THE FIERY TRIAL: ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND AMERICAN SLAVERY PDF, EPUB, EBOOK

Eric Foner | 448 pages | 09 Mar 2012 | WW Norton & Co | 9780393340662 | English | New York, United States The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery | Department of American Studies

Lincoln scholarship is too often awash in romantic interpretations from right, left and middle. Even Lincoln's vaunted moderation, a well-earned reputation, has sometimes been savored as a national treasure. Foner steadfastly avoids the pathos or drama, the sheer narrative appeal, of Lincoln's poetic and tragic story. He takes on the most sensitive subject in Lincoln scholarship his role as author of the Emancipation Proclamation , and tries, almost to a fault, to de-sentimentalize it. This book is about policy, not the person, ideas, not the life. Foner has written a book that readers may yet find moving and rewarding if they want to witness a master historian at work showing, rather than merely telling, us how to understand one of the greatest problems in American history. A signal accomplishment in this work is Foner's contextualization of Lincoln's ideological roots in the Whig party of Henry Clay. Lincoln was a firm believer in the political economy of the Whigs. The use of government to advance development and opportunity, the theory of "harmony of interests" in a market economy, advocacy of protective tariffs, moral reforms like temperance, and the celebration of "self-made men" were all Whig ideas that shaped Lincoln's political outlook. Moreover, when Lincoln witnessed a speech by Clay in Kentucky in the s and heard him call slavery a "great evil," abolitionists an "equal danger," and colonization removal of blacks from the country the solution to the race problem, Lincoln had a blueprint for his career. But blueprints have a way of dissolving as they collide with history, especially for ambitious politicians in revolutionary times. Foner reveals a public Lincoln who is vehemently anti-slavery without being a real abolitionist, a man who repeatedly advocated the "natural" rights life, liberty, fruits of their toil of blacks, but opposed their exercise of "civil" and "political" rights equal access and the vote. Lincoln's political career emerged as Illinois and the slavery expansion question took center stage in American politics. In eloquent speeches, Lincoln served as a rhetorical guide to how and why the American republic destroyed itself over the future of free versus slave labor. Foner astutely exposes how Lincoln discussed slavery primarily as an "abstraction" and rarely as a world of daily oppression and the violence of the master-slave relationship. But a thread running throughout the book is the developing influence that radical abolitionists and their ideas had on Lincoln, moving him, both grudgingly and eagerly, toward a greater egalitarianism. It has long been a cliche to say that Lincoln was a man of his time and region in his attitudes about race, but Foner shows us just what that means in a carefully layered analysis. Lincoln was not stuck only in his times. His presidency, Foner contends, is a study in the necessary, alternately reluctant and willing, making of the Emancipator. Lincoln pressed for colonization more steadfastly than many Lincoln scholars are yet willing to admit. He advocated, and authorized planning for, voluntary black removal down to the very moment of the Emancipation Proclamation in January Lincoln understood that to defeat the South, slavery would have to be destroyed, despite how firmly it was protected by the Constitution. I chose the latter. In choosing it, I hoped for greater gain than loss; but of this, I was not entirely confident. More than a year of trial now shows no loss by it in our foreign relations, none in our home popular sentiment, none in our white military force, -- no loss by it any how or any where. On the contrary, it shows a gain of quite a hundred and thirty thousand soldiers, seamen, and laborers. These are palpable facts, about which, as facts, there can be no cavilling. We have the men; and we could not have had them without the measure. So, by the mysterious middle of northern opinion supported the war aim of emancipation, and warily accepted—after the stout showing of the 54th Massachusetts, grudgingly admired—black troops. But unity around emancipation and unconditional surrender did not end the wrangling and controversy. Postwar reconstruction loomed. Radicals thought freedom worthless without suffrage, and wanted it Federally guaranteed. And Lincoln was again in his place as mediator. Even as he mulled emancipation Lincoln had found it hard to imagine a black citizenship. As late as a month before issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, he told a delegation of free blacks that there is an unwillingness on the part of our people, harsh as it may be, for you free colored people to remain with us…I do not propose to discuss this, but to propose it as a fact with which we have to deal…It is better, therefore, to be separated. James M. Certainly President Lincoln is never farther from contemporary norms. The shrewdest of politicians and a depressive writerly type, he cast a cold eye in appraisal. He knew his people. And he knew himself; as a Whig operative in the s he had helped smear Democratic candidates as pro-black. Would he have been shocked that open negrophobia was in time subtilized into dog whistles like "welfare queens"? I doubt it. Lincoln never publicly mentioned colonization after the Proclamation took effect. He understood that the blacks who joined the fight did so for freedom in their homeland, not freedom followed by banishment. There are getting to be many black troops. There is one very good regiment here, as black as tar; they go around, have the regular uniform—they submit to no nonsense. Others are constantly forming. It is getting to be a common sight. Whitman, letter to his mother, 30 June At this historical juncture, it was of immense importance that Lincoln was an unbigoted, morally impressionable man. Of equal importance, Foner argues, were his meetings with black leaders. Frederick Douglass and the Episcopal pastor Alexander Crummell later a mentor to Du Bois , among others, disclosed to Lincoln an educated, politically prominent class whose formation American law and custom had done much to discourage, and of which he, like most whites, was ignorant or incredulous. The speech struck even moderates as tepid and waffling but one member of the audience, John Wilkes Booth, got the message. He is not a dramatic historian. After the review soldiers broke ranks and mobbed the president, stroking his horse, kissing his hands—a scene that left Lincoln choked up and speechless. Come to free his children from bondage. We are at best only his step-children. Nov 08, Mehrsa rated it it was amazing. I love Foner and this book did not disappoint. It is not another biography of Lincoln, but a story about his changing views on slavery. It's so well written and so informative. I've read a lot of reconstruction narratives and Lincoln stories and even Foner's own work, but this information was so well put together and vivid and new. Also, this quote struck me as relevant in the ongoing debates on the left about voting: "'Republicans,' Frederick Douglass wrote in disgust in October, seemed 'ashamed I love Foner and this book did not disappoint. Also, this quote struck me as relevant in the ongoing debates on the left about voting: "'Republicans,' Frederick Douglass wrote in disgust in October, seemed 'ashamed of the Negro. He would have preferred a candidate "of more decided anti-slavery convictions," Douglass wrote, but since the choice had come down to Lincoln and McClellan, "all hesitation ought to cease. Oct 20, BookishStitcher rated it it was amazing. Title pretty much explains it all. It was a very well done book, and I learned a lot. I sillily forgot the word "well" in this review originally so I came here to fix that. Oct 22, Robert Owen rated it really liked it Shelves: race , america-s-racial- history , american-history. Lincoln began his journey endowed with the racism of his time and while he was no fan of slavery he began his Presidency prepared to countenance it if it meant holding the Union together. Step by flawed human step, however, Lincoln came to recognize slavery as an evil whose eradication was worthy of the sacrifice the nation made in blood to end it. Both Foner and Marable inevitably lead one to speculate….. View 1 comment. Nov 09, Donna rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Lincoln enthusiasts. Shelves: biography-lincoln. When you've read 20 Lincoln biographies one has to ask why read another, but this book actually has a unifying principle different from the rest. Foner looks only at Lincoln's statements and evolving beliefs about slavery. While I've read many of the primary documents before, it is nice to have these particular ones gathered together so you can see the development of Lincoln's abolitionism--but more than that, his understanding of African Americans as "citizens" of this nation who deserved not o When you've read 20 Lincoln biographies one has to ask why read another, but this book actually has a unifying principle different from the rest. While I've read many of the primary documents before, it is nice to have these particular ones gathered together so you can see the development of Lincoln's abolitionism--but more than that, his understanding of African Americans as "citizens" of this nation who deserved not only NOT to be resettled in another country, but their political rights. Foner recounts that Lincoln actually had very little contact with black slaves or freemen before his presidency. It was as much a result of his conversations with black churchmen, teachers, abolitionists and those former slaves who enlisted in the Union army than any change in his political thought that Lincoln grew in his understanding of African Americans as full and equal citizens. May 07, Frank Stein rated it it was amazing. Much like before starting and loving Garry Wills's "Lincoln at Gettysburg," I stated before that I had permanently sworn off all future Lincoln books. Yet once again I couldn't resist, and again I was more than pleasantly