Robert E. May

About the Author

Robert E. May is a distinguished historian specializing in the American Civil War era, with a keen focus on the intersections of slavery, race, and international relations. A professor emeritus at Purdue University, May has dedicated his career to uncovering the global dimensions of U.S. history, particularly how domestic conflicts influenced foreign policy and hemispheric affairs. His meticulous research draws on extensive archival sources to illuminate overlooked narratives, such as the role of Latin America in shaping American political debates. In his acclaimed work, Slavery, Race, and Conquest in the Tropics: Lincoln, Douglas, and the Future of Latin America, May explores the profound impact of tropical expansionism on the Lincoln-Douglas rivalry and the broader fate of emancipation. Through his scholarship, May continues to challenge conventional understandings of 19th-century America, emphasizing its entanglements with the wider world.