This slim book by a legendary Lincoln scholar details the climactic events of the 1850's as it relates to the career of Abraham Lincoln. That ominous decade deserves close scrutiny.
I like the careful way the author writes. It is most impressive.
Lincoln grew as Illinois grew as a key state in the Mississippi Valley. P. 5
The author presents a persuasive case that Illinois was the perfect launching pad for Lincoln's rise to the Presidency. Had he settled in Iowa or Wisconsin he never would become our 16th President. P. 18
The author gives a lot of attention to the famous House Divided speech on June 16, 1858. P. 70
Given his famous house divided speech in 1858 Lincoln would have been happy just to place slavery on the road to extinction regardless of how long it might take. There is no way Lincoln could have had much empathy for the plight of the enslaved. P. 77
Lincoln was content to restrict the expansion of slavery and let its ultimate extinction take place in the future whenever it happened. He was in no rush to force total extinction even he did say over and over that slavery was wrong. P. 77
Lincoln stoked the fear in 1858 that one more decision by the Taney Court after Dred Scott could make it illegal for any STATE to deny slavery. P. 80
Was there a conspiracy to nationalize slavery? Lincoln seemed to think it was possible. Douglas's "don't care" policy would eventually lead to slavery's nationalization. This was the heart of Lincoln's opposition to popular sovereignty. P. 82
Before 1854 Lincoln felt that slavery was wrong, but since it seemed to be on a course of ultimate extinction he felt it was a minor question. P. 85
The author goes into tedious details on the background of the house divided speech. Fehrenbacher is a meticulous historian. P. 94
Lincoln believed that slavery was wrong and was satisfied that the a path to ultimate extinction was correct and that the Republican Party was necessary to make it happen. P. 95
Lincoln misread the threat of disunion. P. 95
The failure of republican government was worse than civil war? P. 95
It is important to understand the "Freeport Question" and how the Democratic Party split in two which led to Lincoln's election in 1860. P. 120
The author downplays the importance of the "Freeport Question." Suffice it to say that it is not the key to understanding the importance of these debates. Douglas's opposition to the Lecompton Constitution was the reason he lost the confidence of the South and Freeport was only of superficial importance. P. 142
While making speeches far and wide Lincoln became a realistic Presidential candidate in 1859. P. 144
Lincoln built on the reputation he earned in his 1858 Senate race, he had the solid backing of his state leaders, and he benefited from the special considerations that made him a contender in Chicago in 1860. P. 144
The John Brown raid may have helped the cause of those Republicans who wanted someone more moderate than Seward. P. 145
Lincoln reflected slow, steady, progress toward the end of slavery. No desire for equality; just to place slavery on the road to extinction as the founders intended. Southerners wanted Northern approval of slavery. Douglas's course would lead to the nationalization of slavery. There should be a national policy that recognized slavery as wrong. Current restriction was the way forward. P. 148
Lincoln was just as anti-slavery as Seward, but was perceived as more conservative and more likely to win the general election. Also Lincoln was less prominent in the national anti-slavery wars. P. 155
The delegates made a pragmatic vote for the candidate who had the best chance to win. P. 155
Why Lincoln won the Republican nomination for President in 1860 is a subject of continuing interest and can be analyzed in a number of ways. P. 159
The Lincoln of the 1860's derived from the Lincoln of the 1850's. Lincoln of legend was not created just in the 60's.
Along with the Donald book I have read two great Lincoln books in this December.
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