DiLorenzo starts off by talking about the founding fathers and how they were so protective of the US Constitution. Thomas Jefferson was not opposed to internal improvement but he argued that the constitution should not be amended with. DiLorenzo states that Lincoln implemented a series of unconstitutional acts. One of those acts would be the invasion of the South with consulting Congress, declaring martial law, blockading the Southern ports, suspending habeas corpus, and censoring all telegraph communication to name a few. With the suspension of habeas corpus, Lincoln order the arrest and imprisonment of almost anyone who disagreed with his views. Historians have referred to Lincoln as a “dictator” but also refer to him as a good or great dictator. Lincoln justified his unconstitutional power grab by discovering presidential powers that are in the Constitution, …show more content…
Lincoln suspended habeas corpus because he thought that he needed to crackdown on his political opposition. This allowed the military to arrest and imprison almost anyone who was in disagreement with Lincoln’s war effort. Lincoln decided that this freedom was no longer necessary and ordered the military to enforce the suspension. Chief Justice Taney responded to Lincoln and issued in his opinion that the president did not have this power. Lincoln also suppressed free elections and enforced this by the use of military force. Members of legislature who were suspected to having secessionist sympathies were arrested. The Federal government had placed posters at the poll booths to point out any peace activists to soldiers, so that soldiers could arrest those people. Also, ballets were made of different colors, so that soldiers could throw away the votes for the Peace Party. People that were carrying the ballot of the Peace Party were arrested for the charge of polluting the ballot
In Thomas J. Dilorenzo book, The Real Lincoln: A new look at Abraham Lincoln, his agenda, and unnecessary war, is all about the hidden stories behind the 16th president of the United States, where he seem to be a good role model in the eyes of many American. The Real Lincoln, “Stripped of all its covering, the naked question is, whether ours is a federal or consolidated government; a constitutional or absolute one; a government resting solidly on the basis of the sovereignty of the States, or on the unrestrained will of a majority; a form of government, as in all other unlimited ones, in which injustice, violence, and force must ultimately prevail.” (x). Dilorenzo’s book examines between the role of the federal government with the states, which the government system we have today. The Real Lincoln, also revealing many pros and cons of President Lincoln during his golden era. Furthermore, Dilorenzo not only focuses on Lincoln’s role as a president, but the private and public life with a lot comparison as well.
In Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, by James L. Swanson, the main characters were; John Wilkes Booth, Dr. Leale, Abraham Lincoln (even though he dies.) When John Wilkes Booth (a.k.a Booth) found out that the North had won the Civil War, he felt anger and disgust but he could do nothing. Booth had one plot that the book talked about and that was to kidnap the president and sell him to the leaders of the South but that plot never got put into action. When booth went to Ford's theatre got a letter, Booth worked at the theatre, the letter that said that the President of the United states would be visiting ford's theatre quickly he put a plot into works. First he went to get accomplices and they too would kill someone that night. When the time had come to Booth snuck into the President’s box, not even noticed he pulled out a gun and shot a bullet into the left side and under the left ear of the President's head. That didn’t kill the President, yet. When Booth tried to leave he was stopped by General Henry Rathbone, they had a knife fight while trying to stop both of them from leaving, although Booth got away jumping from the President's box and onto the stage shouting "Sic Semper Tyrannis" (Chasing Lincoln's Killer, by James L. Swanson.)
Thomas J. DiLorenzo is an economics professor at Loyola College. He has written eleven books, and is very widely published in many magazines and journals. In his book, The Real Lincoln, a twist is placed on the traditional picture of Abraham Lincoln. One of the most famous men in American History, Lincoln was regarded as being many great things, but were these things an accurate depiction of who he really was? As DiLorenzo states, “In the eyes of many Americans, Lincoln remains the most important American political figure in history because the war between the states so fundamentally transformed the nature of American government” (2). Lincoln helped begin a transformation from a small national government to a larger, more centralized one. Perhaps one of the largest misconceptions about Lincoln was his stance on slavery. DiLorenzo goes in depth about this saying, “He (Lincoln) could have ended slavery just as dozens of other countries in the world did during the first sixty years of the nineteenth century, through compensated emancipation, but he never seriously attempted to do so” (9). These two major topics, along with many more, are examined from a different perspective in discovering the man Abraham Lincoln really was.
The American Civil War not only proved to be the country’s deadliest war but also precipitated one of the greatest constitutional crises in the history of the United States. President Lincoln is revered by many Americans today as a man of great moral principle who was responsible for both preventing the Union’s dissolution as well as helping to trigger the movement to abolish slavery. In retrospect, modern historians find it difficult to question the legitimacy of Lincoln’s actions as President. A more precise review of President Lincoln’s actions during the Civil War, however, reveals that many, if not the majority, of his actions were far from legitimate on constitutional and legal grounds. Moreover, his true political motives reveal his
Though the proclamation did not bring about an immediate effect, the idea that, "all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free”, aided in the strategery of the war, ultimately foreshadowing the passage of the 13th amendment. After the minute, nearly ineffective results of the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln searched for a new way to promote abolishing slavery, in hopes of ending the war in favor of the northern states. As the war was nearing end, Lincoln made it a priority to ratify the 13th amendment before the end of the civil war was official. Because of the divided congress, in which one party controls the house and the other the senate, Passing any amendment proved more difficult than ever before. Because of these difficulties, Lincoln fell to passing the amendment by corruption. One way in which corruption was practiced by Lincoln was through the use of
Abraham Lincoln served in many facets of the United States government and was also a respected lawyer in Illinois. He was best known for being elected as the 16th President of the United States of America. As president, Lincoln guided the United States through one of the worst times in American history, the Civil War. From the start of his political career, Lincoln was instrumental in his efforts and eventual success in ending slavery in America. He was known for his public speaking abilities and delivered some of the most popular speeches in United States history. He lived a successful life before the presidency, during the presidency, and up to the time of his tragic death. His life was cut short when he was assassinated in 1865 while still serving as President of the United States. Lincoln was revered as one of the greatest presidents in American history. Prior to becoming one of the most powerful men in the world, Lincoln grew up in a poverty-stricken family.
