Discussion Topic
Because of his legendary status, many people assume Lincoln wasn't a controversial figure in his time. However, Lincoln's contemporaries — as well as students and historians to this day — debated the merits of his decisions while in office. His interpretation of the law, his military decisions, and his policies regarding slavery especially provoked debate.
For your first posting, choose one of the following issues and then discuss these questions: Were Lincoln's actions around this issue legal? Were they justified? Does Lincoln seem like a good leader in this case?
- Lincoln's interpretation of the law, particularly the Constitution's elastic clause and the suspension of habeas corpus
- Lincoln's decisions around military strategy and his method of assigning and managing generals
- Lincoln's words and actions regarding slavery. See the links under required reading for these helpful documents:
- The Emancipation Proclamation
- Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
In your second posting, evaluate Lincoln as a leader.
- Do you think he was a realist or an idealist?
- Did he lack principles or act on his principles?
- Are you surprised by what you've learned about Lincoln's leadership while in office?
Required Reading
Before you enter the discussion, be sure to read the related pages in your textbook. If you're using Tindall and Shi, see:
| 8th Edition | 7th Edition | 6th Edition | 5th Edition |
| Chapter 17, pages 648-699 | Chapter 17, pages 607-656 | Chapter 17, pages 655-710 | Chapter 17, pages 723-785 |
If you choose to write about slavery, follow these links to some helpful documents:
Emancipation Proclamation. May 8, 2000.
Full text of the Emancipation Proclamation
Full text of the Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln: First Inaugural Address. March 20, 2000.
Full text of Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
Full text of Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
Scoring
This discussion is worth a maximum of 15 points. You'll get 10 points for your first post. Your instructor will give you another 5 points if you post a follow-up comment or question that furthers the discussion.
Original:
ReplyDeleteLincoln's actions around this issue was legal in my opinion, he used the necessary and proper clause to regain the southern states that separated from the union. he was a good leader because he wanted to keep the union together and by passing emancipation of proclamation it would hurt south interest which would cause them to lose the war. By hurting south interest it may cause them to join the union once more.Lincoln's decision around the military strategy was legal because ordering a blockade of the southern border was necessary due to the war between sides,It was a strategy used to protect the northern interest. His military action of 75,000 military men to subdue the rebel states were justifiable because Lincoln wanted the american society to remain a union and stop potential war.
Original:
ReplyDeleteLincoln’s words and actions regarding slavery are controversial based on legality. Through the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln declared all slave free. However, there were no legal materials that supported or challenged his decision. The issue of slavery was based on what the people of the United States decided. Lincoln freed the slaves in order to prevent the southern states from winning their independence. I believe Lincoln does seem like a good leader in this case because he put aside his own ideals in order to serve the bigger picture. Lincoln was not against slavery, however, he freed the slaves in order to preserve the union.
Original:
ReplyDeleteI think Lincoln was a realist because he did not wait to initiate any of his plans. He set a plan of action and moved forward on it. Lincoln knew the South was going to succeed from the union and that war was inevitable, so he acted on it and freed the slaves in order to gain the upper hand on the South. I do not think Lincoln acted on his principles, however, I do not believe that he lacked principles. Lincoln knew where he stood, however, he put aside his ideals for the betterment of the country.
To Shevana:
ReplyDeleteI disagree with your statement, I think Lincolns actions were legal; he did what was necessary to unite the union although it resulted in war.
Original:
ReplyDeleteLincoln did what he had to do in order to preserve the Union and that included suspending the writ of habeas corpus in which judges could require arresting officers to produce their prisoners and justify their arrest. Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus on the grounds that if Maryland seceded into the Confederacy, Washington D.C. would be isolated and surrounded by Confederate states. Thus, Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus in order to throw the pro-Confederate leaders in jail without having to justify their arrest with evidence. While the suspension may be considered unorthodox and seen as mistreatment of presidential power, it was necessary in order to continue the war with chances of winning. This may not have been legal but it was certainly the case in which the end justified the means and in order to achieve the greater good, some sacrifices must be made.
Original:
ReplyDeleteI believe that Lincoln was a realist because he viewed actions as they were and counteracted them in the best way possible. He knew that ignoring this issue of slavery and secession was out of the question and he acted on both issues accordingly. After all, the first bullets fired were by confederate soldiers, not union soldiers so his hand was forced and he dealt with everything admiringly.
President Lincoln to this day is considered the most popular president besides George Washington. Although he is still a very controversial figure, he was and is the man that kept the union together. Lincoln was racist, he held a clear view that whites were superiorto blacks, yet he freed the slaves. He did this to keep the union together, and eventually felt slavery was wrong. But his words were at the time considered illegal by many. He greatly expanded the neccessary and proper claues in order to free the slaves and preserve the union.
