Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power by Richard Carwardine delves into great detail regarding Abraham Lincoln’s early political career and the campaign that led him to become the 16th president of the United States. Carwardine provides many insights into Lincoln’s political and career path from law to serving on the Illinois state legislature, to Congressman and then U.S House of Representatives, and finally as the 16th president of the United States. To add, Lincoln’s spiritual and moral beliefs are described as the justification for his passing of the Emancipation Proclamation and abolition of slavery. Carwardine quotes Lincoln on his view toward slavery as stating, “I am naturally antislavery” and “If slavery is wrong, nothing is wrong. I can not remember when I did not so think, and feel” (p.21).
Carwardine and others speculate that Lincoln was very in sync with public opinion and changed the purpose of the war with regard to what the public was ready to embrace. In this case, he held off on making emancipation a necessary tactic to winning the war until the people within the union were in agreement that this was the key to winning the war (pgs. 191-192). It would seem that Lincoln only used the abolition of slavery as a way of weakening the South in order to win the war, although by analyzing his views on the practice of slavery and his own moral philosophy it is also likely that emancipation was always one of Lincoln’s goals and not just a last resort to winning the war.
- From what you have read of Lincoln’s life, his political career, and his moral stance, do you think the abolition of slavery was one of his ultimate goals while in office?
Carwardine states, “Many Americans thus drew from Lincoln’s assassination what Henry Ward Beecher described as ‘a new impulse of patriotism’” and it was thought that Lincoln’s death was perhaps something that was meant to be (pg. 320-321).
- Do you agree with the opinion that Lincoln’s death increased patriotism and led to a renewed energy and successful political reconstruction and passing of amendments after the war, or do you think the country would have been better off had Lincoln lived and served his second term in office?
3 comments:
I was intrigued by the book's introduction and interested to learn about all the different influences in Lincoln’s life. Unfortunately, I have not had the time this month to read further than the introduction. Just the introduction was enough to make me realize that President’s are not born fully formed onto the national stage but develop into the man and politician they become. Would Lincoln have gone into law and politics if he had been born into a life of privilege? I would like to return to this book later.
As far as the impact of Lincoln’s death and what the effects of a second Lincoln term would have been, I am sure that this question is a great one for historians and alternative history fiction writers. From what I know of history, great tragedy has a way of focusing attention and emotions. A second Lincoln term may have accomplished the same or some of the same things but probably in a quieter manner.
Your question of whether Lincoln would have gone into law and politics if born into a life of privelege is an interesting one. I think Lincoln drew a lot of his ambition and motivation from wanting to better himself and become as far removed as possible from rural farm life. I would even speculate that perhaps President Obama's admiration for Lincoln stems from the fact they both came from low income environments and both strove to become self made men.
Hello. The quote "if slavery is wrong nothing is wrong" intrigues me. It is in Sarah Vowell's book Assassination Vacation as well. Lincoln's letter to Hodges is here and it clearly says "if slavery is NOT wrong nothing is wrong".
Am I missing something, or have at least two well-read and careful historians made a dumb mistake?
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