Contraband decision day and great outdoors Month call us to leaders

CONTRABAND-DECISIONContraband decision day and great outdoors Month call us to leaders — As this image shows, New York City and its environs are extremely vulnerable to the rising seas. One hundred and 53 years ago today U.S. Major General Benjamin Butler made a decision in response to the major challenge of his time – the Civil War – and changed the course of history. Having just arrived and taken command of Fortress Monroe off the coast of Virginia, the Major General instituted the “Contraband Decision,” and declared that all enslaved people who made it to the fort would be considered as contraband and taken into the custody of the Union Army. With thousands of enslaved people immediately risking their lives to get to the fort, Maj. Gen. Butler’s action gave momentum to the call for emancipation being waged by giants such as Frederick Douglass, and pushed President Lincoln to declare the Emancipation Act. The effects of that decision can never be overstated.                                 (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

 

About Carma Henry 24481 Articles
Carma Lynn Henry Westside Gazette Newspaper 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Office: (954) 525-1489 Fax: (954) 525-1861

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