The Real Lincoln

"The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War" is a biography of Abraham Lincoln written by Thomas DiLorenzo in 2002. The biography differs from traditional books about Lincoln in presenting a severely critical view of his presidency.

In discussing Lincoln's legacy, DiLorenzo discusses civil liberties abuses such as the suspension of habeas corpus, violations of the first amendment, war crimes committed by generals in the American Civil War, and the expansion of government power. DiLorenzo argues that Lincoln's views on race exhibited forms of bigotry that are commonly overlooked today (See Abraham Lincoln on slavery). DiLorenzo also argues that Lincoln instigated the Civil War not over slavery but rather to centralize power and to enforce the strongly protectionist Morrill Tariff; similarly, he criticizes Lincoln for his strong support of Henry Clay's American System.

Criticism

Ken Masugi of the Claremont Institute in National Review contends that "DiLorenzo frequently distorts the meaning of the primary sources he cites, Lincoln most of all." Masugi states: "Consider this inflammatory assertion: "Eliminating every last black person from American soil, Lincoln proclaimed, would be 'a glorious consummation.'" Compare the nuances and qualifications in what Lincoln actually said: "If as the friends of colonization hope, the present and coming generations of our countrymen shall by any means, succeed in freeing our land from the dangerous presence of slavery; and, at the same time, in restoring a captive people to their long-lost father-land, with bright prospects for the future; and this too, so gradually, that neither races nor individuals shall have suffered by the change, it will indeed be a glorious consummation." One need not be a Lincoln admirer to recognize that DiLorenzo is making an unfair characterization." Masugi further asserts that DiLorenzo failed to recognize "a disunited America might have become prey for the designs of European imperial powers, which would have put an end to the experiment in self-government."cite journal
first =Ken
last =Masugi
authorlink =
coauthors =
year =2002
month =October 14
title =The Unreal Lincoln
journal =National Review
volume =
issue =
pages =
id =
url =http://www.claremont.org/writings/021014masugi.html]

According to DiLorenzo, Masugi is selective in his presentation about Lincoln and "relies entirely on a few of Lincoln’s prettier speeches, ignoring his less attractive ones as well as his actual behavior." cite web
title =Claremont’s Court Historians
work =lewrockwell.com
url =http://www.lewrockwell.com/dilorenzo/dilorenzo31.html
accessdate=2006-07-30 ]

Richard Gamble in "Independent Review" wrote, "The Real Lincoln"... seriously compromised by careless errors of fact, misuse of sources, and faulty documentation. [...] "cite journal
first =Richard M
last =Gamble
authorlink =
coauthors =
year =2003
month =March 22
title =The Real Lincoln: a New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War; Book Review; book review
journal =Independent Review
volume =7
issue =4
pages =611
id =ISSN 1086-1653
url =http://bailey83221.livejournal.com/97378.html#B]

Notes