Communication ETDs

Publication Date

8-7-1969

Abstract

Union pamphleteering societies and individuals were activists in the daily turmoil of the American Civil War. The number of their publications was in the millions that were circulated in every section of the United States and its territories. This thesis investigated the historical and rhetorical relevance of pamphlets in the American Civil War from 1862 to 1864, especially the arguments and evidence used for, and against the Emancipation Proclamation. The specific aims of the study were to determine (1) the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation to the Civil War and pamphleteering; (2) the processes of pamphleteering in the war; (3) the political make-up of pamphleteers; (4) how the exigencies of the Emancipation Proclamation were dealt with by the pamphleteers; and, (5) the argumentative means the pamphleteers used for and against the Emancipation Proclamation. The analysis involved an in depth analysis of the development of the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War; the development of pamphleteering societies and their operations in the North, including individual pamphleteering efforts; biographical information on the pamphleteers selected in this study; and an analysis of arguments and evidence in the pamphlets. The final chapter summarized and concluded the discussions in the previous chapters. The analysis of the pamphleteering societies and their pamphlets during the Civil War disclosed that they were organized and written by foremost leaders in the Northern society, especially lawyers and publishers; that temperance and conservatism were the keys to their rhetoric. The pamphleteers were activists who stated it was their purpose to awaken and appeal to Northern public opinion, but it was found that their rhetoric was aimed more for those directly concerned with political decisions in Washington. The pamphlets were well written, organized, and came to grips with the relevant issues of the times. Most of the arguments were on the constitutionality of the Emancipation Proclamation and the powers granted to the President of the United States. The arguments and evidence were often generalized statements on policy, states' rights, constitutional authority, and political ambitions of the Republican administration. Amazingly few arguments were emotional or moral, including those in the divisive issue of slavery. The evidence presented varied from in depth footnote citations to sweeping categorical statements of personal opinion. Seldom was evidence absent in the development of arguments, but often the evidence appeared contradictory. Testimony and analogy were often used methods to establish a point of view, but many analogies were confusingly constructed or contradictory. As a means of influencing public opinion, it was evident from the analysis that pamphleteering played an important role in determining the attitudes of the citizens in the North on the Emancipation Proclamation from 1862 to 1864.

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Communication

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Department of Communication and Journalism

First Committee Member (Chair)

Marilyn Janet Van Graber

Second Committee Member

Robert Christopher Dick

Third Committee Member

Judith Wallace Carey

Download

Share

COinS