PDF Lincoln and the Economics of the American Dream by Gabor S. Boritt in History

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Essential Reading for Any Lincoln Scholar or Scholar WannabeBy David J KentThis classic book by Gabor Boritt should be on the essential reading list of every Abraham Lincoln scholar and scholar-wannabe. Non-scholars with deep interest in Lincoln’s motivations and history should also read it. It has become; deservedly; an icon in the world of Lincoln scholarship. It informs and challenges your previous understanding of our 16th president.Split into two main sections; Book I focuses on Lincoln’s “quest for advancement” from early life up to the presidency. Book II focuses on the presidential years. Throughout his career; Lincoln was driven primarily by economic theory and practice. Surprisingly; this aspect of Lincoln’s life had been inadequately studied prior to this 1978 publication.But wasn’t Lincoln driven by his moral opposition to slavery? Certainly slavery became the overwhelming issue of the day in Lincoln’s later life; coming to the fore especially after the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise; a fact that “aroused him as he had never been before.” But as Boritt tracks Lincoln’s speeches; letters; and activities in his early years as a Whig politician it becomes clear his true motivation was economics and the right to rise. Even slavery; though often presented as a moral wrong; was to Lincoln an economic issue; one blocking the ability of all men to an equal chance to better their condition.As a young state representative in Illinois; Lincoln was an early and consistent backer of internal improvements; i.e.; the building of canals; navigable rivers; and railroads to improve transport infrastructure; and thus ability to sustain economic growth. This was the basic Whig philosophy; along with the related tenets of a strong central bank and high protective tariffs. All of these were economic drivers and indeed Lincoln became both an expert on financial matters and a leading proponent of their integration into policy-making. Much of Book I digs deep into these aspects of Lincoln’s legislative attention. After the financial crisis of 1837 and beyond; while other politicians were running from internal improvements (and the rising debts associated with them); it was Lincoln who continued to fight for advancement and funding; arguing that (not unlike the Erie Canal project years earlier) the long-term gain far outweighed the short-term expenditures.For the first eleven chapters; Boritt explores both deeply and broadly into Lincoln’s views on various issues; all of which come back to an underlying economic motivation and his belief in every man’s right to rise no matter what his begins; much as Lincoln rose from “the simple annals of the poor” to our nation’s highest office.Book II focuses on the presidency. By the late 1850s; slavery had come to dominate the national discussion and Lincoln’s political career. To some extent; according to Boritt; Lincoln repressed overt discussion of economic factors while emphasizing the moral and political ones. But Boritt also adeptly demonstrates how even then the economic factors were behind Lincoln’s push to restrict the expansion of slavery. In every aspect of his pre- and post-election presidency he incorporated economic drivers into his thinking and rationale for decision-making. This includes when and how to adopt the Emancipation Proclamation and his prior and simultaneous support for gradual; compensated emancipation and colonization. Lincoln consistently extolled the preeminence of “honest labor” and “earning the bread” from the sweat of one’s own brow. He favored expansion of technology and improved economic development. He worked hard to plan for assimilation of southerners back into the Union economy. At times his views seemed self-contradictory; but Boritt shows us how they are all driven by an underlying economic vision of America and the “American Dream.”All of this discussion is supported by deep research and comprehensive endnotes. The extensive notes and bibliography are impressive; though one quibble I have is that the paperback edition I was reading omits the bibliography “to save paper;” instead noting that readers can purchase (for $10 at the time of publication) a hard copy from the University of Illinois Press.The book includes in an appendix a “Historiographical Essay” in which Boritt traces how the defining scholars have handled the study of Lincoln over the years. Herndon’s Lincoln; for example; attempted to define the man while Nicolay and Hay’s Lincoln did much to elevate him to a more god-like status. The romanticizing and deifying of Lincoln held sway for decades until; Boritt tells us; Albert Beveridge began the trend toward treating Lincoln as an average; sometimes even sub-average; mortal who stumbled through life and the most cataclysmic period of our history. The Beveridge school dominated the evaluation of Lincoln for decades; but eventually was superseded by a more balanced and deeper version of scholarship (though not universally). The historiographical picture is more complicated than this; of course; and Boritt goes into substantial detail and interpretation. This appendix in itself is worth reading even if you find the economic Lincoln less appealing than you prefer.A note on the writing. Born and raised in Budapest; Hungary before emigrating and becoming a U.S. citizen; Boritt nonetheless has a command of the English language that puts to shame most American-born citizens. As an avid reader and multi-published author I still had to look up many words he appears to use effortlessly. He references classical history; beliefs; and poetry as only a natural intellectual could do; all while viewing deep into psyche and motivation in ways others haven’t despite thousands of written analyses of Abraham Lincoln’s life. While I would expect that this high level of scholarship could be overwhelming to general readers (the book is informationally dense from start to finish); Boritt’s intellectualism and exploration are of such great value that everyone should make the effort to read the book. And to reiterate; this book must be on the reading list of anyone claiming; or wishing; to be a scholar of Abraham Lincoln.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Buy this book written by a master scholarBy David MarshallGreat book from one of the leading experts on Lincoln.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Jane A. WaranowskiThank you