surprised. I keep thinking there couldn't be anymore to say on the topic, and then someone goes and proves me wrong. This book may seem even more redundant on first glance, because what else has defined Lincoln more than his battle against slavery? Strangely enough, though, no o Much like before starting and loving Garry Wills's "Lincoln at Gettysburg," I stated before that I had permanently sworn off all future Lincoln books. Strangely enough, though, no one else has built a whole book around this obvious topic, and Foner uses this expansive view to show Lincoln's myriad nuances on the issue in a new light. The first part of the book gives important background on the world of slavery in Lincoln's Indiana and Illinois, both of which were nominally free states. Yet the right to move slaves through the states often translated into retaining them for extended periods while there. As late as , the census counted at least slaves in Illinois. Antislavery forces had to battle a change in the constitution to make slavery completely legal in the state. They won, barely, but by Illinois had succeeded in banning all free blacks from even entering Illinois. Foner shows that the "free" states where Lincoln strove against slavery were at best only half-free, and that, if anything, they were becoming more slavery-dominated as time went on. The most important part of the book, however, is Foner's demonstration of slavery's impact on Lincoln's conduct of the Civil War. Even people who know a fair amount about slavery and the war may have heard only about the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment, but Foner shows the debate over slavery was constant. From liberating slaves in the territories, to enacting compensated emancipation in DC in , to freeing the wives of former slave soldiers in , every year brought fresh battles over how to bring about gradual or total emancipation. Foner shows Lincoln's hand in all of this, as well as his surprising and continuing belief in colonization as late as he tried to buy a Carribean island for emancipated slaves, and also discusses plans for colonizing Panama with all of them. So there is much surprising here even for well-read fans of Lincoln and for students of the Civil War. This book's Pulitzer and Bancroft prizes prove that the topic is far from being exhausted. Feb 28, Porter Broyles rated it really liked it Recommends it for: jill. Shelves: pulitzer-winner , america , new-years-resolution , pulitzer-reading-challenge , americabiographies. I'm not a big Eric Foner fan. The last book I read by him I struggled to finish. This book was a different story. I really enjoyed it. One of the problems that I have with most biographies of Lincoln is that they start with the affect of his presidency and work backwards. In other words, looking at the Lincoln presidency in hindsight we know that he was one of the most important presidents ever. Lincoln lead the country through the Civil War and ended up freeing the slaves. He is generally ranked I'm not a big Eric Foner fan. He is generally ranked as one of the top 5 all-time presidentsusually number 2 behind Washington. And most history books approach his biography from this perspective. Foner did not. Foner's book is limited in scopeit focuses almost exclusively on the issue of slavery and by extension black america. Lincoln during his developmental days was not the champion of black rights that he is remembered for. But Foner traces the evolution of Lincoln's views and his backsliding on some of them through the Lincoln-Douglas debates and his Presidency. While it was narrow in scope, the fact that Foner does not treat Lincoln as an idol is a refreshing stance. If you are looking for a solid book that challenges the pristine reputation that many Lincoln biographers present, without becoming a hit piece, then this is the book for you. I debated giving this book 5 stars, but I try to reserve that for books that I feel are absolute must reads. This book is good, but it's not quite there. Jan 09, Steve rated it liked it. It was also awarded both the Bancroft Prize and the Lincoln Prize. Although consistently focused on Lincoln paying little attention to even his closest advisors this is a meticulous examination only of his views on slavery. Never really addressed is the possibility that his articulated view of slavery — as observed through his political actions, his speeches and his letters — was always carefully calibrated based on political pragmatism, and that throughout his adult life Lincoln had a keen sense for how far he could push his anti-slavery position without imperiling his longer-term objectives. Unfortunately, the first one-hundred pages of the book are slow, tedious and relatively uninteresting. Only once Lincoln is elected president does the book become more engaging. For some readers that is likely sufficient. Reading this widely- acclaimed book reminded me of reading a comprehensive and articulate PhD thesis…but which lacked any moments of blissful epiphany. Feb 15, Jerome rated it it was amazing Shelves: favorites. As his views evolved regarding slavery and perhaps race , Lincoln's actions revealed that he was indeed, as he once said, changed by events more than he changed them himself. At the same time, while Foner shows us that Abe was indeed no radical, in hindsight we see that his wartime decisions set the nation on a long, hard-fought revolutionary path toward justice and equality. What's perhaps most interesting about Foner's Lincoln is a complex mix of conservatism and radicalism that made Lincoln what he actually was - a moderate. Ever the pragmatist and shrewd political operator, Lincoln said, "You cannot be blind to the signs of the times. Despite his shortcomings, political bungling, racism, and, at times, obtuseness, Lincoln acted radically and decisively as commander-in-chief during the throes of domestic rebellion and war. And even when things looked bleak for the Union, given his convictions on what he would deem "the American promise," Lincoln doubled down and displayed extraordinary courage and character in the face of extreme adversity. This is a complex, multifaceted story, mainly a story of ideas and views, many of which are understood only by closely focusing on the details. Foner does an excellent job in tracing the arc of Lincoln's progress but, at least in my view, disappoints in failing to place clear signposts along the road. The critical amendments to the Constitution, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth, are dealt with in a highly cursory and sometimes confusing fashion. The role of John Calhoun of South Carolina, perhaps the most articulate defender of the institution of slavery, and Henry Clay, the earliest national figure who questioned the legitimacy of slavery, are only marginally discussed. It was from this argument that Lincoln developed his earliest thoughts on the subject, so I felt like it needed some more coverage. A more complete discussion of the political situation in the country, with the Republican party winning its first national election only with the election of Lincoln in , would also have been useful to see how the more extreme wings of the Republican and Democratic parties affected the debate. In all, a great book. See also the more recent work Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, for a masterful treatment of the same subject. Mar 08, Ed rated it it was amazing. For some time I have been interested in attitudes towards slavery in the United States in the antebellum period. I've read about Southerners like Robert E. Lee, wondering how they could own slaves, not to mention fight for the right. Northerners, I thought, were either Democrats, who favored the South, or abolitionists, neither of which seemed that interesting. It hadn't occurred to me that Lincoln's attitudes towards slavery were not only of great importance, but also extremely interesting unti For some time I have been interested in attitudes towards slavery in the United States in the antebellum period. It hadn't occurred to me that Lincoln's attitudes towards slavery were not only of great importance, but also extremely interesting until I discovered this book. Foner beautifully and thoroughly describes both how Lincoln's attitudes evolved as well as remained consistent. He also shows how they reflected the attitudes he found around him and were influenced by his determination to hold the union together. I had long wondered why he didn't fight the war from the beginning as a war to free the slaves. This book helped me understand that question. I can't imagine a better book about Lincoln and the meaning of the Civil War. Dec 31, Erik rated it it was amazing. There are many biographies of Lincoln to choose from. But I can't imagine that any of them does a better job than this book of answering the question most likely to arise for today's reader: what did Lincoln do about slavery? We know of course that he did the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment. Foner puts those achievements in context of Lincoln's actions and his beliefs from early on. In the world of action, Lincoln did so much more than just end slavery on the national level There are many biographies of Lincoln to choose from. In the world of action, Lincoln did so much more than just end slavery on the national level in two famous actions, one executive and one legislative. From before he took office until the day he was killed, Lincoln tried one plan after another to end slavery while saving the Union. These included many proposals for gradual and compensated emancipation at the state or territorial level. Some of these plans were accomplished, as when slavery was excluded from territories out West or ended in the District of Columbia. And some plans never came to be, such Lincoln's proposal for Delaware to gradually free its slaves over a period of decades while paying compensation to slaveowners. Early on, Lincoln's plans often also included or implied colonization, a controversial aspect today that was widely accepted in his own time. Later, as his thinking evolved, Lincoln dropped any expectation that recently freed slaves should be encouraged to leave the country for Liberia or Latin America and instead, started to envision blacks as valuable American citizens. Going