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Title: Lincoln and Black Freedom: A Study in Presidential Leadership by Lawanda C. Fenlason Cox, James M. McPherson ISBN: 0-87249-997-9 Publisher: University of South Carolina Press Pub. Date: January, 1994 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.33 (3 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Lincoln and Black Freedom
Comment: The title of LaWanda Cox's Lincoln and Black Freedom may be somewhat misleading. At first glance, the reader may assume that this book is simply a hybrid of two familiar animals in postbellum literature-a biography of Abraham Lincoln and a survey of African-American efforts to better their condition. Yet while the actions and attitudes of Lincoln may be the primary subject of the work, most of the book focuses on the deeds of lesser men in relation and response to his efforts in reconstructing Louisiana. While the efforts of black Americans themselves are all but entirely missing, this is still a great book that succeeds in its mission to reexamine the actions and intentions of Lincoln and reflect on what might have been had he lived.
Cox begins her study with an investigation of Lincoln's own personal beliefs about emancipation, black suffrage, equal rights, and the creation a biracial society. Despite some historians who had recently questioned his dedication to abolition and egalitarianism, Cox convincingly portrays Lincoln as equally committed to the Radicals' goals while transcending their limited ability to understand that politics is "the art of the possible."
While regional politicians such as Thaddeus Stevens had the luxury of being able to unequivocally condemn the South and her peculiar institution, Lincoln knew that his obligation as President required a message of conciliation, leading rather than pushing towards egalitarian goals that could be reasonably achieved as the opportunity presented itself and in a manner consistent with legal and political norms.
Lincoln was passionately and publicly opposed to slavery. But he was equally concerned with the preservation of the union and adhering to the Constitution. Cox's many assertions that Lincoln was cautious in his maneuvering while consistent in his beliefs are backed by scores of examples taken from Lincoln's own words of instruction. These words, of necessity, may have been privately conveyed, but they were no less uncompromising in their message that the Union must be preserved while slavery must be destroyed.
One of many examples Cox employs to illustrate this point is the action of James McKaye, Lincoln's liaison to the Freedman's Inquiry Commission. The group outlined a plan for dealing with former slaves that would later serve as the model for "Radical Reconstruction" based on citizenship, suffrage, and landownership. Even amongst radicals of the day such as Charles Sumner, McKaye was the most progressive member. Although Lincoln did not lead the group or outline their objectives, Cox reminds the reader that it would be atypical of Lincoln to allow a subordinate such as McKaye to act without first consulting the President.
The core of LaWanda Cox's work is a review and reinterpretation of Lincoln's attempt at Reconstruction in Louisiana prior to his death in 1865. Because Lincoln did not view the Presidency as a endowment to act upon his own beliefs-a view that is reinforced by his moderation in forming executive policies while pressing local officials to be more progressive, such examples as the Louisiana "experiment" may serve as the best model for understanding Lincoln's true intentions for Reconstruction as well as his personal beliefs about black freedom.
Cox joins most historians in acknowledging that Lincoln's first priority in the struggle to reconstruct former rebel states was to aid the Union cause. The Ten Percent Plan was intended to quickly create a "rallying point" for southern loyalists while delivering the Confederacy an important psychological defeat. But Cox examines in great detail the behind the scenes actions of President Lincoln in assuring that the Louisiana government abolish slavery, and if possible, enfranchise black males with the right to vote.
Lincoln was concerned about the permanent legal status of persons emancipated under a wartime proclamation. He knew that the only guarantee against a reverse of the freedman's status was for the states themselves to abolish slavery in their constitutions. He ordered his military governor, Nathaniel Banks, to quickly hold elections and create such a constitution. Lincoln was sure that the Republican Congress would surely ratify such a document, setting a precedent for readmission that would require permanent emancipation before the elections of 1864 would give the Democrats the opportunity to interfere.
