A Free Pass, circa 1864

Item — Box: 4270.001, Folder: 001

Scope and Contents

This broadside lampoons the Copperheads—a group of Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War and wanted immediate peace with the Confederacy—during the 1864 election. The movement traces its origins to a pre-war secret society, the Knights of the Golden Circle, a group which favored the expansion of slavery. The illustration portrays members of the movement participating in purification rituals to purge their anti-war tendencies.

Dates

circa 1864

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.