back to his early days as a frontier lawyer and politician from central Illinois, Lincoln was always an anti-slavery man. But Foner also shows how Lincoln's beliefs evolved over time, especially during the Civil War, which speeded things up for everybody including the president. There's no evidence that Lincoln embraced the full social equality demanded by abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison, an equality taken for granted by Americans today after the achievements of MLK and the Civil Rights Movement of the midth century. Finally, Foner gives us Lincoln the practical politician. The centrist who had to balance the demands of abolitionists and Radicals for immediate emancipation and equal rights on the left with conservatives who wanted to preserve and restore the Union with few or any any reforms -- or even with slavery left in place. The commander in chief who, early in the war, was willing to look the other way when Union generals in the field illegally freed slaves in their local area or recruited them into the army, as long as it could be done quietly and without any sort of proclamation or official policy. And the inspiring communicator known best today for the Gettysburg Address but justly celebrated at the time for the Second Inaugural as well as key statements in the debates with Douglas, in the Cooper Institute address and in open letters to well known critics that Lincoln found to be the most effective means to explain his management of the war and emancipation. The historical takeaway is how lucky Civil War America was to have Lincoln just when we needed him -- and how unlucky it was that Booth's bullet deprived Reconstruction America of the learning, growing, listening and compassionate leader the country most needed. The takeaway for current events is to wonder what it would take to get more leaders like Lincoln today. Barring a war or other national cataclysm, is there even an opportunity for such leaders to emerge in Washington? And if that's true, then maybe today's Lincolns will appear in other places than national politics, perhaps in state or local government or in activist groups or even among artists and writers. I'm inspired by Foner's book to look for the Lincoln inside us all -- the leader who balances firm adherence to worthwhile ideals to flexible thinking and practical judgment. Jul 12, Matthew Linton rated it liked it. Of all the great historical figures in American history, few if any have had as much ink spilled analyzing their accomplishments as Abraham Lincoln. He has been psychologically cross-examined, his every political decision has been scrutinized, and his personal relationships have been discussed ad nauseum in an attempt to understand Lincoln and the choices he made as President of the United States during the Civil War. With so much scholarship to contend with it is puzzling that acclaimed Civil Of all the great historical figures in American history, few if any have had as much ink spilled analyzing their accomplishments as Abraham Lincoln. With so much scholarship to contend with it is puzzling that acclaimed Civil War historic an Eric Foner would attempt a Lincoln biography. Foner, perhaps better than any one else, is familiar with the exhaustive literature on Lincoln and how the force of his personality shaped the Civil War and its cause: black slavery. However, Foner's Lincoln is both an attempt to rediscover the central importance of slavery in Lincoln's thought and also to employ the force of the "Lincoln legacy" in the cause of moderate politics in America today, a sphere increasingly fractious as the recent economic downturn has heightened the stakes of every political decision. Above all, Foner's Lincoln was a moderate. Borne from the legacy of compromise handed down from his "beau ideal of a statesman" Henry Clay, at every stage of his political career from Springfield to Washington Lincoln sought to build bridges between warring political factions. His early career as a Whig from Illinois was defined by attempts to unite a state split between Northern abolitionist radicalism and Southern pro-slavery traditionalists. As his political influence expanded nationally, Lincoln sought a series of half-measures to assuage Northern abolitionists and pro- slavery Southerners alike such as ending the expansion of slavery into the territories, but allowing it to continue where it was already law and offering to recolonize free blacks outside of the United States. Lincoln's attempts at reconciliation between the North and South ultimately failed and led to a protracted Civil War where Lincoln used his powers as President to push forth the Emancipation Proclamation and establish the Freedman's Bureau to support freed slaves after the Union victory. However, even as Lincoln invoked the powers of the President to free the slaves in the South, Foner is at pains to show that Lincoln attempted every other avenue to carve a via media between Northern and Souther aims regarding slavery. He also credits Lincoln's moderation during the Civil War with keeping slave-holding Union states like Maryland and Kentucky from joining the Confederacy and dooming the Union cause. Clearly, Foner's primary aim in "The Fiery Trial" is to show the importance of moderate politics during the Sturm und Drang of political crises. His Lincoln is incredibly similar to Barack Obama in both political path and Weltanschauung. Both Lincoln and Obama came from outside Illinois to successfully pursue state political office before moving to Washington and eventually the Presidency. Both were or is in the case of Obama gifted orators and masters of political rhetoric. Finally, both men were political moderates eschewing the political radicalism of their times in an attempt to affect meaningful policy change. It is certainly far too early to assess Obama's political career as James Kloppenberg should have known before writing "Reading Obama" , but "The Fiery Trial" shows how Lincoln's successful path on a single political issue could be duplicated by future leaders. Though another Lincoln book was probably superfluous, Foner's Lincoln is fascinating because of what it says about our current political climate and how strong leadership but not arrogance can help a nation weather even the most devastating political turmoil. View 2 comments. May 01, Mike rated it really liked it Shelves: politics , civil-war , 19thc-us. Few figures have generated as much historiographical discussion as Abraham Lincoln. Foner's quasi-biography does not attempt to retread this ground, but instead seeks to place Lincoln within a particular historical context and examine his relationship to the politi Few figures have generated as much historiographical discussion as Abraham Lincoln. Foner's quasi- biography does not attempt to retread this ground, but instead seeks to place Lincoln within a particular historical context and examine his relationship to the political climate of the time, particularly comparing him to other abolitionists and exploring his feelings on slavery. Foner reveals two key elements. First, Lincoln almost always sought the middle ground between the radicalism of ardent abolitionists and the conservatism of Republican moderates and ex-Democrats. Secondly, Lincoln was constantly evolving. No one moment or quote from his life truly encapsulates his thinking, because he met an ever-changing situation with fluidity and constantly reevaluated and transformed his thinking, moving further toward a radical, abolitionist perspective as his career continued. Foner stays true to the course promised in the work's subtitle — that of relating Lincoln to slavery. Thus, the only discussions on Lincoln's early life center on encounters with slaves and free blacks that might have influenced his attitudes. Foner notes the seeming contradiction between Lincoln's expressed disgust for the peculiar institution and the fact that he married into a prominent slaveholding family. In his legal practice, Lincoln upheld the law in all cases, even to the point of defending the legal rights of slaveholders and enforcing fugitive slave laws. Stepping onto the national political stage, Lincoln began arguing that slavery was a direct contradiction of the designs of the founding fathers. These antislavery views were tempered by his support for colonization and his insistence on solving the slavery problem within legal, constitutional processes. Foner emphasizes Lincoln's fascination with the idea of colonization, which persisted well into the Civil War. Lincoln also made many attempts at compensated emancipation mixed with colonization, essentially a bid to buy the slaves' freedom and remove them from the country in a way that would not generate anti-Union sentiment in the border states. These measures were summarily rejected everywhere they were tried, but in the early years of the war Lincoln continued to seek measures for gradual, rather than instant emancipation. As the Union army began encountering more blacks on their excursions in the south, Lincoln showed a remarkable ambivalence. In another case, General David Hunter went as far as to enlist blacks into his ranks in early Lincoln wrote a message repudiating this, yet conspicuously did not send this message to Hunter. Later that year, official in response to General George McClellan's failed campaigns, the Militia Act made the enlistment of blacks. Union victory at Antietam encouraged Lincoln to announce the Emancipation Proclamation, but this momentous document was not as far-reaching as it is often presented. The proclamation pertained only to confederate states, leaving the border states and other specific exempted areas untouched in an effort to encourage unionist sentiment. In these places, Lincoln still worked for gradual emancipation. Also, the proclamation encouraged colonialism. As the political climate shifted more towards attitudes formerly held by abolitionists, Lincoln shifted with it, constantly evaluating his thinking and showing a remarkable willingness to grow and change. In his efforts at reconstruction, Lincoln also strove to find a middle ground between conservative Republicans and abolitionists. Lincoln favored a state-by-state approach, not directed by mandates from the federal government. He also pushed policies of