Essay on The Real Lincoln

In Thomas J. DiLorenzo’s book, The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War, he reveals the truth about Abraham Lincoln and attempts to get rid of the myths that many have told. He reveals the agenda of Lincoln and the real purpose behind the Civil War. One question that some have is why did it take a war to end slavery? In the book it is stated that, “dozens of countries… ended slavery peacefully during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries”(x). Many argue the fact that Lincoln was against slavery but in DiLorenzo’s book he argues that Lincoln was very much supportive of slavery (x). DiLorenzo explains the real agenda behind Abraham Lincoln and what he stood for.

Abraham Lincoln is by far our most revered president in the history of the United States. He had a strong moral vision of where his country must go to preserve and enlarge the rights of all her people, but he was also a good man with a strong sense of character and a great discipline in the art of law; and he sought to continue the great and mighty legacy of the Constitution. He believed that the Founding Fathers had drawn up the Constitution without the mention of slavery because they felt that it would later die of a natural death. He would soon learn that that would not be the case.

The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War, by Thomas J. DiLorenzo completely shatters the illusion of the 16th President as the liberator of the slaves. DiLorenzo provides convincing evidence for Lincoln’s overt racism as expressed in his documented views on racial supremacy as stated in his desire to colonize all American blacks outside the United States (p. 4); Lincoln’s views were matched by the majority in the North who used such tools as state constitutional amendments to prohibit the emigration of black people into Northern states like Lincoln’s home of Illinois (p. 4); and that the Presidents war which killed 620, 000 Americans and destroyed 40% of the

Oates, Stephen B. Abraham Lincoln the Man behind the Myths. New York: Harper & Row, 1984. Print.

Abraham Lincoln’s presidential career was full of questionable actions. Thomas DiLorenzo author of, The Real Lincoln discusses Lincoln’s actions regarding racism, his refusal to emancipate the slaves, his continual tendency to act independently of Congress, and his radical reconstruction after the Civil War. DiLorenzo attacks each of these topics in his book and proves that Lincoln had his own agenda, and was not the picture perfect president everybody thought that he was.

One of the ironies of the Civil War era and the end of slavery in the United States has always been that the man who played the role of the Great Emancipator was so hugely mistrusted and so energetically vilified by the party of abolition. Abraham Lincoln, whatever his larger reputation as the liberator of two

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States of America he was frequently referred to as the ‘’The great emancipator’’ and yet although he didn’t publicly call for the emancipation of the entire life. Lincoln established his public career by declaring that he was anti-slavery against slavery’s increasing but not for announcing immediate emancipation. However, the man who began as ‘’anti-slavery’’ eventually announced the emancipation proclamation in which freed all slaves in states that were in rebellion.

Abraham Lincoln was faced many of the country’s issues. He wanted to make sure that country had peace and togetherness no matter what. Finally a civil war broke out between the north and south states. He battled through the war and made the announcement that, a country would not be able to exist if it is half free and half slave. Once the war was won he was able to keep the country united.

Abraham Lincoln has gone down as one of the most prominent presidents in the American history, from his Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, to his assassination. Having to deal with some of the most troublesome times in the History of America, as president, Abraham did “to the best of my [his] ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States,” (Source B) in hopes to combine the North and South to once again become a United Nation. However, the status of African Americans in relationship of Lincoln must be analyzed further, as it was a crucial aspect of his presidency and distinction as “The Great Emancipator.” Although Lincoln was “ naturally anti-slavery,” (source B) he viewed it

Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth president, and served during an incredibly fragile and monumental age in America’s growth. As president during the civil war, and creator of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, he was controversially viewed as either an innovator or a wrongdoer. In any light, his presidency and murder created shockwaves throughout America during their time of post-war healing and grief, and sparked change that led the U.S to be the country it is today. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln was unjust because he was an influential leader and active abolitionist who made great changes for equality in America, but he completely disregarded the needs of the confederate movement during their time in the Civil War.

With the reasoning words of Abraham Lincoln at Peoria, Illinois and his emotional message that slavery was inhumane, Americans were emotionally dedicated to his cause. This speech was just one of the many Lincoln would give in his lifetime and also one of the most seminal. It was Abraham Lincoln’s hatred for slavery and love for the Union that drove him to push his way to the political forefront. This all started with the Kansas- Nebraska Act and the support of Senator Douglas that lead to Lincoln’s opposition. The Lincoln-Douglas debates showcased for the general public the true intentions of the Democrats and how the new Republicans could form together to make a greater chance for the nation.

Lincoln was a mainly unknown prairie legal representative, and at the start of the war which everybody estimated to be over quickly, he did not tell much about how to choose and use the superlative Generals. By the half, nevertheless, he had skillfully maneuvered a condition where the British and French might not send help to the Confederates without observing pro-slavery, and then made the astute decision to back U.S.Grant as his General-in-Chief. For the time being he had exposed outstanding dexterity in the management of his talented but rebellious cabinet, and by the period of his tragic assassination, had got his place as one of the boundless men of American history, probably the greatest.

Almost all historians judge Lincoln as the greatest President in American history because of the way he exercised leadership during the war and because of the impact of that leadership on the moral and political character of the nation. He conceived of his presidential role as unique under the Constitution in times of crisis. Lincoln was convinced that within the branches of government, the presidency alone was empowered not only to uphold the Constitution, but also to preserve, protect, and defend it. In the end, however, Lincoln is measured by his most lasting accomplishments: the preservation of the Union, the vindication of democracy, and the death of slavery—accomplishments achieved by acting "with malice towards none" in the pursuit of

Abraham Lincoln is by far our most revered president in the history of the United States. He had a strong moral vision of where his country must go to preserve and enlarge the rights of all her people, but he was also a good man with a strong sense of character and a great discipline in the art of law; and he sought to continue the great and mighty legacy of the Constitution. He believed that the Founding Fathers had drawn up the Constitution without the mention of slavery because they felt that it would later die of a natural death. He would soon learn that that would not be the case.

Abraham Lincoln is revered as a hero throughout American history. He accomplished many amazing and difficult feats such as abolishing slavery and winning the Civil War. He is thought to be a role model, who was always on the right side of history. However, some people don’t always hold the same views as they were believed to have held. Lincoln's views on race relations didn’t remain so progressive, despite what people might think.