"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. |
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... Politics and government - 1849-1861 . 3. United States - Politics and government- Civil War , 1861-1865 . I. McPherson , James M. E457.8.W38 1995 973.7'092 - dc20 95-2279 CIP Contents Preface vii Introduction : Last Best Hope for What.
... Politics and government - 1849-1861 . 3. United States - Politics and government- Civil War , 1861-1865 . I. McPherson , James M. E457.8.W38 1995 973.7'092 - dc20 95-2279 CIP Contents Preface vii Introduction : Last Best Hope for What.
Page 2
... political opposition menaced Lincoln's ability to continue the war . That opposition focused particularly on the Emancipation Proclamation announced the preceding September and scheduled to go into effect on January 1 , 1863. Lincoln ...
... political opposition menaced Lincoln's ability to continue the war . That opposition focused particularly on the Emancipation Proclamation announced the preceding September and scheduled to go into effect on January 1 , 1863. Lincoln ...
Page 6
... political philosophy and cultural values . Russo- American relations during the Civil War were a marriage of convenience founded on the self - interest of both parties : the Russian interest in a strong United States as a counterweight ...
... political philosophy and cultural values . Russo- American relations during the Civil War were a marriage of convenience founded on the self - interest of both parties : the Russian interest in a strong United States as a counterweight ...
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... political philosopher John Stuart Mill , who fervently favored the Union cause , believed that Confederate success " would be a victory for the powers of evil which would give courage to the enemies of progress and damp the spirits of ...
... political philosopher John Stuart Mill , who fervently favored the Union cause , believed that Confederate success " would be a victory for the powers of evil which would give courage to the enemies of progress and damp the spirits of ...
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... political constraints that hindered Lincoln from turning the war for Union into a war against slavery . Since " the North does not proclaim abolition and never pretended to fight for anti - slavery , " asked perturbed Englishmen in Sep ...
... political constraints that hindered Lincoln from turning the war for Union into a war against slavery . Since " the North does not proclaim abolition and never pretended to fight for anti - slavery , " asked perturbed Englishmen in Sep ...
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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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.