reconciliation and struggled to navigate between the radicals who pushed for full equality and the conservative element that desired freedom for blacks but not equality. In that sense, Lincoln can be seen as deftly steering between two constantly shifting poles, maintaining relative distance to each, able to unite the party behind him as society shifted its thinking. The President eventually occupied a place that had previously been reserved for radical abolitionists. Yet he could still be said to exist in a middle ground between the extremes of his party. Foner's work thus magnificently complicates our view of a powerful leader who is often difficult to understand. By emphasizing the change over time in both Lincoln's thinking and in the general opinion within the Union and the Republican Party in particular , Foner depicts a complex President that feels more real and tangible. Foner does not mythologize the great emancipator, and he especially emphasizes that Lincoln did not begin his career with intentions of emancipation or social reform. Yet, by revealing Lincoln's flaws, his metamorphosis, and his willingness and ability to evaluate and change his views and policies, Foner has emphasized Lincoln's greatness in a new way. Lincoln should be praised, Foner argues, not because of a monolithic quest to free slaves, but precisely because he was not monolithic. The essence of his greatness was his capacity for growth. Sep 30, Bruce rated it really liked it. First a disclaimer: I listened to the audiobook; the reader's voice tended to annoy me a bit. Overall, it's a 4. In terms of content, it gave a clear sense of how public opinion shifted during the course of the run-up to the start and during the war, especially how the bravery of Black troops in battle challenged racial assumptions. The book really gives an understanding of how one event led to others: the movement of slaves to what they hoped was safety of Union army lines necessita First a disclaimer: I listened to the audiobook; the reader's voice tended to annoy me a bit. The book really gives an understanding of how one event led to others: the movement of slaves to what they hoped was safety of Union army lines necessitated a decision as to how to treat them. The law of the land until was, believe it or not, the Fugitive Slave Act, which would require returning slaves to owners. The Union generals quickly realized that emancipation of slaves and enlistment as Union soldiers would weaken the Confederacy while increasing the pool of workers and soldiers for its side. And then the Union had to decide how much to pay Black soldiers and workers--and this was not a sure thing, given the generalized racial prejudice of other white soldiers and workers. And then the Union had to decide whether the families of Black soldiers and workers were also free. Lincoln held back on Emancipation until he was sure about Northern public opinion, as well as border state opinion Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, Delaware. He tried to shepherd along Northern public opinion and in the opinions of his cabinet members. I had forgotten about Lincoln's greatness. His political skill, of course, but also his humanity. I read again the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural. Both are brief and powerful statements. Gettysburg is sumational and motivational, while the Second Inaugural was a very Biblically-toned attempt to point to a healing of wounds between North and South. Here is what Tolstoy said in We are still too near to his greatness,' but after a few centuries more our posterity will find him considerably bigger than we do. His genius is still too strong and powerful for the common understanding, just as the sun is too hot when its light beams directly on us. Jul 19, Christopher rated it really liked it. A wonderful exploration of Lincoln's evolving views on race and slavery. Foner notes early in his multi- award winning "The Fiery Trial" that many Civil War histories and Lincoln biographies tend to deify Lincoln. The conclusion of the Civil War and the emancipation of slaves is often presented as a fait accompli and foregone conclusion. But OF COURSE, none of these things had to happen and Foner, paying particular attention to Lincoln's thoughts on slavery does a masterful job of tracing the evolution of his thoughts on the issue as a young man, junior Whig politician, Republican Senate Candidate, Presidential candidate and eventually wartime president. Foner's strength here is relying almost exclusively on primary or contemporary materials rather than secondhand or after-the-fact recollections. This helps give an immediacy to the history as well as avoids the determinism of other Lincoln works There's never a doubt that Lincoln opposed slavery. But how or why he opposed it are the more difficult questions. Foner helps "humanize" Lincoln by showing his early focus on colonization rather than abolition and Lincoln's occasional use of racially disparaging terms--yet ne nevertheless opposed slavery and that opposition grew more definite as time went on. While Lincoln never opposed it with the fervor of an abolitionist preacher, he also did more to bring about its end than any number of biblical tracts or pamphlets. In an era where more and more of the historically ignorant are demanding ideological purity, this grounded history of a very real man doing very real things to free other men is a welcome counterpoint. Jan 25, Andrew rated it it was amazing Shelves: history , non-fiction. A thorough examination of Lincoln's evolving stances on slavery and the meaning of freedom, which means it's really a thorough examination of how social movements take shape. Foner shows Lincoln in conversation with Radical Republicans and grassroots Abolitionists, and demonstrates how pressure from these groups - along with the necessities of the war - pushed Lincoln from his initial lukewarm anti-slavery positions he favored gradual emancipation with financial compensation to slaveholders and A thorough examination of Lincoln's evolving stances on slavery and the meaning of freedom, which means it's really a thorough examination of how social movements take shape. Foner shows Lincoln in conversation with Radical Republicans and grassroots Abolitionists, and demonstrates how pressure from these groups - along with the necessities of the war - pushed Lincoln from his initial lukewarm anti-slavery positions he favored gradual emancipation with financial compensation to slaveholders and the immigration of freed slaves to Africa or Central America to his eventual issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, the ratification of the 13th Amendment, and the endorsement of limited voting rights for Black men that Lincoln expressed in his final speech. Foner provides close reads of all of Lincoln's most famous speeches and letters, but he doesn't spend much time on biographical detail or psychological analysis. The focus here is squarely on rhetoric, ideology, and societal context. That means this probably shouldn't be your first book on Lincoln or the Civil War, but if you want a deep dive into the ideology and movement-building surrounding Abolition, this book is an invaluable resource. Minor side note for audiobook folks who share my nit-picky tendencies: The narrator is mostly solid if a little dry , but his repeated mispronunciation of Roger B. Taney's name he says "Tay-nee" instead of the correct "Taw-nee" drove me up a wall. Dec 02, Lauren Hiebner rated it it was amazing. The Fiery Trial - Wikipedia

It was also awarded both the Bancroft Prize and the Lincoln Prize. Although consistently focused on Lincoln paying little attention to even his closest advisors this is a meticulous examination only of his views on slavery. Unfortunately, the first one-hundred pages of the book are slow, tedious and relatively uninteresting. Only once Lincoln is elected president does the book become more engaging. For some readers that is likely sufficient. Reading this widely-acclaimed book reminded me of reading a comprehensive and articulate PhD thesis…but which lacked any moments of blissful epiphany. June 11, at pm. Steve said:. My wife was wondering the same thing. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. Antislavery forces had to battle a change in the constitution to make slavery completely legal in the state. They won, barely, but by Illinois had succeeded in banning all free blacks from even entering Illinois. Foner shows that the "free" states where Lincoln strove against slavery were at best only half-free, and that, if anything, they were becoming more slavery-dominated as time went on. The most important part of the book, however, is Foner's demonstration of slavery's impact on Lincoln's conduct of the Civil War. Even people who know a fair amount about slavery and the war may have heard only about the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment, but Foner shows the debate over slavery was constant. From liberating slaves in the territories, to enacting compensated emancipation in DC in , to freeing the wives of former slave soldiers in , every year brought fresh battles over how to bring about gradual or total emancipation. Foner shows Lincoln's hand in all of this, as well as his surprising and continuing belief in colonization as late as he tried to buy a Carribean island for emancipated slaves, and also discusses plans for colonizing Panama with all of them. So there is much surprising here even for well-read fans of Lincoln and for students of the Civil War. This book's Pulitzer and Bancroft prizes prove that the topic is far from being exhausted. Feb 28, Porter Broyles rated it really liked it Recommends it for: jill. Shelves: pulitzer-winner , america , new-years-resolution , pulitzer-reading-challenge , americabiographies. I'm not a big Eric Foner fan. The last book I read by him I struggled to finish. This book was a different story. I really enjoyed it. One of the problems that I have with most biographies of Lincoln is that they start with the affect of his presidency and work backwards. In other words, looking at the Lincoln presidency in hindsight we know that he was one of the most important presidents ever. Lincoln lead the country through the Civil War and ended up freeing the slaves. He is