Abraham Lincoln and the Second American Revolution

McPherson is among America's finest historians. Battle Cry of Freedom, his Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the Civil War, was a nat'l bestseller that Hugh Brogan, in The NY Times Book Review, called "history writing of the highest order." That volume gathered in the broad sweep of events, the political, social & cultural forces at work during the Civil War era. Abraham Lincoln & the 2nd American Revolution offers a series of thoughtful essays on aspects of Lincoln & the war that have rarely been discussed in depth. McPherson again displays his insight & sterling prose as he examines several critical themes. He looks closely at the President's role as Commander-in-Chief of Union forces, showing how Lincoln forged a nat'l military strategy for victory. He explores the importance of Lincoln's rhetorical skills, uncovering how--thru parables & figurative language--he was uniquely able to communicate both the purpose of the war & a new meaning of liberty to Northerners. Another section examines the Civil War as a 2nd American Revolution, describing how the Republican Congress elected in 1860 passed a blitz of new laws (rivaling the New Deal's 1st 100 days), & how the war not only destroyed the social structure of the old South, but radically altered the American balance of power, ending 70 years of Southern power in the nat'l gov't. The Civil War was the single most transforming & defining experience in US history & Lincoln remains the most important figure in its mythology. These essays offer fresh perspectives on both.

Preface

Acknowledgments

1 The second American revolution

2 Abraham Lincoln & the second American revolution

3 Lincoln & liberty

4 Lincoln & the strategy of unconditional surrender

5 How Lincoln won the war with metaphors

6 The hedgehog & the foxes

7 Liberty & power in the second American revolution

Notes

Index