Lincoln found himself in the role of commander in chief almost immediately after his inauguration, as the southern states began to secede from the Union. Lincoln had to make some very important decisions during the war that not only helped to win the war but also tested the Constitution, sometimes at odds with the constitution and often at odds with the ideas of his military commanders. President Lincoln's exercise of power during the war demonstrated how far the authority of the presidency could be expanded in wartime. Lincoln believed he faced a choice between preserving the Union and adhering to a strict interpretation of the constitution. He feared that if he carefully observed the law he would sacrifice the flexibility necessary to prevent the destruction of the nation.
As commander in chief, it was Lincoln who had to raise armies, fond generals, take responsibility for victory or defeat. It was only as commander in chief that Lincoln could constitutionally free the slaves. It was Lincoln who, in order to wage war, had to hold together a fractious, divided North, including the strategic but slave-owning Border States. And it was Lincoln who, out of his deep belief in democracy, had to cast and recast0 for both North and South, for both soldier and civilian-the issues that were being decided by the enormous bloodshed and suffering all was enduring.
On April 12, 1861 the Civil war began when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter. Lincoln called up many of the state militias in the northern states and increased the size of the Union armed forces. He also allocated increased funding to the armed services, despite lacking Congressional approval. Lincoln took this as an act of war and immediately called for 75,000 volunteer to serve for three months. He also called congress into special sessions, but set the convening date for July 4, which was eighty days away. The President proclaimed a blockade of the ports of the states in rebellion.
Lincoln was surrounded by chaos during the war years. ... For Lincoln, the concept of a democratic America symbolized "the last, best hope of earth." ... Lincoln vowed to preserve the Union even if it meant war. ... Lincoln's policy of emancipation as more than simply a way to prevent foreign intervention. ... For Lincoln, such a nation lived up to its ideals not only in word but also in action. ...
Abraham Lincoln never believed in equality for blacks. ... Lincoln believed that slavery was wrong, but was in no sense an abolitionist. ... Lincoln never viewed the war as a means to end slavery. ... It was the embodiment of Lincoln's beliefs: free but unequal. Although Lincoln believed that blacks should not be equal to whites, Lincoln was against slavery, for it deprived blacks of basic rights. ...
ABRAHAM LINCOLN Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in Kentucky. ... When Lincoln was seven his family moved to Indiana. ... Lincoln attended Ford's Theater that day. ... Lincoln was stolen from his grave at Oak Ridge. ... May Abraham Lincoln rest in peace. ...
Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin on the frontier in rural Kentucky in 1809, to parents of low social standing and little education. ... When he was only 9 years old, his mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, died. ... Lincoln had less than one full year of education in his entire life. ... Lincoln began to court Mary Owens. ... The Lincolns had four sons. ...
Abraham Lincoln With his cabinet Abraham Lincoln is regarded by many historians as the greatest president ever to stand at America's helm. ... In the beginning, Lincoln's secretary of state, William H. ... Chase, Lincoln's first secretary of the treasury. ... Lincoln's personal secretary, John Nicolay, wrote, "There is enough in Chase's letters abusing Lincoln behind his back for quite a scorcher." ... Even so, Lincoln, against all odds, looms as the greatest of Presidents....
Lincoln than most know. ... On Sunday, Feburary 12, 1809 Thomas and Nancy Lincoln give brith to Abraham Lincoln in a log cabin near Hodgenville Kentucky. ... In 1818 tradgity strikes the Lincoln's as Nancy dies from milk sickness. ... The next year Lincoln takes a floatboat trip to New Orleans. ... Thankfully Lincoln happened to like his stepmother. ...
Abraham Lincoln • Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin in 1809 near Hodgenville, Kentucky. ... • In 1836, Lincoln became a lawyer. ... • In 1846 Lincoln ran for the United States House of Representatives and won. ... • Abraham Lincoln is elected as 16th U.S. president and the first Republican. ... • Lincoln and his wife Mary see the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theater. ...
Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin near Hodgenville, KY. ... His father was Samuel Lincoln and his mother was Nancy Lincoln they married on June 12, 1806, 3 years before Lincoln's birth. ... After his mother died the Lincolns had a hard time keeping there house functioning. ... Lincoln was encouraged to study law by Stuart and he obtained a license on Sept, 9 1837. In 1859 Lincoln moved to Springfield to become Stuart's partner in Law. ...
Lincoln never said he would get rid of slavery. ... That is why they thought that President Lincoln was going to free all slaves. Abraham Lincoln never narrated that he would get rid of all slavery. ... Lincoln did think getting rid of slavery would be gracious. ... Abraham Lincoln never showed that he could be trusted on ending slavery. ...
