Sidedoor The Wide Awakes
Oct 30, 2024
Jon Grinspan, Curator of Political History at the Smithsonian and author of *Wide Awake*, teams up with Kevin Waite, Associate Professor at Durham University and author of *West of Slavery*, to uncover the fascinating story of the Wide Awakes. This grassroots movement, formed during the 1860 election, played a crucial role in rallying working-class Americans against slavery. They wore capes and marched by torchlight, not just for free speech but as passionate supporters of Abraham Lincoln. Grinspan and Waite discuss why this movement remains largely untold and its relevance today.
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Origin of the Wide Awakes
- Eddie Yergeson, a tailor, created a cape to avoid oil stains from torches at a political rally.
- This sparked the Wide Awakes movement, a key force in electing Lincoln.
Slavery's Economic Power
- In 1860, slavery was a powerful economic and political force, not a dying institution.
- The value of enslaved people exceeded that of all railroads, factories, and banks combined.
Suppression of Anti-Slavery Views
- Southern slave powers used their political influence to suppress anti-slavery discussion.
- Openly opposing slavery was dangerous, even in free states.