ABRAHAM LINCOLN

PEACE DEMOCRATS

Peace Democrats adopt "24 Resolves" about the Civil War.
The 24th Resolve is the most famous:
"Further offensive prosecution of this war tends to subvert the Constitution and the government, and entail upon this nation all the disastrous consequences of misrule and anarchy."

Question

Questions for discussion:
1. What could a president gain by answering his critics?
2. What could a president lose by answering his critics?
3. If you were the adviser to the president, would you suggest he answer or ignore critics?

LINCOLN DEFENDS THE WAR:

JAMES CONKLING

LINCOLN LETTER OF 3 SEPT. 1863:

• Black men "have helped mankind on to this great consummation."
• Many white men "strove to hinder it."
• Black men have "clenched teeth and steady eye."
• Many white men have "a malignant heart."

Questions for discussion:
1. Why might Lincoln have used that imagery?
2. What is a "malignant heart?"
3. What is the "great consummation" Lincoln talks about?

JAMES CONKLING:

Praise for Lincoln's Letter:
"Thanks for your true and noble letter. It is an historical document."
- Charles Sumner
"It will be on the lips and in the hearts of hundreds of thousands this day."
- Henry Wilson

REPUBLICANS REVOLT:

Question for discussion:
What influence do political parties have on elections in the United States?
What are the pros and cons of having only two major political parties?

Radical Republicans thought Lincoln wasn't moving quickly enough against the South; moderate Republicans thought he was moving too quickly.

LINCOLN'S LETTERS