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"The True Defenders of the Constitution," November 11, 1865

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"The True Defenders of the Constitution," November 11, 1865
Courtesy of Library of Congress, Walker, James, "The True Defenders of the Constitution," Harper's Weekly, 1865

Description

This print portrays the dead bodies of two African-American men and two white men, all Union soldiers, on a battlefield. The print was drawn by James Walker and appeared in the November 11, 1865, edition of Harper’s Weekly.

Source-Dependent Questions

  • What made these men "true" defenders of the Constitution to the illustrator?
  • Why might African-American soldiers during the Civil War have been considered to be even more true defenders of the Constitution than some white soldiers?
  • What could be inferred about the changes that needed to be made to the Constitution for the benefit of African Americans?

Citation Information 

Walker, James, "The True Defenders of the Constitution," Harper's Weekly, 1865. Courtesy of Library of Congress