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The role of Abraham Lincoln in the Civil War
History of Abraham Lincoln and his achievements
Abraham lincoln impact on the united states
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The myth of Abraham Lincoln, no myth in American history is more prevailing or enduring. Good old Honest Abe, The Great Emancipator, Defender of the Union. We have come to a crossroad in this country. It is a time of great peril; freedom is in its maximum hour of danger. We must put to rest this myth, which only serves to propagate tyranny and undermine liberty. Abraham Lincoln was not a great man trying to free the slaves; he was a racist, power hungry, tyrant who really fought the civil war to stop the south from seceding.
Before we decide to travel down the path of laying out why Abraham Lincoln is a tyrant, I think we must first define the word tyrant. The online Merriam-Webster online dictionary gives the following definition "1 a : an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution b : a usurper of sovereignty 2 a : a ruler who exercises absolute power oppressively or brutally b : one resembling an oppressive ruler in the harsh use of authority or power". Now we can start down the path, and show that Abraham Lincoln meets all the criteria and then some.
Let's start off with the first part of the definition "1 a : an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution". During his time as president, and especially during the Civil War, Lincoln continually showed utter contempt for the constitution of the United States. One of his many transgressions against the constitution was the launching of an invasion without the consent of congress. He unilaterally made the decision to invade the south without first getting approval from congress. As almost every American citizen knows, the constitution explicitly grants congress and congress alone, the power to declare war. Who gives the constitution its power? The ...
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...d US History Online Abraham Lincoln Tyrant Hypocrite or Consummate Statesman Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 May 2014. .
Bennett, Lerone. Forced into glory: Abraham Lincoln's white dream. Chicago: Johnson Pub. Co., 2000. Print.
DiLorenzo, Thomas J.. The real Lincoln: a new look at Abraham Lincoln, his agenda, and an unnecessary war. Roseville, Calif.: Prima, 2002. Print.
DiLorenzo, Thomas J.. Lincoln unmasked: what you're not supposed to know about dishonest Abe. New York: Crown Forum, 2006. Print.
"The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln." Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. .
Weber, Jennifer L.. Copperheads: the rise and fall of Lincoln's opponents in the North. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Print.
leading up to and surrounding President Abraham Lincoln’s death. The purpose of this book is to
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
In “The Presidency of Abraham Lincoln,” Phillip Shaw Paludan argues that even though Abraham Lincoln faced unparalleled challenges, Lincoln was America’s greatest president as he preserved the Union and freed the slaves. According to Paludan, Lincoln’s greatness exceeds that of all other American presidents as Lincoln’s presidential service was remarkable in both the obstacles he faced as well as the ways in which he overcame them. Before accepting the distinguished chair in Lincoln studies at the University of Illinois, Springfield, Paludan was a professor of history at the University of Kansas for over 30 years. Paludan has authored several books including Victims: A True Story of the Civil War and A People’s Contest: The Union and Civil
Frederick Douglass. “Frederick Douglass Cuts Through the Lincoln Myth to Consider the Man.” W.W. Nordon and Company. eLibrary. Web. 27 February 2014.
Abraham Lincoln reported how a cruel and oppressive ruler could take over the American political system from within. He said, “What! Think you these places would satisfy an Alexander, a Caesar,
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.
Robinson, Luther E. Abraham Lincoln as a man of letters. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: R. West, 1977. Print.
During the Abraham Lincoln’s short time as president, he managed not only to save a nation deeply divided and at war with itself, but to solidify the United States of America as a nation dedicated to the progress of civil rights. Years after his death, he was awarded the title of ‘The Great Emancipator.’ In this paper, I will examine many different aspects of Lincoln’s presidency in order to come to a conclusion: whether this title bestowed unto Lincoln was deserved, or not. In order to fully understand Lincoln, it is necessary to understand the motives that drove this man to action. While some of his intentions may not have been for the welfare of slaves, but for the preservation of the Union, the actions still stand. Abraham Lincoln, though motivated by his devotion to his nation, made the first blows against the institution of slavery and rightfully earned his title of ‘The Great Emancipator.’
Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as “The Great Emancipator,” His legacy as the man who freed the slaves, and the savior of the Union is one that fails to be forgotten. He is thought of as a hero, and one of the few to tackle slavery, a problem that has existed in many parts of the world at one time or another. Although Lincoln is credited with ending slavery, his political motives for confronting this issue and his personal views do not make him worthy of all the recognition he receives; the driven abolitionists and daring slaves deserve a much greater portion of the credit.
Abraham Lincoln and Slavery Many Americans believe that Abraham Lincoln was the “Great Emancipator,” the sole individual who ended slavery, and the man who epitomizes freedom. In his brief presidential term, Lincoln dealt with an unstable nation, with the South seceding from the country and in brink of leaving permanently.
There is no doubt that Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as one of the great American presidents. The general public, when asked about Lincoln, will often tell the tale of a great man. Holding their head high, they will embark on the journey of a benevolent leader, praising the man who envisioned a new America: a great country of racial equality, and the pillar of human liberty. There are some, however, who have quite the opposite view.
The author refers to the President Lincoln as a "despot," a tyrant who will "break thy craven calm" and change the life in the South.
Dilorenzo, Thomas J.. The Real Lincoln: a new look at Abraham Lincoln, his agenda, and an unnecessary war. Roseville, Calif: Prima, 2002
Wilentz, Sean. "WHO LINCOLN WAS. (Cover story)." New Republic 240, no. 12/13 (July 15, 2009): 24-47. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed February 26, 2011).
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.