Skip to main content

What was the one thing that Lincoln would not do in order to avoid the Civil War?

Lincoln would not agree to let the Confederate states leave the Union without a fight.  This is in contrast with his predecessor, James Buchanan, as secession actually started with South Carolina in December 1860, and Lincoln did not take office until March 1861. Lincoln also would not sign off on the Crittenden Compromise, which would have added amendments that would protect slavery in order to placate the South. Lincoln felt that this would further tear...

Lincoln would not agree to let the Confederate states leave the Union without a fight.  This is in contrast with his predecessor, James Buchanan, as secession actually started with South Carolina in December 1860, and Lincoln did not take office until March 1861. Lincoln also would not sign off on the Crittenden Compromise, which would have added amendments that would protect slavery in order to placate the South. Lincoln felt that this would further tear the country between abolitionist and slaveholder.  Lincoln would not fire the first shot in the Civil War; rather, he hoped that a calm response would let the secession crisis blow over as it had in the past--the South had threatened to secede a few times, most notably South Carolina under the Nullification Crisis.  The issue came to a head when South Carolina forces under P.G.T. Beauregard wanted to take Fort Sumter --Lincoln gave orders for the Fort Sumter defenders not to surrender, though he did not send any reinforcements or war supplies.  When the Confederates fired upon the fort in April 1861, Lincoln could claim that the South had fired the first shots in the war and that he was morally justified in using force to bring the states in rebellion back under federal control.  

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more