Introduction
Eric Foner’s narrative Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men has become one of the major writing dedicated to the development of slavery in the U.S. Foner was one of the most prominent American historians who demonstrated how slavery was perpetuated in the minds of the Northerners and made them denounce African Americans. In fact, the North was against abolition, which was one of the reasons for the Civil War. The major thesis Foner dwells on is that free labor guarantees people receive benefits, move up the social ladder, and become one’s own masters through land ownership.
Eric Foner’s Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men
In the book, the author discloses the ideology of free labor and how it permeated the Americans’ consciousness. This idea was especially accepted by the working men since they firmly believed in the “from rags to riches” progress (Foner 145). This phenomenon was supplemented by the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, who rose from humble beginnings right into a successful political leader (Foner 183). Nonetheless, the reality of northern life did not correspond to the ideal model. Here the author aims to point out how the ideology of free labor has contributed to the formation of moral values in the North. Throughout his writing, Foner contrasts the implementation of the same ideas in the slavery-exposed South and liberal North.
Foner skillfully dwelled on the life of Lincoln, who embodied the opportunities that the society of the North externally provided to everyone who worked. Despite the fact that Lincoln himself, by the 1850s, lived in a society undergoing an industrial revolution, America in Lincoln’s time was still a world of small manufacturers (Foner 215). He believed that the majority of Northerners were “neither employers nor employees,” but worked “for themselves, on farms, in houses, workshops, owning all the products produced, not fawning over the capital, hired workers, or slaves” (Foner 216). This outlook helped the author clarify the premises for the ideology development.
The concepts of independence, citizenship, and freedom were central to the political culture of that era. They were constantly challenged and re-evaluated, and their content changed over time as different groups tried to redraw the boundaries of these concepts and change their meanings. Moreover, these concepts as a whole have been defined and reinterpreted by creating pronounced alternative ideas consisting of two opposing principles. These constructions determined Americans’ understanding of social reality; they have highlighted some parts of this reality and, at the same time, obscured others. Just as freedom and slavery were united in the real development of the New World, the definition of “free labor” depended on comparing this labor with its ideological antipode, the labor of enslaved people. Under the slogan of “free labor,” Northerners representing various social strata and interests could rally to defend their own society (Foner). It happened even in those conditions when certain forces raised the question of whether the opposition of “free labor” to slave-owning society hides the facts of coercion to which free workers are also subjected.
The comparison of free labor and slave labor masked the fact that the very concept of “free labor” was applied to two different economic situations: an employee who got a job on the labor market and a small producer with property who was in a position of financial independence were considered liberated. Despite the significant differences in their economic status, these groups were united by the fact that they were not slaves, and the economic relations they entered into were understood as “voluntary” and not stemming from personal dependence.
The major benefit of this writing is that it established a completely new understanding of the proposed ideology, pointing out that the Southerners and Northerners have added their own ideas to it. In addition, Foner provided a unique perspective on the pitfall in the existing ideologies of the two opposing sides, which allows for a better perception of its residents’ mentality. The other strength of the narrative is the use of factual evidence from historical documents, including those of former Democrats and abolitionists (Foner 16). By reviving their views, the historian identified their contribution to the development and abolition of slavery.
It is interesting how Foner speculates on the issue of the anti-slavery movement and suggests a new standpoint on freemen. He offers an existing approach to analyzing the phenomenon – scoping review. Nonetheless, the introduction of his theory regarding the spread of the free labor movement in the North adds an intriguing twist to his narrative. It seemed as if the existing outlook was turned upside down. There was a paradigm shift in the perception of the proposed ideology on both sides of America.
What is more, Foner has successfully managed to underpin the theoretical premises of the Civil War. Powerful economic shifts in the post-Reconstruction period, during the maturation of the United States as an industrial power, led to the fact that the struggle over the problem of slavery was replaced by the “labor issue,” which became dominant in public life. The dichotomy between “free labor” and the specter of slavery continued to set the tone in discussions about labor relations in America until the turn of the century and even after that (Foner 56). Like former slaves, many employees in the “golden age” tried to challenge the essence of the definition of “free labor” as an individual’s right to freedom to conclude labor agreements.
The organization of the paper deserves special attention due to its impeccability. Statistical evidence is essential for historical narratives since it makes an account more credible. Foner’s ability to incorporate the numerical data into his writing is unreservedly brilliant, as each number presented is cited or given an explanation. It is especially advantageous because it allows for tracing the sequence of events. Furthermore, the syntax of the writing is flawless – the entire text is cohesive and coherent, which facilitates reading. The book’s content is organized in a logical order simplifying the navigation.
On the other hand, while reading a narrative, it seems that the author aims to persuade the reader to accept his viewpoint, which is opposed to the initial impression. The manner and style of the essay seem quite argumentative, yet it calls the audience to perceive it as an instance of truth. It impeded my own comprehension of Foner’s arguments regardless of the evidence provided. Overall, it is the only downside identified in the book.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Eric Foner has managed to prove the idea regarding the influence of “free labor” ideology as he suggested a detailed explanation of how it affected the South and the North. The author posed strong arguments why free labor was still associated with slavery as individuals passed from the influence of masters to that of employers. The book is fascinating in the way that it provides a profound view of slavery and anti-slavery phenomena. It helps to trace the shift in perception of labor and deepens the understanding of different parties’ perspectives. Even though Foner’s narrative is captured, it seems provocative since it makes a reader absorb his arguments and universal truth. However, opposing opinions may exist alongside his suggestions and can be considered true as well. In general, the detailed evidence of the free labor ideology propped by historic description makes the source credible and valid.
Work Cited
Foner, Eric. Free soil, free labor, free men. Oxford University Press, 1995.