Living Lincoln
Lincoln's Cottage Questions:
1. How was President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation both a personal response and a strategic military necessity?
2. By the end of his life, why had Lincoln's ideas on the social equality of whites and blacks truly evolved?
3. How was Mary Lincoln able to effectively influence her husband?
4. Would Lincoln have been able to set forth policies that ultimately abolished slavery and preserved the nation without his political foes and cabinet members Seward, Chase and Stanton? Explain.
5. How did President Lincoln's Cottage enable Lincoln to deal with the pressures of the presidency in wartime?
Lincoln was a great politician. He was always able to play the middle ground when it came to the issue of slavery. People believed he was going to be the "great emancipator", yet at the start of and in the middle of his presidency, I don't think Lincoln even knew what his true viewpoint on slaver was. I do believe that he passed the emancipation proclamation as a military necessity to win the war and keep the Union intact, but it was also an opportunity for Lincoln to finally come clean and admit to himself (and the rest of the country) that the Civil war wasn't just about saving the Union and Democracy, but was also about taking the country into a new direction. A direction the founding fathers knew we would have to address.
ReplyDelete#1- President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was a military response because by freeing the slaves in that states in rebellion this would cripple the South's economy, and ultimately their war effort but also because it would almost definitely lead to many of the enslaved persons to head north and join the Union Army. On a personal level Lincoln was able to free the slaves using his Commander-in-Chief powers so that he did not need the approval of Congress.
ReplyDeletePresident Lincoln believed that slavery was morally wrong and, in my opinion, would have ended it earlier if he had the legal and political grounds to accomplish it. He was keenly aware of the law, which guided all of his decisions as President. Article II of the Constitution says that the President is "commander in chief" of the armed forces of the United States and that he is responsible for enforcing federal law. As commander in chief of the armed forces, he could make decisions about how to prosecute the war on a day to day basis. The Emancipation Proclamation does exactly this. By freeing slaves that escaped from rebel states, he was increasing the number of troops that could be used by the Union. The Union army always needed more troops, so this was an effective way of increasing their numbers.
ReplyDeleteThe Proclamation also had an important political effect. Once the President unequivocally stood against slavery, it made it that much more difficult for the British to offer aid to the South. The British already banned slavery and did want to seem to offer political support for the idea of slavery. It also helped solidify Republican support for the President who had been quite critical of him by 1862. The Proclamation made it harder for people like Treasury Secretary Salmon Chase to gather enough Republican support to be a real threat to the President.
So, Lincoln was able to accomplish three things: lay the groundwork for the destruction of slavery, preserving political capital he needed to run for office in 1864, and following the express language of Article II.
#5 I believe the cottage made it possible for Lincoln to function! He didn't set clear boundaries with the hordes who besieged him, most likely because he felt it was his job as the President to be truly the man of the people. However, by removing himself just three miles away to the cottage, he was able to keep the office seekers and favor seekers at bay in order to think more clearly. Also, because he was surrounded by the dead and wounded it was a continuous reminder of the task at hand and its importance. He truly was a man of the people and everything we syudied on the trip made it obvious how much he took the job of president to heart.
ReplyDeleteQuestion #5
ReplyDeleteThe Soliders Cottage was to offer a retreat from the stress of the white house and the hardship of war. I do not believe that it truly offered President Lincoln the solace that he was seeking. With being 3 miles from the White House, Lincoln was never able to truly escape the Civil War. Having the military burial ground so close to the cottage was a constant reminder to Lincoln of the cost of war and the cost of his decisions. I believe that cottage may have offered more of an escape to Mary Lincoln when dealing with the grief for the loss of their son. Lincoln on the other had was never able to escape the pressure of the times.
President Lincoln sought out primarily to keep unity between the north and south. However, he struggled with the moral issues of slavery. As stated by our guides, Lincoln rode early through the streets to hear what the "Common People" thought. He wanted to know what people were really thinking and what outcomes may occur through his decisions. Lincoln was torn between salvation and justice.
ReplyDeleteThe cottage was a great place for Lincoln to reflect on his daily duties and his long term decisions.
Question #5
ReplyDeleteLiving at the Soldiers' Home gave Lincoln different sights and smells, but didn't offer him the escape that he needed. He still faced the arrival of unwanted guests and their requests no matter the time of day. Some guests would even meet with him in his bedroom. Lincoln sometimes responded negatively to these requests due to the stress he was under. After refusing to help a man find his wife's body after an accident, Lincoln apologized and agreed to help. We know that Lincoln did find peace on his three mile ride to the cottage since he usually tried to refuse a military escort. However, I wonder how often Lincoln really used his checkerboard. I think the stress of the war followed him wherever he went.