ReplyDeleteShevana: I agree with your analysis but I think Lincolns words were perfectly legal. The basis of the revolution is that all men were created equal, if one were o interpret that, it would be that ALL MEN are created equal. If the framers felt it was just white men, they would have wrote that. Just because some had though tthat, does not mean they all did. I think the constitution is clear and Lincolns actions were legal.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Emancipation Proclamation, I believe that Lincoln's actions were justified, but not necessarily legal. I completely believe that his decision to set free the slaves has justified and instrumental in saving the Union, but the Confederacy was i different entity from the Union at the time, and technically Lincoln shouldn't have had jurisdiction there.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Lincoln was a realist because even though he didn't support the abolition of slavery, he knew that freeing the slaves would serve to be a turning point in the war in favor of the Union. It brought a moral issue to the war, and both increased the manpower of the Union and decreased the manpower of the Confederacy.
ReplyDeletePresident Lincoln may clearly be seen as a controversial individual based on his interpretation of the elastic clause and his actions concerning slavery. Lincolns main priority was always to preserver the Union and with that came responsibilites that needed to be dealt with. Although Lincoln did not disagree with slavery he chose to fight against it and free the slaves in order to attain his personal goal of preserving the Union. Even though he may have expanded the power of the elastic clause he was only acting in a manner that would preserver the Union which he felt was the means for a successful society.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Lincoln was a realist because he acted in manners that would realistically benefit the nation as opposed to idealistically. The issue of slavery was a conflict that needed to be handled in order to preserve the Union and Lincoln only acted in a way that he saw fit to resolve this conflict. Although he ideally wanted to preserve the Union he only acted in a realistic manner.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely with what Xander stated. Lincoln was indeed a racist but he changed his ways or overlooked them in order to be an excellent leader which he proved very well. Lincoln freed all slaves because he thought that was necessary and proper for the nation at that time.
ReplyDeleteLike all my peers i too agree that Lincoln was a realist because he over looked his own ideals and issues to deal with the issues that plagued the nations. this made him one of the most well known leaders of all time.
ReplyDeleteThe constitution appoints the President of the United states as the “Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states.” Lincoln extended the meaning of this clause, defending himself by saying, he had the right to use the means that were “both necessary and proper” to overcome the enemy, further nodding to the Constitution, this time to the “Necessary and Proper” clause. Under this umbrella of justification, Lincoln summoned the militia and called for a blockade of the Confederacy's ports. During this time he successfully expanded the regular army well beyond’s its legal limit and directed government funding before Congress even convened.
ReplyDeleteLincoln over stepped the line with the terms of this draft. Previously the Union depended on the states to fill “body quotas” with volunteers, much like today. However, upon the institution of this newly formed draft, all men between the ages of 20 an 45 were subject to military service. The interesting part of this draft was that one could avoid it simply by paying a $300 fine to the government or hiring someone to go in their place. With this practice the draft acquired the title of a “rich man’s law.”
Along with everyone else, I agree that Lincoln can be considered a realist, simply because he had the ability to look beyond his own thoughts, to do what he saw as the best option for the entire country, rather than just himself. He knew what it would take to get things done and he wasn't going to let a reputation or oppositions stop him.
ReplyDelete2nd Post:
ReplyDeleteI think Lincoln was a realist, he knew the issues at hand and conducted the proper procedures to accomplish his goals. I think he did act on principles, he wanted to abolish slavery since the beginning of his election. I am not surprised about Lincoln's leadership in office.
Lincoln’s words and actions regarding slavery are controversial because it implied recognition of the Confederacy as a separate nation under international law, a notion that Lincoln steadfastly denied. As a result, he did not promote the contraband designation. Some generals also declared the slaves under their jurisdiction to be free and were replaced when they refused to rescind such declarations.
ReplyDeleteLincoln was a realist. Lincoln, then, neither deliberately provoked war nor followed the most peaceable course imaginable. Instead, he was a realist who acknowledged the possibility that his policy risked conflict. According to Stampp, Lincoln developed a "strategy of defe nse," by which he would hold federal property by means that would be considered defensive, not coercive. Thus, despite his cabinet's almost unanimous approval initially to withdraw from Sumter, Lincoln continued to search for ways to relieve it. He himself formulated the idea of sending in provisions unless resistance occurred, and of providing advance notice to the South Carolina government. The South, then, would have to bear the onus of firing the first shot, and firing it against an unarme d ship bringing food to hungry troops.
ReplyDelete