What is your general opinion about Abraham Lincoln?

You are not going to like my opinion of Mr. Lincoln. I'm sure that there will be a blevy of scathing posts in response to my opinions of the man and his presidency. But here goes anyway, because someone has to speak up. The textbooks and historians, professors and teachers won't; certainly the present government won't. My opinion of Mr. Lincoln is extremely negative! It is my opinion that he is the worst president that this country ever had. He instigated the war of northern aggression, believe me, there was nothing "civil" about it, by his policies of a larger and more powerful federal government that would preside over the states. Up until then it had been widely held, and not only in the south, that this was a nation of independant sovereign states bound together in a federated republic. That State's rights were sovereign. Mr. Lincoln opposed this notion and wished to usher in a strong Federal Government that would have rule over the states. Because of this ongoing turmoil several states in the south decided that they'd had enough and seceded from the union of independant sovereign states known as the United States and formed the Confederate States of America. Mr. Lincoln became enraged over this and sought to force the secessionists back into the union. For a period of 18 months he sent letters to the Governors of eight of the Northern States asking them to give their State Militias over to the Federal Government to act with the Army of The United States in order to invade and force the secessionist states to rejoin the union. Each and every one of them, including the Governor of Pennsylvania (where I live) refused his requests on the grounds that they would not have any part or party in letting their Militias invade another Sovereign State. They, too, felt that this was supposed to be a union of independant sovereign states and not a strong centralized Federal Government that would be able to tell the states what to do. Upon realizing that he was getting nowhere with the Northern Governors, he decided to play the slave card. Mr. Lincoln, a slave owner himself, decided to suddenly oppose slavery and had the media of the day proclaim loudly that slavery was evil and that since the Confederate States of America allowed slavery, they were therefore evil as well and must be forced to abolish this evil and return to the union. That worked, the public became incensed and the eight Northern Governors reversed themselves (bowing to pressure from their own citizens) and gave him their Militias. Mr. Lincoln ordered the Army to cross the Potomic and invade Virginia and the war of northern agression was on. That war was not really over slavery at all, it was used as a smokescreen to get the public riled up enough to support his invasion of the South. Here I must insert a personal opinion, lest some people get the wrong idea. I do not support slavery myself. I do not say that the South was right to continue to allow slavery to go on within their borders. I, personally, am against slavery and believe that it is wrong for one person to own another person. I'm not thrilled with endentured servitude either, and am glad that we've pretty much done away with that also. I simply am saying that this issue, which every school child in America today is taught, that this was what the war was all about. It wasn't! It was about whether or not this was a Union of Independant Sovereign States, or a strong Federal Republic that had power over the States. It literally was about States Rights. Since the North won the war, the South was crushed under their heel and a strong, centralized, Federal Government emerged from the ashes. If you don't like the huge bureaucracy that the Federal Government has become today, then blame, or thank Mr. Abraham Lincoln for it, because it is solely his doing that set in motion the cogs that are now the entrenched Washington bureaucracy that we have today. Now, lest anyone think that I am just "some angry Rebel" from the South, let me disabuse you of that idea right away. I was born in HI, raised in CA, and lived all over this country, both North and South. I spent the greater part of my adult life in the Military and worked in Washington, D.C. in one of those big bureauracies. So I know whereof I speak. I hold two doctorate degrees and have come to the conclusions that I have through study of history, and doing some real digging. It is my fervent opinion that if the founding fathers could see what their dream has become, they'd all be sick and demand the immediate overthrow of what they'd perceive to be a totalitarian regime that rides roughshod over the rights of the States. (I do NOT advocate for this. I don't think we have to, the government is doing a great job of destroying itself, all by itself.) As an aside, I believe that even had the South won the war, the Confederate States of America and The United States of America would have most likely rejoined within a couple of decades at the most. But to get back to the original question "what is my opinion of Mr. Lincoln"? Personally, I despise him and what he stood for and did to this country. So OK folks, let's hear it. I know that a cacaphony of scathing posts is on it's way.

It is politically correct to say that Abraham Lincoln was a great President, but politically my ideology would be closer to the C.S.A's government. I do not agree with slavery, but if you take slavery out of the discussion alot more people would side with the C.S.A. Abraham Lincoln tried to become a dictator over the remaining Union states. When the courts overturn his laws, he threaten to arrest them.

President lincoln was flexible and generous, i would liek to mention one of his sayings... With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds.... Lincoln was perceived as a moderate. and more importantly he was a great man.

Hello the_ruler, First, let me thank you for understanding that the past has an enormous effect on the present, as well as the future. If you carry this knowledge with you through life, then you will be well on the road to acquiring Wisdom! As for President Lincoln: Wow, this is an enormous question that you've asked. Although, if I had to summarize his leadership style in a single paragraph, I would do so thusly: Abraham Lincoln was a man who understood that to act in accordance with WISDOM, one must be open to multiple perspectives. When the balances are weighed, and the variables are laid out, one must be willing to make great sacrifices for what is right and good, while considering the consequences to all. His thirst for knowlege was unquenchable. And, he weighed every decision against what he knew to be honorable (not an easy task in any age). Moreover, he understood the value of contemplation, while not allowing fear to compel him to avoid action. This is a clear indictor of a balanced, or composite personality -- one who embraces the analytical, yet is able and willing to take control. This is not to be under-weighed, as it is an extremely rare blend of personality characteristics. He was a solitary man, who refused to discount the value of those who had more expertise or knowlege than himself, Yet always deferred his personal power to a larger, greater reality than his own personal gain. While he was certainly not a collectivist, he did thoroughly understand human interdependence. And, I believe, perceived himself as a tool, by which a greater reality might be formulated. Lastly, he seemed to have a true gift for empathy. He deeply cared about the effect that his actions would have on all of the people who might be affected by those actions. In fact, he was known to deeply contemplate the ramifications of his actions, before taking them. Where much could be written in this forum about the man, and his Presidency, I would urge you to seek out his own writings, and the early works of his biographies on the internet. You will learn much more there, than from the sentiments of people who 100+ years later, remember him as one of history's greatest leaders. My opinion of his leadership is that he unquestionably achieved greatness, through humility. How did his leadership differ from others? Sadly, I believe that most leaders pursue leadership positions for reasons of ego. This leaves them subject to judgement concerns, as they tend to concern themselves more with personal gain than with honor. I hope that you do more independent research on this great man. You will learn so much, and will likely be a better person for your effort. Enjoy the task at hand!