Lincoln’s Cottage was beneficial in reducing the pressures associated with the presidency during wartime, however, it was also a constant reminder of death and dismemberment that were a result of the conflict. As it was pointed out to us during our tour of the cottage, Washington, D.C. was chaotic during peacetime with people coming into the White House to ask for favors and to give advice, and even more so during wartime. Lincoln, as well as his wife Mary, found refuge and peace in this home and precursor to the modern Presidential retreat known as Camp David. The house, which is just three miles away from the White House, sits upon the third highest point in the District which allows cool breezes to flow through the grounds and proved to be much more bearable than the foul, sewage filled areas that surround the presidential mansion. These are a few of the reasons that the Lincoln’s spent more than a quarter of the first term lodging there.
ReplyDeleteWhile the cottage was cooler and less hectic than the White House, it served as a constant reminder of the ravages of war. Lincoln could not escape the war here as the Cottage served as a camp for soldiers that acted as a protective force for the president. Wounded soldiers were also on the grounds and one area became the final resting place for many of the Union Army’s finest. During the war, several thousand soldiers came to rest here and this burial ground came to be known as the predecessor to Arlington National Cemetery.
Question 5. Before visiting the Cottage I was of the mind that this residence would have offered Lincoln the opportunity to decompress and forget about the War. However, the excellent curator of education, Callie Hawkins quickly dissuaded me of this notion. The Cottage though in a very beautiful, cool and breezy setting was no escape. It was located on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home where veterans lived and even more significantly served as the burial grounds for many of the Civil War dead. Furthermore, Union troops were encamped on the grounds to protect the city from the nearby Confederate forces and endless numbers of favor seekers were constantly at the door. However, though he was surrounded by the reminders of the war’s carnage, the Cottage did help Lincoln to deal with the pressures of wartime in a number of ways. Most assuredly, the location of the Cottage outside of the city center must have meant that Lincoln and his family enjoyed more healthful living conditions even though there were soldiers living on the grounds. The air was cooler and cleaner for one thing. Young Willy had died of typhus which comes from unclean water of which there was plenty near the White House and Lincoln must have thought about avoiding the same fate for Tad. Furthermore, as Callie pointed out, Lincoln also understood that he needed to see the soldiers around him both living and dead to remind him about what it was all about and that the proximity to his men caused him to never forget the heavy toll that war was taking. Also, the distance Lincoln had to travel each day to get to work provided him with the time necessary to reflect and occasionally speak with ordinary people. It was probably the only time he had alone, something that his security detail probably did not like. Finally, Lincoln knew that taking his family from the White House would be a respite and allow him to worry about them a little less so that he could focus on the War. Life at the Cottage would allow Mary to escape both the constant reminders of Willy’s death and the unmerciful scrutiny of a critical public. For little Tad, though Lincoln probably didn’t plan it the way it played out, it was a welcome relief. He had soldiers who were only a few years older than himself for amusement. So yes, the Cottage though not a means to escape the horrors of war, did provide Lincoln with a way to cope with it the pressures of wartime.
ReplyDeleteQuestion#5
ReplyDeleteI think the cottage was a way for Lincoln to get away from the unsanitary conditions of The White House, but I don't think the cottage provided him with much relaxation. Lincoln most likely obtained his relaxation on his rides into and out of the cottage. Upon arriving at the cottage I feel he was immediately reminded of the matter at hand, as he strolled in the cemetery adjacent to the house or gazed at the veterans home. Lincoln's time as president was too demanding.
The Emancipation Proclamation was indeed a philosophical and humanitarian move for the betterment of the country, but perhaps more importantly it was a great tool to save the Union and for that matter the United States of America. The Emancipation creates an executive order that frees slaves only in rebellious states and not the states that are loyal to the Union, a great strategy of preventing more states from seceding. Secondly the concept that Confederate property may be confiscated by Union officers and brought up to the North was genius for the fact the slaves were considered property. This movement of slaves from the south to the north and ultimately into the Union Army was a great strategy by the Lincoln administration.
ReplyDelete#5
ReplyDeleteWe all have or at least desire a place that acts as a retreat; to escape or reflect on the hardships of life. Lincoln’s Cottage did exactly that. The walk to the cottage or cottage itself, took the president away from the hustle and bustle of Washington DC, to a quiet setting allowing him to think more clearly. Also a military hospital at the time, the cottage became a constant reminder of the war. Lincoln often spoke with incoming soldiers. In that way, it helped Lincoln understand the soldiers’ experiences.