The resulting elections and constitutional convention did result in a relatively progressive government in Louisiana by February 1864. In fact, the new constitution not only outlawed slavery but also included equality before the law. Its framers were open to gradual black suffrage. As Cox illustrates, Lincoln used his powers of influence and patronage to prod the fledgling government into accepting these provisions. Unfortunately, a controversy arose over the readmission of the new government that all but destroyed its legitimacy after the Republican Congress denied its petition.
The conflict erupted from the fallout of an ugly campaign that resembled a soap opera more than a free election. The contest for governor pitted Governor Banks' candidate, Michael Hahn, against Free State Committee leader Thomas Durant. Although there was no essential matter of principle that divided the two men or their followers, (both were committed to abolition and to the idea of extending civil rights to blacks but were hesitant about immediate suffrage) governor Bank's un-Lincolnian style of management by force and Congress' distrust of Lincoln's methods such as military occupation caused Durant and his followers to discredit the Louisiana government after losing the election. The tragic irony, as Cox points out, was that the government that Lincoln had engineered through Banks was even more radical than what was Congress outlined in its own wish list, the Wade-Davis Bill.
Cox's final chapter entitled "Reflections on the Limits of the Possible" compares the policies, skills, and beliefs of Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses Grant, and the Republican Congress as a whole and explores the great question of what might have been. Her conclusion is that the ten-year battle between Congress and the Executive would have likely been reduced to a discussion of how to achieve the mutually accepted goal of guaranteeing the rights of the freed slaves. The Republican Party, especially in the South, would have benefited by association with the political skill and moderation of Lincoln rather than with the single-minded "Radical Yankee Republicans" of Congress. Had a stronger Republican party taken root, it may have resulted in a viable two party system that would have made the inevitable transition to home rule more agreeable. Yet even Lincoln could not have immediately guaranteed and enforced equal rights for the freedmen because racism was firmly entrenched and the Southern economy offered no assistance. Even the most radical plan of land redistribution failed to provide a means to revive the Southern economy. Even so, Cox provides a compelling argument to support her case that had Lincoln been able to extend his Louisiana program of consent and force, Reconstruction would have been much more successful.
Rating: 5
Summary: The Great Emancipator
Comment: Just by briefly glancing at the pages of Amazon.com, one realizes that there are thousands of books about Abraham Lincoln. Within these books are hundreds of "different" Abraham Lincolns. Some of these Lincolns have different ideas, different policies, and different strategies twords winning the war than other Lincolns. Nowhere is this battle over Lincoln more hard fought than the idea of Lincoln the Emancipator.
Lawanda Cox in her wonderful book LINCOLN AND BLACK FREEDOM comes down soldly and convincingly on the side of Lincoln as an active agent working for the end of slavery. Cox demonstrates this, amoung other ways, by closly examining Lincoln's policy twords slavery in La, and by examining Lincoln the politician.
Cox almost never misses in her closely argued, complex arguments. For the reader interested in emancipation, the Civil War and especially Abraham Lincoln, the book is a must-read.