generally ranked I'm not a big Eric Foner fan. He is generally ranked as one of the top 5 all-time presidentsusually number 2 behind Washington. And most history books approach his biography from this perspective. Foner did not. Foner's book is limited in scopeit focuses almost exclusively on the issue of slavery and by extension black america. Lincoln during his developmental days was not the champion of black rights that he is remembered for. But Foner traces the evolution of Lincoln's views and his backsliding on some of them through the Lincoln-Douglas debates and his Presidency. While it was narrow in scope, the fact that Foner does not treat Lincoln as an idol is a refreshing stance. If you are looking for a solid book that challenges the pristine reputation that many Lincoln biographers present, without becoming a hit piece, then this is the book for you. I debated giving this book 5 stars, but I try to reserve that for books that I feel are absolute must reads. This book is good, but it's not quite there. Jan 09, Steve rated it liked it. It was also awarded both the Bancroft Prize and the Lincoln Prize. Although consistently focused on Lincoln paying little attention to even his closest advisors this is a meticulous examination only of his views on slavery. Never really addressed is the possibility that his articulated view of slavery — as observed through his political actions, his speeches and his letters — was always carefully calibrated based on political pragmatism, and that throughout his adult life Lincoln had a keen sense for how far he could push his anti-slavery position without imperiling his longer-term objectives. Unfortunately, the first one-hundred pages of the book are slow, tedious and relatively uninteresting. Only once Lincoln is elected president does the book become more engaging. For some readers that is likely sufficient. Reading this widely-acclaimed book reminded me of reading a comprehensive and articulate PhD thesis…but which lacked any moments of blissful epiphany. Feb 15, Jerome rated it it was amazing Shelves: favorites. As his views evolved regarding slavery and perhaps race , Lincoln's actions revealed that he was indeed, as he once said, changed by events more than he changed them himself. At the same time, while Foner shows us that Abe was indeed no radical, in hindsight we see that his wartime decisions set the nation on a long, hard-fought revolutionary path toward justice and equality. What's perhaps most interesting about Foner's Lincoln is a complex mix of conservatism and radicalism that made Lincoln what he actually was - a moderate. Ever the pragmatist and shrewd political operator, Lincoln said, "You cannot be blind to the signs of the times. Despite his shortcomings, political bungling, racism, and, at times, obtuseness, Lincoln acted radically and decisively as commander-in-chief during the throes of domestic rebellion and war. And even when things looked bleak for the Union, given his convictions on what he would deem "the American promise," Lincoln doubled down and displayed extraordinary courage and character in the face of extreme adversity. This is a complex, multifaceted story, mainly a story of ideas and views, many of which are understood only by closely focusing on the details. Foner does an excellent job in tracing the arc of Lincoln's progress but, at least in my view, disappoints in failing to place clear signposts along the road. The critical amendments to the Constitution, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth, are dealt with in a highly cursory and sometimes confusing fashion. The role of John Calhoun of South Carolina, perhaps the most articulate defender of the institution of slavery, and Henry Clay, the earliest national figure who questioned the legitimacy of slavery, are only marginally discussed. It was from this argument that Lincoln developed his earliest thoughts on the subject, so I felt like it needed some more coverage. A more complete discussion of the political situation in the country, with the Republican party winning its first national election only with the election of Lincoln in , would also have been useful to see how the more extreme wings of the Republican and Democratic parties affected the debate. In all, a great book. See also the more recent work Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, for a masterful treatment of the same subject. Mar 08, Ed rated it it was amazing. For some time I have been interested in attitudes towards slavery in the United States in the antebellum period. I've read about Southerners like Robert E. Lee, wondering how they could own slaves, not to mention fight for the right. Northerners, I thought, were either Democrats, who favored the South, or abolitionists, neither of which seemed that interesting. It hadn't occurred to me that Lincoln's attitudes towards slavery were not only of great importance, but also extremely interesting unti For some time I have been interested in attitudes towards slavery in the United States in the antebellum period. It hadn't occurred to me that Lincoln's attitudes towards slavery were not only of great importance, but also extremely interesting until I discovered this book. Foner beautifully and thoroughly describes both how Lincoln's attitudes evolved as well as remained consistent. He also shows how they reflected the attitudes he found around him and were influenced by his determination to hold the union together. I had long wondered why he didn't fight the war from the beginning as a war to free the slaves. This book helped me understand that question. I can't imagine a better book about Lincoln and the meaning of the Civil War. Dec 31, Erik rated it it was amazing. There are many biographies of Lincoln to choose from. But I can't imagine that any of them does a better job than this book of answering the question most likely to arise for today's reader: what did Lincoln do about slavery? We know of course that he did the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment. Foner puts those achievements in context of Lincoln's actions and his beliefs from early on. In the world of action, Lincoln did so much more than just end slavery on the national level There are many biographies of Lincoln to choose from. In the world of action, Lincoln did so much more than just end slavery on the national level in two famous actions, one executive and one legislative. From before he took office until the day he was killed, Lincoln tried one plan after another to end slavery while saving the Union. These included many proposals for gradual and compensated emancipation at the state or territorial level. Some of these plans were accomplished, as when slavery was excluded from territories out West or ended in the District of Columbia. And some plans never came to be, such Lincoln's proposal for Delaware to gradually free its slaves over a period of decades while paying compensation to slaveowners. Early on, Lincoln's plans often also included or implied colonization, a controversial aspect today that was widely accepted in his own time. Later, as his thinking evolved, Lincoln dropped any expectation that recently freed slaves should be encouraged to leave the country for Liberia or Latin America and instead, started to envision blacks as valuable American citizens. Going back to his early days as a frontier lawyer and politician from central Illinois, Lincoln was always an anti-slavery man. But Foner also shows how Lincoln's beliefs evolved over time, especially during the Civil War, which speeded things up for everybody including the president. There's no evidence that Lincoln embraced the full social equality demanded by abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison, an equality taken for granted by Americans today after the achievements of MLK and the Civil Rights Movement of the midth century. Finally, Foner gives us Lincoln the practical politician. The centrist who had to balance the demands of abolitionists and Radicals for immediate emancipation and equal rights on the left with conservatives who wanted to preserve and restore the Union with few or any any reforms -- or even with slavery left in place. The commander in chief who, early in the war, was willing to look the other way when Union generals in the field illegally freed slaves in their local area or recruited them into the army, as long as it could be done quietly and without any sort of proclamation or official policy. And the inspiring communicator known best today for the Gettysburg Address but justly celebrated at the time for the Second Inaugural as well as key statements in the debates with Douglas, in the Cooper Institute address and in open letters to well known critics that Lincoln found to be the most effective means to explain his management of the war and emancipation. The historical takeaway is how lucky Civil War America was to have Lincoln just when we needed him -- and how unlucky it was that Booth's bullet deprived Reconstruction America of the learning, growing, listening and compassionate leader the country most needed. The takeaway for current events is to wonder what it would take to get more leaders like Lincoln today. Barring a war or other national cataclysm, is there even an opportunity for such leaders to emerge in Washington? And if that's true, then maybe today's Lincolns will appear in other places than national politics, perhaps in state or local government or in activist groups or even among artists and writers. I'm inspired by Foner's book to look for the Lincoln inside us all -- the leader who balances firm adherence to worthwhile ideals to flexible thinking and practical judgment. Jul 12, Matthew Linton rated it liked it. Of all the great historical figures in American history, few if any have had as much ink spilled analyzing their accomplishments as Abraham Lincoln. He has been psychologically cross-examined, his every political decision has been scrutinized, and his personal relationships have been discussed ad nauseum in an attempt to understand Lincoln and the choices he made as President of the United States during the Civil War. With so much scholarship to contend with it is puzzling that acclaimed Civil Of all the great historical figures in American history, few if any have had as much ink spilled