Yale Historian David Blight on the First Year of the Civil War: ' The Lincoln Administration Was Not Making War Against Slavery'

Earlier this year ,Yale historian David Blight gave a talk at Goldman Sachs about Frederick Douglass. Blight makes a stunning admission for many with a superficial understanding of American history (the 26: 33 marker of the video):

Douglass' conception of the Civil War right or wrong was it was caused by slavery , ought to be fought to destroy slavery .It wasn't at first as you know and this is where he tangles with Lincoln. And to make that long story short. During the first year to year and half of the war Lincoln had no fiercer critic than Douglass . Because the Lincoln Administration was not making war against slavery in fact the official policy the first years of the war when fugitive slaves escaped into Union lines Union officers were supposed to figure out how to return them to their loyal masters. Turned out to be not terribly possible.But, at one point Douglass called Lincoln the most powerful slave catcher in the country...

A talk well worth your time.