Thomas DiLorenzo does a good job in documenting Lincoln’s ruthlessness and hypocrisy and how historians have covered it up. The founding fathers had a fear of federal governmental abuse. They saw state sovereignty as a protection. That’s why they gave us the Ninth and Tenth Amendments. I found this book very interesting and it makes you wonder what else we may have learned growing up that could be completely untrue according to your elementary school history books. I do however understand that there is two sides to every story and I wish DiLorenzo did a better job at explaining why history has painted Lincoln as such a hero.
rage becomes more intense that he starts to act on impulse. “Booth commands Powell, ‘Put a
Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America "Fourscore and seven years ago ." These are the first 5 of only two hundred seventy-two words that remade America. In Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America, the author, Gary Wills, informed us that Abraham Lincoln wanted equality among us and to unite as one. In Abraham Lincoln's own speech, he would not mention single individuals or even top officers. Everyone was considered as equal importance and was never any different. "Though we call Lincoln's text the Gettysburg Address, that title clearly belongs to Everett." 1 This is very true, which I think is interesting. Everett who was chosen by David Wills to commemorate the National Cemetery of Gettysburg, was supposed to be the speaker while Lincoln was only the dedicatory remarks speaker. Not only did Lincoln have the favorable speech, it was only three minutes while Everett's was two hours long. Lincoln also supposedly was not supposed to be there to speak; he actually just told a correspondent that he would be present. It's amazing to believe that a two hundred seventy-two word speech would say so much to thousands of people.
The sixteenth president of the United States was none other than “Honest Abe” himself, or better known as Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln may have looked thin and weak physically, but he was actually pretty strong. He was also a fierce, sharp-witted lawyer and politician. He was never afraid of the challenges thrown at him. He held firmly to the things he believed to be right, even when the “majority” did not agree with him. Abraham Lincoln faced opposition as president because of his divergent moral views, ideas, decisions, and beliefs.
In reading through Abraham Lincoln: the Man Behind the Myths, I have seen my views on Lincoln pretty drastically changed. Prior to this novel, I took the very common stance of Abraham Lincoln being one of the greatest presidents we have ever had. Now, I wouldn’t say I am nearly as passionate about Lincoln as any of the authors mentioned are, and therefore I believe myself to be rather blind to the mythology built around Lincoln. However, despite this blindness, I will say that my eyes have been opened to who I believe Lincoln is as well as what my perception of him has to do with what I’m told. Oates does indeed have biases similar to the very authors he puts down, however, Oates seems to be trying to reach a more realistic realization.
Alexander Hamilton once claimed, “liberty and power are not always adversaries, that indeed, the “vigor” of government is essential to the security of liberty” (Owens, “Civil Liberties in Wartimes”). President Lincoln acted in accordance with Hamilton’s claim. During the civil war, Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus, meaning, “individuals could be arrested and held without formal charges being lodged against them” (Moyers, “Civil Liberties in Wartimes”). In example, this was a suspension of the civil liberties of freedom of speech and press in wartime. His actions are justified, but there are many that believe his actions were wrong. On the other hand, in this case of civil war, the public required the suspension of this civil liberty in order to maintain peace, against dangers of invasion and
Throughout his presidency, Abraham Lincoln, was criticized for actions that were deemed “unconstitutional.” Although, without these important acts by assumption of presidential power, equality, and the country of America itself would be different. As James G. Randall once said, “No president has carried the power of presidential edict and executive order (independently of Congress) so far as (Lincoln) did... It would not be easy to state what Lincoln conceived to the limit of his powers. ” Between April 1861 (the beginning of the civil war) and July 4, 1861, Lincoln performed many important acts without congressional approval. Without these acts America would be far different than it is today. For example, Lincoln, brought forth the militia to go about their way and retire, increased the size of the navy and the army, expended funds for the purchase of weapons, and instituted an act of war and suspended the precious wit of habeas corpus.Indubitably, Lincoln didn’t deem these actions constitutional or the declaration of civil war, but the suspension of rebellion. Therefore,his actions may not have been constitutional, but they stopped the growing feud b...
Lincoln's use of executive authority during the civil war is many times illegal and unjust; although his issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation may seem justified, Lincoln blatantly abused his power regarding civil rights. He did things like institute an unfair draft, suspend Constitutional rights, allocate military spending without Congress, and institute emancipation. Although some may justify these actions, they stomped on the Constitution.
In Article I , Section IX of the U.S Constitution it says, “The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it”(). They argue that the president was fearful for the American people’s safety, so he suspended the writ. This argument is incorrect because the Constitution does not specify whether the congress or the president holds this power. He over ruled the legislative branch and exceeded his powers. Many believe that the constitution in many places gives the power to the congress. It was wrong for President Lincoln to assume that it was in his power to suspend the writ without the consideration of the