analyzing their accomplishments as Abraham Lincoln. With so much scholarship to contend with it is puzzling that acclaimed Civil War historic an Eric Foner would attempt a Lincoln biography. Foner, perhaps better than any one else, is familiar with the exhaustive literature on Lincoln and how the force of his personality shaped the Civil War and its cause: black slavery. However, Foner's Lincoln is both an attempt to rediscover the central importance of slavery in Lincoln's thought and also to employ the force of the "Lincoln legacy" in the cause of moderate politics in America today, a sphere increasingly fractious as the recent economic downturn has heightened the stakes of every political decision. Above all, Foner's Lincoln was a moderate. Borne from the legacy of compromise handed down from his "beau ideal of a statesman" Henry Clay, at every stage of his political career from Springfield to Washington Lincoln sought to build bridges between warring political factions. His early career as a Whig from Illinois was defined by attempts to unite a state split between Northern abolitionist radicalism and Southern pro-slavery traditionalists. As his political influence expanded nationally, Lincoln sought a series of half- measures to assuage Northern abolitionists and pro-slavery Southerners alike such as ending the expansion of slavery into the territories, but allowing it to continue where it was already law and offering to recolonize free blacks outside of the United States. Lincoln's attempts at reconciliation between the North and South ultimately failed and led to a protracted Civil War where Lincoln used his powers as President to push forth the Emancipation Proclamation and establish the Freedman's Bureau to support freed slaves after the Union victory. However, even as Lincoln invoked the powers of the President to free the slaves in the South, Foner is at pains to show that Lincoln attempted every other avenue to carve a via media between Northern and Souther aims regarding slavery. He also credits Lincoln's moderation during the Civil War with keeping slave-holding Union states like Maryland and Kentucky from joining the Confederacy and dooming the Union cause. Clearly, Foner's primary aim in "The Fiery Trial" is to show the importance of moderate politics during the Sturm und Drang of political crises. His Lincoln is incredibly similar to Barack Obama in both political path and Weltanschauung. Both Lincoln and Obama came from outside Illinois to successfully pursue state political office before moving to Washington and eventually the Presidency. Both were or is in the case of Obama gifted orators and masters of political rhetoric. Finally, both men were political moderates eschewing the political radicalism of their times in an attempt to affect meaningful policy change. It is certainly far too early to assess Obama's political career as James Kloppenberg should have known before writing "Reading Obama" , but "The Fiery Trial" shows how Lincoln's successful path on a single political issue could be duplicated by future leaders. Though another Lincoln book was probably superfluous, Foner's Lincoln is fascinating because of what it says about our current political climate and how strong leadership but not arrogance can help a nation weather even the most devastating political turmoil. View 2 comments. May 01, Mike rated it really liked it Shelves: politics , civil-war , 19thc-us. Few figures have generated as much historiographical discussion as Abraham Lincoln. Foner's quasi-biography does not attempt to retread this ground, but instead seeks to place Lincoln within a particular historical context and examine his relationship to the politi Few figures have generated as much historiographical discussion as Abraham Lincoln. Foner's quasi-biography does not attempt to retread this ground, but instead seeks to place Lincoln within a particular historical context and examine his relationship to the political climate of the time, particularly comparing him to other abolitionists and exploring his feelings on slavery. Foner reveals two key elements. First, Lincoln almost always sought the middle ground between the radicalism of ardent abolitionists and the conservatism of Republican moderates and ex-Democrats. Secondly, Lincoln was constantly evolving. No one moment or quote from his life truly encapsulates his thinking, because he met an ever-changing situation with fluidity and constantly reevaluated and transformed his thinking, moving further toward a radical, abolitionist perspective as his career continued. Foner stays true to the course promised in the work's subtitle — that of relating Lincoln to slavery. Thus, the only discussions on Lincoln's early life center on encounters with slaves and free blacks that might have influenced his attitudes. Foner notes the seeming contradiction between Lincoln's expressed disgust for the peculiar institution and the fact that he married into a prominent slaveholding family. In his legal practice, Lincoln upheld the law in all cases, even to the point of defending the legal rights of slaveholders and enforcing fugitive slave laws. Stepping onto the national political stage, Lincoln began arguing that slavery was a direct contradiction of the designs of the founding fathers. These antislavery views were tempered by his support for colonization and his insistence on solving the slavery problem within legal, constitutional processes. Foner emphasizes Lincoln's fascination with the idea of colonization, which persisted well into the Civil War. Lincoln also made many attempts at compensated emancipation mixed with colonization, essentially a bid to buy the slaves' freedom and remove them from the country in a way that would not generate anti-Union sentiment in the border states. These measures were summarily rejected everywhere they were tried, but in the early years of the war Lincoln continued to seek measures for gradual, rather than instant emancipation. As the Union army began encountering more blacks on their excursions in the south, Lincoln showed a remarkable ambivalence. In another case, General David Hunter went as far as to enlist blacks into his ranks in early Lincoln wrote a message repudiating this, yet conspicuously did not send this message to Hunter. Later that year, official in response to General George McClellan's failed campaigns, the Militia Act made the enlistment of blacks. Union victory at Antietam encouraged Lincoln to announce the Emancipation Proclamation, but this momentous document was not as far-reaching as it is often presented. The proclamation pertained only to confederate states, leaving the border states and other specific exempted areas untouched in an effort to encourage unionist sentiment. In these places, Lincoln still worked for gradual emancipation. Also, the proclamation encouraged colonialism. As the political climate shifted more towards attitudes formerly held by abolitionists, Lincoln shifted with it, constantly evaluating his thinking and showing a remarkable willingness to grow and change. In his efforts at reconstruction, Lincoln also strove to find a middle ground between conservative Republicans and abolitionists. Lincoln favored a state-by-state approach, not directed by mandates from the federal government. He also pushed policies of reconciliation and struggled to navigate between the radicals who pushed for full equality and the conservative element that desired freedom for blacks but not equality. In that sense, Lincoln can be seen as deftly steering between two constantly shifting poles, maintaining relative distance to each, able to unite the party behind him as society shifted its thinking. The President eventually occupied a place that had previously been reserved for radical abolitionists. Yet he could still be said to exist in a middle ground between the extremes of his party. Foner's work thus magnificently complicates our view of a powerful leader who is often difficult to understand. By emphasizing the change over time in both Lincoln's thinking and in the general opinion within the Union and the Republican Party in particular , Foner depicts a complex President that feels more real and tangible. Foner does not mythologize the great emancipator, and he especially emphasizes that Lincoln did not begin his career with intentions of emancipation or social reform. Yet, by revealing Lincoln's flaws, his metamorphosis, and his willingness and ability to evaluate and change his views and policies, Foner has emphasized Lincoln's greatness in a new way. Lincoln should be praised, Foner argues, not because of a monolithic quest to free slaves, but precisely because he was not monolithic. The essence of his greatness was his capacity for growth. Sep 30, Bruce rated it really liked it. First a disclaimer: I listened to the audiobook; the reader's voice tended to annoy me a bit. Overall, it's a 4. In terms of content, it gave a clear sense of how public opinion shifted during the course of the run-up to the start and during the war, especially how the bravery of Black troops in battle challenged racial assumptions. The book really gives an understanding of how one event led to others: the movement of slaves to what they hoped was safety of Union army lines necessita First a disclaimer: I listened to the audiobook; the reader's voice tended to annoy me a bit. The book really gives an understanding of how one event led to others: the movement of slaves to what they hoped was safety of Union army lines necessitated a decision as to how to treat them. The law of the land until was, believe it or not, the Fugitive Slave Act, which would require returning slaves to owners. The Union generals quickly realized that emancipation of slaves and enlistment as Union soldiers would weaken the Confederacy while increasing the pool of workers and soldiers for its side. And then the Union had to decide how much to pay Black soldiers and workers--and this was not a sure thing, given the generalized racial prejudice of other white soldiers and workers. And then the Union had to decide whether the families of Black soldiers and workers were also free. Lincoln held back on Emancipation until he was sure about Northern public opinion, as well as border state opinion Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, Delaware. He