sake of this “holy cause” is very moving and brought people to oppose slavery.
Also, as a Civil Rights leader he must convince the enemy to stop hating blacks. A brave step in the opposite direction, Campbell visits “Klan County.” He writes,” I made the trip to what was being referred to by Peter Young as Klan County” (Campbell 246). Will was crazy to go visit Klansmen who he was fighting against. The change, however, did no harm. Campbell says, “I didn’t lie to them and they didn’t lie to me.
Douglas developed his own doctrine of letting the people decide the question of slavery. He ridiculed Lincoln about his idea of state uniformity rather than domestic institutions and accused him of promoting a war of sectionalism. He also mocked “black Republicans” who he accused of demanding racial equality. Overall, he believed in the Southern interest, but supported popular sovereignty and ultimately alienated Southern voters. On the other hand Lincoln shared some Southern attitudes towards slaves as he agreed with the Dred Scott decision that slaves could not be citizens and refused to support the Fugitive Slave Law as well.
Instead of preaching that one day the blacks would have equality and preaching wrong, Booker T. Washington preached to them that being equal is not what it is all about. He did this so the blacks would not lose faith and eventually give their hopes up on being equal. They ended up focusing on themselves and their brothers and dealt with the system. They accepted themselves as blacks into this nation. In today's day and age for example, there are people who are still racist, people who don't accept blacks because of their color and culture, but today blacks understand that and accept it.
Besides being just against slavery he was also fought for women’s rights. He thought that blacks should not be able to vote if the women could not either. Douglass believed that everyone’s input would be important, not just men. As the Civil War approached, Douglass felt that if the war was to end slavery then the black slaves should fight alongside the soldiers. When the war was over slavery was abolished but in the Presidential Election of 1864, Douglass did not support Lincoln because he felt that Lincoln was not enforcing that the blacks still could not vote, instead he supported John C. Fremont.
Stephen Lewis History 311 Professor Sjovold Tues.-Thurs. 7:30am Booker T. Washington Booker T. Washington would have responded to John Hope’s paper, A Critique of the Atlanta Compromise, with what he felt were reasonable, rational, and logical ideals to help blacks of the post-slavery era find a path to equality without the risks associated with demanding everything they truly deserved. In The Atlanta Compromise Mr. Washington did not think it was necessary to harbor hatred and anger against the whites that had mistreated so many black individuals. He found it more appropriate to forgive them for their atrocities and move forward rather than look back. In his speech at the Cotton State Exposition he made it very clear that he wanted