Abraham Lincoln is best remembered as being America’s first war president. In the nineteenth century, the American presidency had seen nothing like the Civil War, and war was upon Lincoln before he or anyone else considered how the position of Commander-in-Chief fit into the Constitution. This resulted in an unorganized thought process and policy. Brian Dirck, author of the article “Lincoln as Commander in Chief,” writes:
He did not have the luxury of creating intellectually cohesive, internally consistent methods in the midst of the very messy business of civil war. Driven by circumstances and his own background to more or less improvise an approach to presidential warmaking [sic], Lincoln was above all else pragmatic and realistic, blending caution and boldness as circumstances required. (26)
Lincoln is sometimes criticized, but the fact remains that he had no predecessor who could be an example as Commander-in-Chief. Lincoln “laid the groundwork for succeeding American war presidents,” and he did so calmly and patiently (Dirck 21). Lincoln said concerning the Constitution in his first inaugural address, “No foresight can anticipate, nor any document of reasonable length contain express provisions for all possible questions” (“Washington, D.C., March 1861” 215). So the Civil War was something of a test for the American presidency, and Abraham Lincoln just happened to be given that test.
An important aspect of Abraham Lincoln’s overall performance is his personal and political background. Concerning his opinions on slavery, his personal background shaped his ideals in a very unique way. James McPherson, author of the short biography Abraham Lincoln, provides some insight into Lincoln’s background, writing that Lincoln’s fathe...
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...a. Maryland: Lexington Books, 2003. 395-415. Print.
Lincoln, Abraham. “Restating Positions on Slavery: December 1860.” Simpson, Brooks D., Stephen W. Sears, and Aaron Sheehan-Dean 109-110.
---. “Washington, D.C., July 1861.” Simpson, Brooks D., Stephen W. Sears, and Aaron Sheehan-Dean 109-110.
---. “Washington, D.C., March 1861.” Simpson, Brooks D., Stephen W. Sears, and Aaron Sheehan-Dean 109-110.
McDougall, Walter A. Throes of Democracy: The American Civil War Era 1829-1877. New York: Harper Perennial, 2008. Print.
McPherson, James M. Abraham Lincoln. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print.
---.. Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief. New York: Penguin Press, 2008. Print.
Simpson, Brooks D., Stephen W. Sears, and Aaron Sheehan-Dean, eds. The Civil War: Told by Those Who Lived It. New York: The Library of America, 2011. Print.
begins on the morning of Friday, April 14, 1865. A beautiful spring setting at the White House
Heidler, David Stephen, and Jeanne T. Heidler, eds. Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: a
Before taking office, each president is required to take an oath in which they state, “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” (634) However, of all the forty-four presidents who have served America, no other president in American history has faced the enormous challenges and national crisis as did Lincoln. Throughout his presidency, Lincoln endured immense challenges associated with the Civil War. In fact, the Civil War is referred to “our greatest national trauma.” (632) Lincoln’s presidential election unraveled the tensions between the North and South, precipitating a prolonged and bloody war. However, Lincoln’s audacious leadership, determination, and character in a period of national crisis made him America’s greatest
Waugh, John C. On the Brink of Civil War: The Compromise of 1850 and how it changed the Course of American History. Delaware: SR Books, 2003.
Eibling, Harold H., et al., eds. History of Our United States. 2nd edition. River Forest, Ill: Laidlaw Brothers, 1968.
McPherson, James M.; The Atlas of the Civil War. Macmillan: 15 Columbus Circle New York, NY. 1994.
In the beginning of the 1860s, there were constitutional developments that arose to a radical extent because it suffices the beliefs of American citizens with the issue over slavery. For instance, Abraham Lincoln taking hold of the presidency was an impacting ...
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1880-1901), Ser. I, 19 (1).
Walens, Susann. A. United States History Since 1877. Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT. September 2007.