1. How was President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation both a personal response and a strategic military necessity?
ReplyDeleteLincoln always believed that the most important aspect of our nation was the opportunity of all men to work freely to better their family. In the Frederick Douglas debates, Lincoln stated that while he did not believe in the social equality of blacks, he did believe in their humanity and they did have an equal right to liberty. As the war progressed, I get the feeling that Lincoln received more and more influences that pointed him towards more rights for blacks: the Republicans in his cabinet like Seward, the berating by Frederick Douglas, those blacks who served in the army. His personal belief in a common humanity allowed him to see that blacks were using that humanity to gain rights the he had an obligation to affirm. I also think for Lincoln that personally, by making the war about slavery it allowed him to deal with the pain and suffering he saw in Washington. Now all of this horror was for two higher causes: saving the Union and liberating a portion of humanity.
Militarily the Emancipation proclamation added needed manpower to the Union, helped assure that France and G.B. would stay out of the war, and solidified republican support for the war.
Lincoln's Cottage Questions:
ReplyDelete5. How did President Lincoln's Cottage enable Lincoln to deal with the pressures of the presidency in wartime?
When the guide referred to the Cottage as the Civil War equivalent of Camp David – it all fell into place for me. The fact that it was situated on one of the highest points of DC would help Lincoln deal with the heat of the summer. In addition, the fact that Lincolns son died from the foul water while in the White House created a need for escape. The cottage was an alternative setting that allowed Lincoln to escape the best he could the constant reminders of his son. It also put him in the position to share his grief and put it all in perspective when surrounded by the Soldiers that were residents on the compound. I keep thinking that Lincoln believed in Fate and tempted it in order to remind him of his own mortality and a bit of thrill seeking. I feel that it helped keep his sense of the fragility and uncertainness of life. The fact that the President of the United States would ride his horse unescorted for the three mile commute to the White House is a sign. He was aware of the danger – yet he did it anyway. Even when he was assigned a protection detail – he would sneak out ahead of them. He tested this notion of fate when he could that I feel would help his make decisions more rationally.
I think the location of Lincoln’s Cottage enabled Lincoln to deal with the pressures of the presidency during wartime. I think the cottage acted as both a getaway from the hustle and the bustle of what was Lincoln’s Whitehouse, as well a grim reminder of what the war was being able to see the hills of Virginia and the newly laid cemetery. I believe the fact that many citizens went to the White House on a daily basis, the cottage gave Lincoln a break from that. I think the ride both to the White House and back to the cottage would have been relaxing for Lincoln, especially since we learned he wanted to take the ride alone. I think at the cottage Lincoln, was reminded why he was fighting this war. Visiting the cemetery and seeing solider encamped on his yard, kept the war in perspective for him, and allowed him to understand that this war was for a greater cause.
ReplyDelete5. How did President Lincoln's Cottage enable Lincoln to deal with the pressures of the presidency in wartime?
ReplyDeleteIn theory, it is great for a President to be able to completely shield himself from the stresses of running a country and relax to clear his head. Lincoln’s cottage was meant to do just that… offer Lincoln a retreat from the problems facing Washington and The Union, as well as the everyday pressures that come with the Presidency. In practice, the close proximity to Washington and the constant reminders of the civil war hindered the relaxation that the cottage was meant to provide. The view of the Capitol from Lincoln’s cottage is symbolic in that no matter how distant Lincoln felt from the problems facing Washington, he was within a short ride from the heart of Washington. I do believe that it still provided Lincoln with a change of scenery that allowed him to reflect, something the dilapidated White House simply could not provide.
#5 - President Lincoln’s cottage was a place where he could retreat from the pressures of the White House but not necessarily escape the war altogether. Lincoln was obviously deeply affected by his years as president; the public burdens of holding the Union together and addressing the issue of slavery, as well as his personal burdens of the loss of his young son and his ongoing depression, certainly created the need for time that Lincoln could spend quietly reflecting. His 3-mile commute morning and afternoon provided just that; Lincoln reluctantly accepted a security detail to accompany him but was known to give them the slip from time to time, ostensibly because he felt the detail was unnecessary, but probably also to preserve his solitude. At the cottage itself Lincoln found relief from the constant throngs of people seeking his attention, and from the heat and squalor of downtown, but was still physically near the battlefields and veterans living on the grounds at the Armed Forces Retirement Home. All told, this seems to be exactly what he needed to handle the stress of being a wartime president but still ponder the huge decisions he needed to make.