tried to shepherd along Northern public opinion and in the opinions of his cabinet members. I had forgotten about Lincoln's greatness. His political skill, of course, but also his humanity. I read again the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural. Both are brief and powerful statements. Gettysburg is sumational and motivational, while the Second Inaugural was a very Biblically- toned attempt to point to a healing of wounds between North and South. Here is what Tolstoy said in We are still too near to his greatness,' but after a few centuries more our posterity will find him considerably bigger than we do. His genius is still too strong and powerful for the common understanding, just as the sun is too hot when its light beams directly on us. Jul 19, Christopher rated it really liked it. A wonderful exploration of Lincoln's evolving views on race and slavery. Foner notes early in his multi- award winning "The Fiery Trial" that many Civil War histories and Lincoln biographies tend to deify Lincoln. The conclusion of the Civil War and the emancipation of slaves is often presented as a fait accompli and foregone conclusion. But OF COURSE, none of these things had to happen and Foner, paying particular attention to Lincoln's thoughts on slavery does a masterful job of tracing the evolution of his thoughts on the issue as a young man, junior Whig politician, Republican Senate Candidate, Presidential candidate and eventually wartime president. Foner's strength here is relying almost exclusively on primary or contemporary materials rather than secondhand or after-the-fact recollections. This helps give an immediacy to the history as well as avoids the determinism of other Lincoln works There's never a doubt that Lincoln opposed slavery. But how or why he opposed it are the more difficult questions. Foner helps "humanize" Lincoln by showing his early focus on colonization rather than abolition and Lincoln's occasional use of racially disparaging terms--yet ne nevertheless opposed slavery and that opposition grew more definite as time went on. While Lincoln never opposed it with the fervor of an abolitionist preacher, he also did more to bring about its end than any number of biblical tracts or pamphlets. In an era where more and more of the historically ignorant are demanding ideological purity, this grounded history of a very real man doing very real things to free other men is a welcome counterpoint. Jan 25, Andrew rated it it was amazing Shelves: history , non-fiction. A thorough examination of Lincoln's evolving stances on slavery and the meaning of freedom, which means it's really a thorough examination of how social movements take shape. Foner shows Lincoln in conversation with Radical Republicans and grassroots Abolitionists, and demonstrates how pressure from these groups - along with the necessities of the war - pushed Lincoln from his initial lukewarm anti-slavery positions he favored gradual emancipation with financial compensation to slaveholders and A thorough examination of Lincoln's evolving stances on slavery and the meaning of freedom, which means it's really a thorough examination of how social movements take shape. Foner shows Lincoln in conversation with Radical Republicans and grassroots Abolitionists, and demonstrates how pressure from these groups - along with the necessities of the war - pushed Lincoln from his initial lukewarm anti-slavery positions he favored gradual emancipation with financial compensation to slaveholders and the immigration of freed slaves to Africa or Central America to his eventual issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, the ratification of the 13th Amendment, and the endorsement of limited voting rights for Black men that Lincoln expressed in his final speech. Foner provides close reads of all of Lincoln's most famous speeches and letters, but he doesn't spend much time on biographical detail or psychological analysis. The focus here is squarely on rhetoric, ideology, and societal context. That means this probably shouldn't be your first book on Lincoln or the Civil War, but if you want a deep dive into the ideology and movement- building surrounding Abolition, this book is an invaluable resource. Minor side note for audiobook folks who share my nit-picky tendencies: The narrator is mostly solid if a little dry , but his repeated mispronunciation of Roger B. Taney's name he says "Tay-nee" instead of the correct "Taw- nee" drove me up a wall. Dec 02, Lauren Hiebner rated it it was amazing. Prior to becoming president Lincoln firmly believed that slave owners should be compensated if slaves were freed and he strongly supported colonization efforts to remove freed slaves out of the U. These views stayed with him when he became president but with the beginning of war a new concern emerged, the border states. He needed to keep the border states and yet wanted to take action regarding slavery. This led to a modified freedom of slaves in the Emancipation Proclamation where only slaves in areas of rebellion were freed. But this was the beginning step to ending slavery in the entire country. Lincoln at first acted to end slavery out of economic and political concerns but later came to realize that slavery was morally wrong as well. A good read. Mar 13, Nancy Millichap rated it really liked it. This is an excellent book both for understanding the evolution of Lincoln's thinking on slavery and on African-Americans and for recognizing just how important the border states were to him, both as a man from the border and overall in terms of how their remaining in the Union affected the Civil War. I have not read a general biography of Lincoln my bad , and this scholarly yet very readable work helped me to get a sense of his role in shaping what the Civil War was about, his openness to chang This is an excellent book both for understanding the evolution of Lincoln's thinking on slavery and on African-Americans and for recognizing just how important the border states were to him, both as a man from the border and overall in terms of how their remaining in the Union affected the Civil War. I have not read a general biography of Lincoln my bad , and this scholarly yet very readable work helped me to get a sense of his role in shaping what the Civil War was about, his openness to change in his thinking as he learned more and heard more perspectives, and the possibility of Reconstruction's having gone quite differently and been more successful rather than the travesty and betrayal it ultimately became had he been able to complete his second term in office. May 16, Mary rated it it was amazing. I read this right after finishing Walter Isaacson's extremely disappointing Leonardo Da Vinci biography, which perhaps sharpened my appreciation of just how much this book gets right. The Fiery Trial is not a biography in the traditional sense, but was all the more effective for that. Where Isaacson was intent on telling a "Great Man" story and lost the richness of the Italian Renaissance somewhere in the process, Foner shows us Lincoln as a deeply flawed human being with the great strength of l I read this right after finishing Walter Isaacson's extremely disappointing Leonardo Da Vinci biography, which perhaps sharpened my appreciation of just how much this book gets right. Where Isaacson was intent on telling a "Great Man" story and lost the richness of the Italian Renaissance somewhere in the process, Foner shows us Lincoln as a deeply flawed human being with the great strength of learning from those around him. This, then, is necessarily the story not just of Lincoln himself, but of a pivotal historical moment and its ideas. Jun 05, Mike Zickar rated it it was amazing Shelves: history. The main theme of this book is Lincoln's evolving attitudes toward race and slavery throughout his career. Foner paints the picture of a person who was exceedingly high in openness to experience as well as someone extremely pragmatic as well. What a strange and lucky coincidence that Abraham Lincoln was elected President when he was. Jan 30, Joe Collins rated it it was amazing. The second act, the revolutionary waging of war, is now at hand. May 25, Michael Jr. Exceptional in detail. It tracks the gradual development of Lincoln's views on slavery and how to address the issue. Shelves: audiobook , non-fiction , text. This is a fine, deeply interesting book about Abraham Lincoln's thoughts, writings, speeches, and actions on the subject of slavery and, by extension, the role of the black population in the United States. While Lincoln is known to history as the Great Emancipator, and the leader of the Union in the Civil War to defeat free the slaves, the reality is much more complex. As with the American population as a whole, and even those people who belonged to the new Republican Party, Lincoln's attitudes o This is a fine, deeply interesting book about Abraham Lincoln's thoughts, writings, speeches, and actions on the subject of slavery and, by extension, the role of the black population in the United States. As with the American population as a whole, and even those people who belonged to the new Republican Party, Lincoln's attitudes on these subjects were complex, nuanced, and evolved significantly over time. Lincoln seems to have always detested slavery as an institution, but initially largely because of how it devalued free labor, and, secondarily, as a broadly degrading harm to the nation in violation of the basic, lofty principles in the Declaration of Independence. But he had little engagement with or personal sympathy for, beyond the abstract, the slaves themselves. To the extent he thought of them, he thought it best that blacks be colonized elsewhere after slavery was ended, whether back to Africa or to somewhere in Central or South America. Certainly, though he supported their basic rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" translated as being able to benefit from their own labor , he did not see them, in his early years, as being equals within the nation or worthy of social and full civil rights. These attitudes deepened and swelled over the years, up to and into his presidency he was proposing compensated emancipation well into the last few years of the Civil War, particularly for the still-loyal border states. But