Abraham Lincoln wrote one of the greatest speeches in American history known as the Gettysburg Address. It was not only used as a dedication to the fallen troops of the North and South, but as a speech to give the Union a reason to fight and attempt to unite the divided nation. The sixteenth president’s handling of his speech at Gettysburg demonstrated how the effectiveness of juxtaposition, repetition, and parallelism, could bring unity to a nation deeply divided on beliefs. His speech touched the hearts of many and indirectly put an end to the Civil War. Lincoln may have been considered a tyrant at the time but he was a great leader of a nation, a war, and a democracy.
Finkelman, Paul, ed. and Donald R. Kennon, ed. Congress and the Crisis of the 1850s. Athens: Ohio University Press, 2012. eBook (tamusaworldcat). Web. 7 Apr. 2014.
Abraham Lincoln was one of the greatest presidents to ever serve in office in the history of the U.S., serving from 1860 to 1865. A self-educated attorney from Illinois, he proved himself to be a brilliant leader throughout the Civil War period. Although President Abraham Lincoln faced the biggest crisis in American history, he saved the nation by preserving the Union during the Civil War, boosting the economy, by fighting for the abolition of slavery, and by boosting the Northern economy.
Throughout the Civil War, Lincoln did not get much regard as a military leader. He did not have the same amount of military knowledge or experience than his Confederate partner, Jefferson Davis. But Lincoln was determined to get there. He studied military strategies and in the end became a superior expert of military tactics, better than his commanders and Jefferson Davis. James McPherson that it was ultimately Lincoln 's performance as president that guaranteed both "his success . . . as president and the very survival of the United States."5 He read and studied military history, which allowed him to observe the victories and disappointments of commanders. Our history, and an extraordinary normal strategist, a superior one than any of his
Abraham Lincoln is regarded by many Americans as the greatest president to ever hold office in the history of the United States, and his reputation is definitely well deserved. Lincoln wasn't scared to stand up and fight for what he knew was right. He was convinced that within the branches of government, the presidency alone was empowered not only to uphold the Constitution, but also to protect, and defend it. Lincoln was able to lead our country and preserve the Union, keeping the United States from splintering during the devastating times of the Civil War. As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization, and he rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that changed the war into a battle for freedom and declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy. That November, Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address, which stated how a country must be dedicated to human freedom in order to survive. He dedicated the battlefield to the soldiers who had perished, and called on the living to finish the task the dead soldiers had begun. (Donald, 1995) Lincoln believed that democracy could be a lasting form of government. He showed a nobility of character that had worldwide appeal, and he was a man of great integrity. However, Lincoln was not only the 16th president of the United States, he was an American hero. Lincoln was a well-rounded individual and he had numerous outstanding qualities. However, it is important to remember that Lincoln also led a private life, complete with close friends and family.
Abraham Lincoln (12 Feb. 1809-15 Apr. 1865) the 16th president (civilwar.org) of the United States of America was one of the main public persons that influence the civil war in many aspects. Even though the civil war may have been the last resource the nation had, it could be argue that Lincoln’s governments try its best to find a different solution. The civil war was a conflict that destroyed the nation; it perhaps could have been avoided if the second party had work for a solution. But it is true that maybe both parts could have looked out for the benefits of the people as a whole instead of their personal benefits. Lincoln principal positive effect on the civil war was actually before and during the war when Lincoln’s government had many attempts to prevent the confrontation, and when this one began he took the right decisions to win the war. One of the biggest effects on the civil war was the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which gave the slaves their liberty. Many would agree is that Abraham’s Lincoln effect on the civil war was positive but Lincoln made many mistakes or misjudgments during the war as well. Perhaps the biggest mistake Lincoln did was underestimating the South what caused many unnecessary deaths. He also did had misjudgments that cause many causalities. Since the beginning of time humanity has fought for what they thought was right. In April 12 of 1861(civilwar.org) The US would begin a fight for civic and moral rights, a civil war that perhaps was the last option for a country to reunite its values. Abraham Lincoln was the president of the time and the person the influence the most the course the war took. I strongly believe that Lincoln’s decisions influence or had more positive effects on the country. Being the president at times like the civil war is without doubt it is one of the toughest jobs, and one way or another there is going to be correct and incorrect decisions but I can agree president Lincoln did what he thought it was the best at that moment.