Robert E Lee The Great Emancipator

[Rick Smith]

Mr. Lincoln is often referred to as "The Great Emancipator." The credit he received for doing what he did for black people was received as a consequence of political expediency.

Robert E. Lee freed 196 slaves which had belonged to his father-in-law after having educated them so that they would not be set free without some skill to employ.

He defied Virginia state law by educating his slaves and was allowed to do so because they were educated at Lee's expense and by his wife and daughters at Arlington and the state could not at that time interfere in the affairs of a private home.

Lee signed the last manumition papers on the eve of the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 11, 1862.

One man freed slaves, or tried to, for ploitical considerations.

One man freed slaves due to personal conviction.