Lincoln and the American Founding Lucas E. Morel

“With admirable clarity and conciseness, Morel explores Lincoln’s political philosophy and its roots in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The discussion of how Lincoln used these iconic documents in his treatment of the issue of slavery is particularly incisive and valuable. This is an important contribution to the literature on the sixteenth president.”—James M. McPherson, author of The War That Forged a Nation: Why the Civil War Still Matters

Lincoln’s most vital ideas traced back to our founders

In this persuasive work of intellectual history, Lucas E. Morel argues that the most important influence on Abraham Lincoln’s political thought and practice was what he learned from the leading figures of and documents from the birth of the United States. In this systematic account of those principles, Morel compellingly demonstrates that to know Lincoln well is to understand thoroughly the founding of America. Cloth: 978-0-8093-3785-9 E-book: 978-0-8093-3786-6 With each chapter describing a particular influence, Morel leads $24.95, 176 pages readers from the Founding Father George Washington to the Concise Lincoln Library founding documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; to the founding compromise over slavery; and finally to a consideration of how the original intentions of the Founding Lucas E. Morel is a professor of politics and head of the Fathers should be respected in light of experience, progress, and politics department at Washington and Lee University. improvements over time. Within these key discussions, Morel shows His previous publications include Lincoln and Liberty: that without the ideals of the American Revolution, Lincoln’s most Wisdom for the Ages and Lincoln’s Sacred Effort: Defining famous speeches would be unrecognizable, and the character of Religion’s Role in American Self-Government. He is the nation would have lost its foundation on the universal principles a trustee of the Supreme Court Historical Society, of human equality, individual liberty, and government by the consent former president of the Abraham Lincoln Institute, and of the governed. member of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, which will plan activities to commemorate in 2026 the Lincoln thought that the principles of human equality and individual founding of the United States of America. rights could provide common ground for a diverse people to live as one nation and that some old things, such as the political ideals of the American founding, were worth preserving. He urged Americans to be vigilant in maintaining the institutions of self- To request a review copy, schedule an government and to exercise and safeguard the benefits of freedom author for an interview or a signing, or obtain for future generations. Morel posits that adopting the way of thinking information about course adoption, contact and speaking Lincoln advocated, based on the country’s founding, [email protected] could help mend our current polarized discourse and direct the American people to employ their common government on behalf of For rights and permissions inquiries, contact a truly common good. [email protected]

To order Online: www.siupress.com · Phone: 1-800-621-2736 Also available at bookstores and online retailers CONTENTS Index Bibliography Notes Conclusion: LincolnasConservativeLiberalorConservative? 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Acknowledgments Introduction: LookingtothePastforSakeofFuture Founder ParExcellence subsequent generationstoimproveonwhatthefoundersestablished. their fouders’ originalintentionsshouldbefollowedbutalsothe circumstances thatcouldlead Lincoln’s devotiontothe American foundingwasstrongbutnotblind.Heexplainedonlywhy Lincoln andOriginalIntent: An Appeal totheFounders’ Relevance recover theirapproachtoslaveryasitthreatenedexpandintofederalterritories. slavery wasanecessaryevilthatshouldbeputonthecourseofultimateextinction.Hesoughtto seen mostclearlyinthefoundingcompromisewithslavery. Lincoln agreedwiththefoundersthat The implicationsofthefederalsystemgovernmentforsecuringequalprotectionrightsis Lincoln andSlavery: An Appeal to theFounders’ Compromise federal constitutionandtheruleoflawwasessentialforperpetuationself-government. the DeclarationsecuredbymeansspelledoutinConstitution.Hebelievedreverencefor the Moving fromfoundingaimstomeans,thischapterexplainshowLincolnsawtheendsof Lincoln andtheConstitution: An Appeal totheFounders’ Means revolution. namely, humanequality, individualrights,governmentbyconsentofthegoverned,andright Independence. LincolndrewhispoliticalthoughtfromtheprincipleslaidoutinDeclaration: Even moreimportantthanafoundingfatherwasdocument,theDeclarationof Lincoln andtheDeclarationofIndependence: An Appeal totheFounders’ Ends opinion whenslaverythreatenedtoengulfthenation. republican visionanexampletoinspirehisownpoliticalengagementashesoughtshapepublic devoted tosecuringcivilandreligiousliberties.LincolnsawinWashington’s moralcharacterand As theindispensable American founder, GeorgeWashington wasthechiefbuilderofanewnation Lincoln, GeorgeWashington, andtheFoundingFathers: An Appeal tothe