Lincoln and Revolutionary Transformation The Second American Revolution Introduction
The Second American Revolution
As a preliminary matter, the overarching theme of the book is the notion that the American Civil War functioned as Americas second revolution. This is an interesting premise because it recharacterizes a pivotal moment in American history and portrays the conflict between the Unionists and the Confederates as a nation building phenomenon that was truly transformational. This view of the American Civil War as a revolutionary conflict is demonstrated both in terms of the rhetoric employed by those opposing secession and by the transformational effects of the conflict.
In vivid detail, the author is careful and diligent in setting forth the revolutionary language and philosophies relied upon by those who opposed secession. In fact, the notion that this American conflict would rise to the level of a revolution was embraced both domestically and internationally. Illustrative of this type of revolutionary rhetoric were pointed attacks issued by such influential persons as Thaddeus Young, James A. Garfield, and even Karl Marx. In one speech before the American Civil War formally commenced, for example, Garfield
called for the confiscation of the land of Confederate planters and its redistribution among freed slaves and white Unionists in the South. To illustrate the need for such action, he drew upon the experience of the English revolution against the Stuarts and the American Revolution against Britain.
In effect, Garfield like many of his contemporaries viewed the impending conflict as a genuine revolution and drew upon previous historical revolutions in order to highlight the severity of the dispute and the significance of the ultimate consequences for America. His speeches also foreshadowed Lincolns unconditional surrender approach to the enemy. In addition to detailing the revolutionary language and philosophies of Unionist leaders, the book also supports its thesis that the American Civil War constituted a revolution by pointing out the transformational effects of the conflict. To this end, the author points out that
The liberation of four million slaves, along with destruction of the Souths political domination of national affairs and of the social order on which that domination was founded, metamorphosed a region (the former slave states) more than three times as large as France.
In short, by comparing the American Civil War to revolutions against England and within France, the author sets forth a compelling argument to view the American Civil War as a larger and more pervasive revolution. This is because the United States were not yet made a truly unified nation, because Unionists themselves perceived the impending conflict as being revolutionary in nature, and because the consequences of the conflict were transformational in a truly revolutionary sense. This argument is highly persuasive and this contributes positively to a better understanding of the nature of the American Civil War.
Causes and Motivation
An additional positive contribution that this book makes is with respect to the underlying causes and motivations of the American Civil War. Conventional wisdom tends to assume that the American Civil War was simply about slavery. While the issue of slavery was certainly important, and while the abolitionist movement certainly supported the Unionist cause in most respects, this book points out that slavery was simply one of many causes leading to the American Civil War. The book points out several different analytical frameworks for viewing the American Civil War. Some of these analytical frameworks focus on the economic conflict between a free labor northern economy and a slave labor Southern economy, a Marxist class-based analysis, and even a school of thought which has characterized the American Civil War as the last great capitalist revolution. By setting forth all of these different approaches to the American Civil War, this book presents a more nuanced view of causes and motivations to be sure, the American Civil War was about more than slavery. The author makes this point by referring to one of the most highly respected American Civil War scholars the notion of the Civil War as the second American Revolution is identified most closely with Charles A. Beard. But in Beards view, slavery and emancipation were almost incidental to the real causes and consequences of the war. This book therefore contributes two fascinating and important new ideas regarding the American Civil War. First, it argues that the American Civil War should in reality be viewed as a second American Revolution. Second, it argues that slavery should not be viewed as the sole causal factor when discussing or analyzing the American Civil War. This book, in short, suggests important new ways of viewing the American Civil War.
Lincolns Leadership Political Thought and Communication
In addition to viewing the American Civil War as a revolution, the book also examines Abraham Lincolns leadership from a variety of different perspectives. What is most interesting, however, is how the book demonstrates an evolution of Abraham Lincolns approach to southern secession generally and to slavery more particularly. It is interesting because Lincoln is viewed as an essentially conservative thinker and politician whom became more radical and revolutionary as events transpired. With respect to slavery and emancipation, for example, Lincoln initially assumed a rather mild approach. Rather than demanding an immediate end to slavery
His preferred solution of the slavery problem, Randall pointed out, was a program of gradual, compensated emancipation with the consent of the owners, stretching over a generation or more, with provision for the colonization abroad of emancipated slaves to minimize the potential for racial conflict and social disorder.
To some extant, as the book demonstrates, Lincoln was hesitant to embrace the revolutionary approaches advocated by Radical republicans such as Thaddeus Young and James A. Garfield. He sought out and hoped for compromise. When it became apparent to Lincoln that compromise would not be possible, Lincolns position hardened. The book examines the hardening of Lincolns positions, and the evolution of his political thought at the time, in reference to his ultimate unconditional surrender doctrine and his use of language in speeches. With respect to unconditional surrender the book explains how Lincoln developed a hands-on approach to his role as commander in chief, how he came to embrace the idea that compromise would only result in continued conflict, and that unconditional surrender meant a pervasive dismantling of southern politics, economic structures, and even social relationships.
History demonstrates that Lincoln was uncompromising in his pursuit of a unified America, that he used force in a manner that led to an extraordinarily destructive civil war, and that he viewed the conflict in zero-sum terms. Specifically, there could be no partial secession or other political compromise that did not completely result in the primacy of the federal government and the resolution of the conflict on Lincolns terms. The assertions in this books essays to the effect that Lincoln was fierce in moments of crisis has been echoed by other scholars. Lincoln exercised power in ways that were deemed to be both illegal and constitutionally impermissible for instance, Lincoln was willing to use extraordinary measures. These extraordinary measures included raising an army without congressional approval, the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, the military arrests--without due process of law--of thousands of critics of the war.
Another essay in the book cleverly demonstrates how Lincolns political thought was expressed through the use of various metaphors. He used these metaphors to inspire his supporters and to highlight the general principles which he believed were most relevant to a young American nation. At one point, the author suggests that because Lincoln was a more effective communicator than Jefferson Davis, mainly through his timely use of figurative language, that he was able to win the public relations war at the time and force through a revolutionary agenda. The book recounts a number of Lincolns colorful stories and metaphors and attributes this story telling aptitude to Lincolns time spent with common people outdoors. In sum, this book presents an interesting evolutionary view of Lincolns political thought and an entertaining account of his role as an effective communicator.
In the final analysis, this is an excellent book. It forces the reader to view both the American Civil War and Abraham Lincoln in a more nuanced manner while at the same time recounting entertaining anecdotes about Lincolns use of language to lead during that difficult time in American history.
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