Tyrant in a Top Hat

by Christopher Armitage, Martin Armitage

Abraham Tyrant in a Top Hat dismantles the hallowed reputation of America’s sixteenth president, daring readers to question whether the Civil War was about ending slavery—or enforcing federal dominance at any cost. Drawing on first-person accounts from Confederate commissioners, Lincoln’s wartime proclamations (including Proclamation 94 of 1862), and modern Civil War scholarship such as James McPherson’s Battle Cry of Freedom, this revisionist history exposes a leader who suspended habeas corpus, silenced opposition newspapers, and embraced scorched-earth tactics—all while insisting national unity justified extreme measures.

Yet the South’s defense of slavery, unequivocally condemned here, does not excuse the staggering toll of more than 700,000 deaths. Diaries from both Union and Confederate soldiers reveal shattered families, burned cities, and a country scarred beyond recognition. Meanwhile, evidence—from Britain’s peaceful abolition in 1833 to the economic vulnerabilities of a standalone Confederacy—suggests that targeted sanctions and diplomatic pressure might have collapsed slavery without all-out war.

This provocative reevaluation also challenges the belief that moral fervor drove Lincoln to emancipate. The Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved people only where the Union had no authority, leaving loyal border states untouched. By envisioning a European Union–style framework that respects regional autonomy, the author explores how the principle of consent of the governed might have prevailed over coercion.

For those craving an unflinching critique of the “Great Emancipator,” and a deeper grasp of how forced unity still shapes America today, Abraham Tyrant in a Top Hat is indispensable. Combining meticulous research with fearless revisionism, it pushes readers to reconsider whether Lincoln truly served liberty—or if he merely cemented a legacy of centralized power at a devastating human cost.

252 pages, Hardcover

Published January 17, 2025

Reviews

[Hamel T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable!

[Kimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly was so surprised to learn this and listen to your interview!

[Hades · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow the thing about the journalist was crazy

[Henny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brave take on who's usually revered . I loved what you had to share

[Ph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lincoln Lincoln 2 by 4 wouldn't let the journalist speak no more

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never would have thought

[Veronics · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would've never thought 🙀

[Ares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow the reporter thing was crazy makes sense though but had no idea he was that shitty

[Jay Von · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typical u s. Propaganda to make the bad guy the hero

[Oreo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lincoln out here taking credit

[Jasper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leave it to school to lie about history

[Gerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so the opposite of what is taught heavily