"We Cannot Escape History": Lincoln and the Last Best Hope of EarthJames M. McPherson In "We Cannot Escape History" a remarkable group of top Lincoln and Civil War scholars come together to explore the meaning of Lincoln for the destiny of the United States. They focus on Lincoln's view of American history and on his legacy - for Americans and for the world. In the process they deepen the reader's understanding of and appreciation for the complexity of the problems Lincoln faced and for the genius of his leadership, which surmounted these obstacles and preserved the United States as one nation indivisible while purging it of slavery, which had marred the democratic and egalitarian promise of America from the beginning. The contributors develop themes including Lincoln's conception of the United States as the last best hope for the preservation of democratic government and a republican polity, his view of American history and its meaning, his international impact, Lincoln and slavery, Lincoln and the uses of political power, and Lincoln as commander-in-chief in time of war. |
From inside the book
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... ideas during the question period after each paper and during the lunch- eon breaks . One participant , a veteran of perhaps four score and seven symposia and conferences , said that this one was the first in which the papers held his ...
... ideas during the question period after each paper and during the lunch- eon breaks . One participant , a veteran of perhaps four score and seven symposia and conferences , said that this one was the first in which the papers held his ...
Page 3
... idea pervading this strug- gle , " said Lincoln in 1861 , " is the necessity that is upon us , of proving that popular government is not an absurdity . We must settle this question now , whether in a free government the minority have ...
... idea pervading this strug- gle , " said Lincoln in 1861 , " is the necessity that is upon us , of proving that popular government is not an absurdity . We must settle this question now , whether in a free government the minority have ...
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... ideas to succeed , it is absolutely indis- pensable that this vast republic disappear from the face of the earth . " 10 Whether or not Napoleon thought he could destroy republicanism in the United States , he undertook to do so in ...
... ideas to succeed , it is absolutely indis- pensable that this vast republic disappear from the face of the earth . " 10 Whether or not Napoleon thought he could destroy republicanism in the United States , he undertook to do so in ...
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... idea of recognizing the Confeder- acy in return for Confederate recognition of his puppet Maximilian in Mexico , twelve prominent French citizens of Tours addressed a public let- ter to Confederate envoy John Slidell , telling him ...
... idea of recognizing the Confeder- acy in return for Confederate recognition of his puppet Maximilian in Mexico , twelve prominent French citizens of Tours addressed a public let- ter to Confederate envoy John Slidell , telling him ...
Page 11
... ideas are gradually to find embodiment . " 25 Most remarkable of all was the reaction of Edouard de Stoeckl , the Russian minister who disliked democracy , had considered the Civil War proof of its failure , and had predicted ...
... ideas are gradually to find embodiment . " 25 Most remarkable of all was the reaction of Edouard de Stoeckl , the Russian minister who disliked democracy , had considered the Civil War proof of its failure , and had predicted ...
Contents
Lincoins History | 17 |
Lincolns Narrative of American Exceptionalism | 33 |
Emancipating the Republic Lincoln and the Means and Ends of Antislavery | 45 |
LINCOLNS LEADERSHIP | 61 |
Abraham Lincoln and Presidential Leadership | 63 |
The Civil War and the TwoParty System | 86 |
Avoid Saying Foolish Things The Legacy of Lincolns Impromptu Oratory | 105 |
LINCOLNS LEGACY | 125 |
What Is an American? Abraham Lincoln and Multiculturalism | 127 |
Abraham Lincoln Our EverPresent Contemporary | 139 |
The International Lincoln | 158 |
Contributors | 175 |
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Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln Papers African Americans American Civil American Civil War American exceptionalism Boston Globe British cabinet coln Confederacy Confederate conflict Congress Constitution created equal crisis criticism culture Declaration of Independence delivered democracy Democrats Douglas Dred Scott effort election Emancipation Proclamation ethnic federal Francis Lieber George Gettysburg Address historians hope of earth House Divided Ibid idea ideals Illinois impromptu institutions issue James Jefferson Jefferson Davis June Kansas-Nebraska Act last best hope leaders leadership legislature liberals liberty Lincoln-Douglas Debates ment military Missouri multiculturalism narrative nation never North northern opinion Oxford University Press party political politicians popular president presidential principles quoted regiments Republic Republican resolutions role Seward slave slavery society southern speech Springfield Stampp Stephen Douglas Taney territories tion two-party system Union United victory Virginia Williams Collection vols voting Washington White House words wrote York
Popular passages
Page 2 - Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this Administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance or insignificance can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation.