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Many historians and scholars choose him as the greatest U.S. president ever.

2006-12-12 21:04:19 · 4 answers · asked by tyrone b 6 in Arts & Humanities History

4 answers

While this may sound like an insult against Mr. Lincoln, I promise you that is not my intention. For the sake of his place in history, though, I think the luckiest thing that happened to Lincoln was his assasination. Please let me explain...

For most of American history, and certainly throughout the 19th century, America was dominated by the Congress. Strong presidents were the exception, not the rule. Mr. Lincoln's powers flowed from one all important fact -- the Civil War. In crisis (in any country, at any time) power naturally flows to the center, as only the chief executive can provide the unifying leadership necessary to pull the nation through the disaster.

But as has been the case in American history, after the crisis, the Congress pulls back on the reins, and legislative power is once again reasserted with a vengeance. Such was the case for Mr. Lincoln's successor, Andrew Johnson. If Mr. Lincoln had lived, his policy of peaceful reconciliation with the Confederate states would have put him on a collision course with a Congress bent on revenge. I have little doubt that Mr. Lincoln would have had his wings clipped by Congress, and a great many historians who currently sing Lincoln's praises would be writing about his bland reconstruction plans, and how he sold the dreams of black Americans down the river to achieve a reunited union.

Please remember, Lincoln was a late-comer to the cause of abolition. And he publicly stated that if he could save the union without freeing the slaves he would have done so. Since his main objective was reunification, I don't doubt that he would have permitted the former slave states to institute their discriminatory "Jim Crow" laws to keep Black Americans down, and that he would have said that it was necessary to keep the states from rebelling again.

As stated, this would have put him at odds with a Congress out for blood. I don't think his second term would have been successful; and I think a lot of historians would be calling him wishy-washy, and an "appeaser." But, we'll never know, will we?

Cheers, mate.

2006-12-12 21:36:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

It is really hard to say what Lincoln would have accomplished if he wasn't assassinated, for one thing we will never know the answer to that question. And many historians and scholars do see Linconln as one of the greatest American presidents ever because he was president at one of America's darkest moments, he managed to fight and win a Civil War, and put the wheels in motion for legislation that made the Union free.

I think had he lived the process of Reconstruction would have marred his presidency like it did Andrew Johnson's presidency.

2006-12-13 12:32:37 · answer #2 · answered by Kathleen Z 2 · 0 0

Yeah, I guess I agree with the above poster that I've never heard Lincoln referred to as the greatest president ever. However, I've never heard them referred to as bad either (his slams on Lincoln and Kennedy--let's face it, they both did great things). I also agree with the first poster that said he wouldn't have fared as well had he survived. As we are learning in our current situation, winning a war and freeing slaves is one thing...keeping us out of war and changing people's way's of life are completely different. Reconstruction could not have been fun nor easy, and it was still going on, I believe, right through integration of schools in the 60s and 70s.

2006-12-13 07:56:41 · answer #3 · answered by just browsin 6 · 0 0

Not serious historians. Lincoln accomplished about as little as Kennedy. He was a waffler and a bully. And an egomaniac.

2006-12-13 05:36:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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