Civil War Transformation: Marcus Spiegel's Evolution from Pro-Slavery Democrat to Antislavery Advocate
Overview
This reading response analyzes Marcus Spiegel's letter as a Civil War soldier, documenting his personal transformation from a Democrat who initially supported racist attitudes to becoming a passionate antislavery advocate after witnessing slavery firsthand in the Deep South. The paper examines how Spiegel's firsthand experiences in Virginia and Mississippi fundamentally changed his perspective on the institution of slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation.
What this reflection paper covers
- Biographical background of Marcus Spiegel as a Jewish immigrant soldier in the Union Army
- Initial pro-slavery Democratic views and opposition to the Emancipation Proclamation
- Transformative experience witnessing slavery horrors in the Deep South and subsequent antislavery advocacy
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Reading Response: Marcus M. Spiegel, Letter of A Civil War Soldier (1864)
Marcus was an American soldier of Jewish origin who participated in the German revolution of 1848. In 1849, he migrated to America and settled in Ohio, eventually marrying the daughter of a local farmer. He volunteered in the Union Army in 1861 and was a strong patriot. In his letter, He narrated to his wife how things were developing during the South, expressing his longing to be close to his family. I see that Spiegel was a man who was committed to his family. With a Democrat political alignment, he supported the racist attitudes of the time and believed that the Emancipation Proclamation was a major mistake by Lincoln. In this letter addressed to his wife, Cary, Spiegel explains his experiences when he was overseeing the mission in Virginia, Mississippi (Foner 285).
As he penetrated the Deep South and experienced the horrors of slavery first hand, he changed his perspective and became an antislavery advocate. He noted, “Since I am here, I have learned and seen more of what the horrors of Slavery were than I ever knew before and I am glad indeed that the signs of the times show, towards closing out the accursed institution” (Foner 286). This was an outstanding transformation for a general who was a democrat and did not fear to say these anti-democratic sentiments.