Father Abraham: Lincoln's Relentless Struggle to End Slavery

by Richard Striner

Lincoln is the single most compelling figure in our history, but also one of the most enigmatic. Was he the Great Emancipator, a man of deep convictions who ended slavery in the United States, or simply a reluctant politician compelled by the force of events to free the slaves? In Father
Abraham , Richard Striner offers a fresh portrait of Lincoln, one that helps us make sense of his many contradictions.
Striner shows first that, if you examine the speeches that Lincoln made in the 1850s, you will have no doubt of his passion to end slavery. These speeches illuminate the anger, vehemence, and sheer brilliance of candidate Lincoln, who worked up crowds with charismatic fervor as he gathered a
national following. But if he felt so passionately about abolition, why did he wait so long to release the Emancipation Proclamation? As Striner points out, politics is the art of the possible, and Lincoln was a consummate politician, a shrewd manipulator who cloaked his visionary ethics in the more
pragmatic garb of the coalition-builder. He was at bottom a Machiavellian prince for a democratic age. When secession began, Lincoln used the battle cry of saving the Union to build a power base, one that would eventually break the slave-holding states forever. Striner argues that Lincoln was a rare
man a fervent idealist and a crafty politician with a remarkable gift for strategy. It was the harmonious blend of these two qualities, Striner concludes, that made Lincoln's role in ending slavery so fundamental.
Father Abraham challenges recent portraits of Lincoln as an essentially passive politician and reluctant abolitionist. Exhaustively researched and crisply argued, this superb book gives us a new appreciation of Lincoln as moral leader.

Genres: History, American Civil War, Civil War

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a good job of starting with Lincoln's anti-slavery views that were rooted in his trip to New Orleans as a young man. He was a politician and fully understood timing - and that you simply cannot get to far out front of those whom you would lead, and expect them to follow. Frederick Douglas and others were very impatient with Lincoln - and did not understand the art of politics. In hindsight most later admitted that Lincoln's approach was right.

[Glenn Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely fascinating bio on Lincoln that concentrates on his views of slavery, emancipation and integration of the freed citizens into the economy. The author brings to view many modern historians to interpret his views, the other leading politicians of the day and the major events that dictated the events leading to the emancipation of the slaves.

The writer had a take on the Dred Scott case not viewed by others-that the ruling did not only support that slaves are slaves because they are property and therefore it matters not where they are even outside the South, but this ruling made it clear that slavery could then expand to all states and territory and that all races could become enslaved by any other race.

Other topics were his attempts at colonization of freed slaves, dealing with the many states North and South, dealing with the wide range of politicians that went from slavery forever and everywhere to immediate emancipation from the first day of his presidency. Many in his own party felt he was too soft on his stance and there were calls to replace him in the 1864 elections (not successful).

For the recent trend that claim that Lincoln was racist and pro-slavery, this (and most other books) show all the steps he took for most of his life to end slavery. Clearly those that are trying to to paint Lincoln is a terrible light have a dark sinister agenda with a fiendish outcome. This book shows that Lincoln truly was a true leader that helped bring America closer to the Founding Father's statement that "All men are created equal..."

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Lincoln did much more than merely "save the union," and he did much more than "free the slaves." At the cost of some occasional deception--and at the cost of some 600,000 lives that were lost to the nation, including his own--it can be said that he saved our nation's soul. He was an indispensable genius such as no other figure in our past." You will not want to put this book down.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Lincoln and the Civil War are items of interest this in depth biography of America's Greatest President are a must read. This volume is filled with quotes and excerpts from speaches and writings of Lincoln prior to and during the war. It truly paints the picture of a man driven by convictions that slavery was wrong and the Union must be preserved at all costs.

[Jason Šimánek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I'm a little frustrated with my highschool education regarding Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Now looking for more books on the topic.