the military needs and events of the War, pressure from the Radical Republicans, intransigence from the Democrats and the Confederacy, all served to push Lincoln into a more abolitionist stance as a moral as well as pragmatic priority. While the Emancipation Proclamation was driven in part by previous military actions to recognize the South's slaves value as war material, and the dedication of the war effort to the abolition of slavery was at least somewhat Lincoln riding and fomenting the groundswell opinion of the North, Lincoln was in fact becoming more opposed to slavery on a personal and moral basis. This came about as Lincoln actually met and engaged with blacks, from newly admitted Northern troops, to freed slaves, to Northern luminaries such as Frederick Douglass. While always cognizant of the issues of winning the war and reintegrating the South into the Union, the slavery issue and how to actually integrate the freed black population into the nation he recognized they belonged to became more of a driver for Lincoln during the course of the War. Always cognizant of Northern public opinion and the need to tread easily with the border states, he did not take many bold strokes except when he felt forced to, but those he did helped cement his reputation for the century and more to follow. The book delves into all these aspects in remarkable detail, panting a much richer and more complex picture of Lincoln than either the traditionalist or revisionist historical traditions have allowed for. If I have one criticism of Foner's work, it's with the organization. While there is a vague forward sense of time, he digresses into thematic discussions that frequently bounce back and forth over several years. Even as the war advances we digress time and again to its early years and then its later ones in pursuit of particular threads. While this is intended highlight Lincoln's evolution and provide precedent and context, it makes the overall narrative a bit muddled in places. The audiobook is narrated by Norman Dietz, who does a good job of expressively telling the tale and giving a voice to Lincoln though no other characters that is distinctive without feeling out of place. My only critique here is that there are frequent, clear breaks in the narration in which volume levels and the quality or intonation of Dietz' voice can vary significantly. It wasn't a fatal flaw, but it was a more-than-occasional distraction. Overall, I would highly recommend this book. I've read a number of Lincoln biographies, and the focus in this one on the slavery issue is both useful as a way to break stereotypes about Lincoln and thorough. Jan 16, Ellie rated it liked it Shelves: school-books. Nov 25, Martha rated it it was amazing. Lincoln the demigod, was racist for much of his life, believing that slaves, though deserving of freedom, were not equal to the white race. Sep 21, Ricardo rated it it was amazing Shelves: non-fic. Like the consummate politician he was, he was hard to pin down on an issue, appeasing many within the party, but frustrating hardliners. The fight to end slavery was never linear nor pre-ordained. For those who complain that people still harp about the legacy of slavery, they should understand how much the issue rent the legislative sessions of the nation from the very beginning. The push-and-pull of those for and against the institution filled the halls of Congress with bills for decades before the Civil War. Like any momentous issue, those who sought a break with the past were further divided among themselves over how to achieve reformation. Lincoln was a fierce proponent and gathered supporters on his side for emancipation by promising that freed slaves would be colonized overseas. Sincere missions began trying to get foreign governments to sign over land for such enterprises. One colony was even formed in South America, but fell apart due to the corruption of the leaders and the mutinous freed men. But it was the advocacy towards allowing black men to fight that Lincoln began to shift. This teetered the union of northern states towards its own civil war. Not only riots and rebellions but legislatures and governors refusing to enforce emancipation laws. Lincoln even advocated the spread of trade unions. The path towards this legacy was full of manipulations, glad-handing and talking out of both sides of his mouth. The incrementalism that he employed was probably just as crassly political as his eventual adoption of absolute abolitionism. The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery by Eric Foner

Shribman, writing in The Boston Globe , called Foner "perhaps the preeminent historian of the Civil War era" and the book "a masterwork that examines Lincoln's passage to Gettysburg and beyond". Blight called The Fiery Trial "a distinctive and valuable book, showing persuasively that we should not understand Lincoln from the myth-glazed outcome reading backward, but from the beginning, through one transformative event after another, looking forward. In a review for The Historian journal , Lawrence Frederick Kohl wrote of the book that "Eric Foner's prodigious research and his deep knowledge of the era allow him to provide perhaps the best account of this subject available today. Even seasoned scholars will find facts in this volume that are new to them and fresh insights that they will want to consider. Though Kaplan stated that the "comprehensive review of mostly familiar material" would make The Fiery Trial "the book of first convenience to go to on the subject", he also argued that in contrast to Foner's thesis of growth, "a stronger argument can be made that Lincoln hardly 'grew' at all on the issue of slavery, that he responded to changing circumstances that he did not create". From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. October 20, Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 9, October 11, Columbia University. Archived from the original on June 7, Retrieved June 7, March 24, The Record. Reynolds September 30, The New York Times. McPherson November 25, The New York Review of Books. Library Journal. The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on May 9, Blight October 24, The San Francisco Chronicle. The Historian. Archived from the original on April 9, The Irish Times. The Washington Post. April 19, Archived from the original on July 10, February 10, November 24, Pulitzer Prize for History. The War with Mexico by Justin H. Schlesinger Jr. Larkin The Old Northwest by R. Unfortunately, the first one-hundred pages of the book are slow, tedious and relatively uninteresting. Only once Lincoln is elected president does the book become more engaging. For some readers that is likely sufficient. Reading this widely-acclaimed book reminded me of reading a comprehensive and articulate PhD thesis…but which lacked any moments of blissful epiphany. June 11, at pm. Steve said:. My wife was wondering the same thing. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email.

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We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our Cookies Policy. Table of Contents. Learn More. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. Cite This paper. Select a url citation style: Copy to Clipboard Copied! Reference IvyPanda. Bibliography IvyPanda. References IvyPanda. Copy to Clipboard Copied! More related papers. Check the price of your paper. Reading this widely-acclaimed book reminded me of reading a comprehensive and articulate PhD thesis…but which lacked any moments of blissful epiphany. June 11, at pm. Steve said:. My wife was wondering the same thing. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account. Foner steadfastly avoids the pathos or drama, the sheer narrative appeal, of Lincoln's poetic and tragic story. He takes on the most sensitive subject in Lincoln scholarship his role as author of the Emancipation Proclamation , and tries, almost to a fault, to de-sentimentalize it. This book is about policy, not the person, ideas, not the life. Foner has written a book that readers may yet find moving and rewarding if they want to witness a master historian at work showing, rather than merely telling, us how to understand one of the greatest problems in American history. A signal accomplishment in this work is Foner's contextualization of Lincoln's ideological roots in the Whig party of Henry Clay. Lincoln was a firm believer in the political economy of the Whigs. The use of government to advance development and opportunity, the theory of "harmony of interests" in a market economy, advocacy of protective tariffs, moral reforms like temperance, and the celebration of "self-made men" were all Whig ideas that shaped Lincoln's political outlook. Moreover, when Lincoln witnessed a speech by Clay in Kentucky in the s and heard him call slavery a "great evil," abolitionists an "equal danger," and colonization removal of blacks from the country the solution to the race problem, Lincoln had a blueprint for his career. But blueprints have a way of dissolving as they collide with history, especially for ambitious politicians in revolutionary times. Foner reveals a public Lincoln who is vehemently anti-slavery without being a real abolitionist, a man who repeatedly advocated the "natural" rights life, liberty, fruits of their toil of blacks, but opposed their exercise of "civil" and "political" rights equal access and the vote. Lincoln's political career emerged as Illinois and the slavery expansion question took center stage in American politics. In eloquent speeches, Lincoln served as a rhetorical guide to how and why the American republic destroyed itself over the future of free versus slave labor. Foner astutely exposes how Lincoln discussed slavery primarily as an "abstraction" and rarely as a world of daily oppression and the violence of the master-slave relationship. But a thread running throughout the book is the developing influence that radical abolitionists and their ideas had on Lincoln, moving him, both grudgingly and eagerly, toward a greater egalitarianism. It has long been a cliche to say that Lincoln was a man of his time and region in his attitudes about race, but Foner shows us just what that means in a carefully layered analysis.

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