Abraham Lincoln's Path to Reelection in 1864: Our Greatest Victory

by Fred J Martin Jr

The fate of the Union and the emancipation of slaves were at stake in the national election of 1864. It was the most important election in the history of the United States, and a beacon of hope for the world. As Abraham Lincoln explained: “The most reliable indication of public purpose in this country is derived though our popular elections.” Lincoln’s presidency is taken step by step, and the words quoted are Lincoln’s own, and so too the words of opponents and allies. Lincoln took office faced with a bankrupt nation without a currency, a tax structure, a functioning government, or a loyal and effective military. The book addresses Lincoln’s oversight of the national reconstruction while functioning as commander-in-chief. This is the story of how Lincoln mastered language, and how his words changed public perspective, drove home emancipation, reignited the ideals of freedom, and saved democratic government. In all he said, Lincoln’s words speak freedom to peoples the world over today as in 1864.

532 pages, Hardcover

First published February 15, 2014

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an extremely well-researched book. Martin clearly is an expert on Lincoln and uses original documents. The problem is that Martin does not really tell any kind of story here. It's really just a long list of facts on each page; some of which apply to the topic at hand and others that don't, making the reader wonder why this or that paragraph was placed where it was. This is unfortunate, as Martin has all of the elements to tell a great story about Lincoln - how he handled his opposition, how he stayed true to his values, how he was a masterful politician.

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fred J. Martin Jr.’s book doesn’t just trace a president’s road to reelection—it examines how fragile democracy can be when tested by war, division, and doubt. Instead of focusing on battles, the narrative foregrounds Lincoln’s words, his ability to shape meaning in a time of chaos, and his resilience when even allies abandoned hope. The story unfolds as both a history lesson and a meditation on leadership, showing how one man’s steadiness helped steady a nation. Concise yet profound, it reminds us that survival sometimes depends less on strength than on clarity of vision.