Rating: 4
Summary: Presidential Power
Comment: Lawanda Cox discusses at length the steps that Lincoln follows to ensure emancipation and the survival of the union after the Civil War. Lincoln leadership and strategies is the main topic of the book is. At many times, this book is about building Lincolns reputation as a great leader. Reconstruction, post Civil War, is the time period when this book first leads off. Lincoln immediately uses his talent to hold the nation together. Cox's audience is obviously anyone that has ever question just how brilliant and talented Lincoln really was. This is a great source to see just how strategic Lincoln was to keep the union together and go through with the emancipation. College students could use this book as part of a biography to give examples on what steps Lincoln used during his presidency. This book should be part of everyone's Civil War library. The author, LaWanda Cox is a, "seasoned Reconstruction scholar," wrote Thomas Schott. With the research that I have done, I can only agree with Mr.Schott. She has also written another book about Reconstruction called Freedom, Racism, and Reconstruction : Collected Writings of Lawanda Cox.. Lawanda Cox is a leading Reconstruction historian. She is a professor of history at Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. In 1992 she received the Southern Historical Associations' first citation for lifetime of to the field of Southern History. In writing this book, Cox uses several primary and secondary sources. Many different books about Reconstruction and black freedom were consulted when this book was put together. Most of her sources were books written by a variety of authors. In my opinion, she seemed to cover just about everything. LaWanda is very objective throughout the book. She is quick to support Lincoln in everything that he does, but does also criticize him at times. For example, "Lincoln's effort to enlist, or a t least neutralize, economic interest and portraying compensation for slaves as money saved from the cost of war depended upon his main contention that the war should be shortened and was similarly vulnerable," criticizes Lincoln a little, but also writes, "Lincoln's extraordinary effort on behalf of gradual, compensated emancipation," and much later, "If any man could met the challenge, that man was Lincoln." She looks at Lincoln as a great leader. So great as to not give in to the radicals, develop and follow the ten percent plan, and realize that small, sometimes flexible steps needed to be taken throughout Reconstruction. Lincoln has always been considered one of America's greatest presidents. This book takes a giant leap to prove that to any non-believer. Cox's shows Lincoln strengths when dealing with other people. Lincoln had clear plan, but Cox's shows how flexible he was in the emancipation in using other people suggestions. He does just this in Louisiana. Lincoln does what he can to create and recognize Louisiana as a state. It was not Lincoln that was doing the dirty work, Cox explained. Most of the time he had someone pass his own words. Lincoln avoided developing a connection between recognition of a state and abolition of slavery. Cox in the end of the book goes on to express what may have happen if Lincoln had remained president. With the strategic power that Lincoln had, he may settled the race issue much sooner. Cox points out how Andrew Johnson was so weak compared to Lincoln. Johnson was not only a weak president, but also had southern roots. Cox thinks Lincoln would have went as far as military force to see what he wanted carried out. Cox writes, "Given the difference in principle and prejudice between Lincoln and Johnson, Reconstruction history would have followed a different path both at the nation's capital and in the secession states of the South had Lincoln lived out his second term of office. Of that there can be no doubt." The style of this book can be very confusing at times. To me it seems to go over the same point over and over. Emancipation was the most confusing of all the things I read. A preliminary emancipation was issued followed by a warning of emancipation, and then a test emancipation all going on at different times in Louisiana. It was in chronological order making it easier for me to read since I have some knowledge of the Reconstruction Era. The book I thought was original. I read new information every time I picked up the book. Cox used many different sources when writing this book. It is not the first book on Lincoln as a Presidential Leader. It refines Lincoln during the Reconstruction Era smoothing out the facts about his strategy. Many people have written books about Lincoln in the past. This is LaWand Cox's second book about Lincoln. LaWanda Cox's book does get more original towards the end of the book when she considers what could have happened had Lincoln continued to be President. The book reviews that I looked seemed to agree that LaWanda Cox's Lincoln and Black Freedom is a great source of information and plainly fascinating. Fresh and sharp were two words that described it according to one critic. She was considered a seasoned Reconstruction author that should receive every ounce of credit for her book. Recently a book was written from a collection of Cox's books, Freedom, Racism, and Reconstruction : Collected Writings of Lawanda Cox. From reading all the reviews LaWanda Cox is consider a scholar of Southern Reconstruction. If you are interested in presidential strategy, emancipation, reconstruction, or just Lincoln, then you should add this book to your library of American History. However, this book is very difficult to read. You need some kind of a background in the Reconstruction Era to appreciate this book. For all the detail, strategy, and depth, all scholars should read this book.
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Title: The Presidency of Abraham Lincoln (American Presidency Series) by Phillip Shaw Paludan ISBN: 0700607455 Publisher: Univ Pr of Kansas Pub. Date: November, 1995 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Prelude to Greatness Lincoln in the 1850's by Don E. Fehrenbacher ISBN: 0804701202 Publisher: Stanford Univ Pr Pub. Date: December, 1962 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: American Slavery : 1619-1877 by Peter Kolchin ISBN: 0809016303 Publisher: Hill & Wang Pub Pub. Date: 01 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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