The Best American History Essays on LincolnThis new volume in the Best American History Essays series brings together classic writing from top American historians on one of our greatest presidents. Ranging from incisive assessments of his political leadership, to explorations of his enigmatic character, to reflections on the mythos that has become inseparable from the man, each of these contributions expands our understanding of Abraham Lincoln and shows why he has been such an object of enduring fascination. Contributions include:* James McPherson on Lincoln the military strategist* Richard Hofstadter on the Lincoln legend* Edmund Wilson on his contribution to American letters* John Hope Franklin on the Emancipation Proclamation* James Horton on Lincoln and race* David M. Potter on the secession* Richard Current on Lincoln's political genius* Mark Neely on Lincoln and civil liberties |
Contents
Abraham Lincoln and the SelfMade Myth | 3 |
Abraham Lincoln | 41 |
Lincoln Race and the Complexity | 63 |
A Strange Friendless Uneducated Penniless Boy | 87 |
A Marriage | 107 |
The Master Politician | 129 |
The Origins and Purpose of Lincolns | 149 |
Why the Republicans Rejected Both Compromise | 175 |
LINCOLN THE PRESIDENCY | 189 |
Lincoln and the Strategy of Unconditional Surrender | 207 |
Lincoln and the Constitution | 229 |
| 245 | |
Other editions - View all
The Best American History Essays on Lincoln Organization of American Historians Limited preview - 2016 |
The Best American History Essays on Lincoln Organization of American Historians Limited preview - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
abolitionists Abraham Lincoln African Americans Ann Rutledge antislavery argument army Basler believed Cabinet campaign candidate Chicago Civil Clay Collected colonization compromise Confederacy Confederate Congress constitutional convention debates declared Democrats Douglas Douglass election Emancipation Proclamation favor fight forces Fort Sumter Frederick Douglass freedom Frémont friends Herndon Herndon's Informants historians House-Divided speech Ibid Illinois issue James John Kansas Kansas-Nebraska Act Kentucky labor later leader letter Lincoln marriage marriage Mary Lincoln Mary Todd Lincoln McClellan military strategy Missouri Missouri Compromise moral national strategy Negroes never Nicolay North northern peace political politician President presidential Press principle question Radicals rebellion rejected Republican party Salem save the Union secession seemed Senate Seward slaveholders slavery slaves soldiers South southern Springfield Sumter territory thought told ultimate extinction United University victory vols vote Washington Whig White House William Wilson wrote York