ReplyDelete1. How was President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation both a personal response and a strategic military necessity?
ReplyDeleteobviously, Lincoln was personally opposed to slavery. It is evident by text and our speakers that he truly was against it and thought it was morally wrong. By drafting and signing the Emancipation Proclamation he legally instituted his own beliefs. Aside from wanting emancipation for personal reasons, it was also a strategic military necessity. By freeing the slaves, Lincoln gained respect as a decisive military leader and gained troops to help fight for the Union.
Lincoln’s Cottage
ReplyDeleteThe President’s Cottage enabled Lincoln and his family some form of escape from the pressures of being President during wartime. With the cemetery, soldiers, and cabinet members all near by Lincoln could never truly escape the stresses of war. The cottage did provide a healthier option to the city. Overrun with soldiers, animals, and garbage D.C must have been a filthy, smelly and miserable place to live during the war especially during the summer months. The daily commute also provided Lincoln with some needed time to himself. The cottage also allowed Mary to get away from the White House. This also had to lessen the stress on Abe. It is stressful enough being President. Having a miserable wife can only make things worse.
How was President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation both a personal response and a strategic military necessity?
ReplyDeleteAlthough he was considered to be a moderate on the issue of slavery early on, Lincoln thought the practice morally reprehensible. I'm sure by the time he issued his Proclamation he knew no matter how controversial he was doing what was right.
Militarily the Emancipation Proclamation was a stroke of genius. It allowed for 200,000 African Americans to join Union ranks. Some historians believe without these fresh troops the North would not have won. It also helped gain European support for the North...particularly from France and England who had already abolished the practice. Clearly neither country wanted to look as if they were siding with slavery. Any hopes the South had in gaining their favor were quickly dashed. Finally it sent a message to the entire country... there will be no compromise on the issue of Slavery. Jefferson's famous phrase "All Men Are Created Equal" will no longer be hypocritical.
5. Lincoln’s Summer Cottage was a family home that allowed Lincoln to wrestle with his responsibilities to the nation within the bosom of his family. This cottage gave the Lincolns’ privacy to deal with the sudden loss of their son Willie in the spring of 1862. The respite provided to Mary, Tad and Robert Lincoln in this relatively quiet, cooler and healthier atmosphere would have eased some of the President’s concern for his family. President and Mrs. Lincoln took carriage rides and walks on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home. The privacy to grieve their loss and the simple pleasure of these activities were not possible in Washington. William Todd, Lincoln’s White House Secretary recorded another simple pleasure shared by a father and son noting that “Mr. Lincoln usually rides in (to the White House) on horseback, about nine ‘o’clock in the morning, accompanied by Tad on his pony.” The daily rides to and from the cottage provided Lincoln uninterrupted time to consider the events of the day. The sum of these small but important events allowed Lincoln to cope as reported by Stoddard, “his health is better this season than last, and he manages to keep up his spirits in spite of the burdens of anxiety.”
ReplyDeleteIn subsequent summers, favor seekers and the curious did visit the cottage but not in the numbers seen at the White House. This reduced demands on Lincoln and his family. Here Lincoln was able to arrange politically sensitive meetings to further his agenda for the nation away from the watchful eyes in Washington. At times, Edwin Stanton, Lincoln’s Secretary of War, and his family would stay on the grounds of the Summer Cottage to enable the Secretary and President to confer as needed without interruption. In this way, Lincoln was able to address his responsibilities at times on his own terms.
#5
ReplyDeleteBy removing himself from the White House he was able to attain some distance between himself and the politics of government. Being at the cottage gave him the ability to focus on what was important to both Lincoln and the nation. Being surrounded by the soldiers graves kept Lincoln clear on his goal of not simply ending this war but bringing the people back as a united nation.
LIVING LINCOLN
ReplyDeleteLINCOLN'S COTTAGE: Lincoln's Cottage enabled the president to deal with the pressures of the presidency in wartime, but it did not provide an escape from it. Being the third highest point of Washington, D.C., it offered cool breezes and healthier living conditions. It provided respite for the Lincolns by being able to temporarily escape the oppressive heat, stench, and chaos of a city engulfed in the Civil War. By taking the family to the cottage, which was located on the grounds of the Old Soldier's Home, Lincoln was able to get away from the demands of the constant flow of people visiting the White House who were seeking favors or offering advice. However, the south windows of the house looked over a lawn covered with Union encampments that protected the president and the U.S. Capitol in the distance. This was a constant reminder of the war and the issue of slavery. To the North, the cemetery filled up with graves, which reminded a president who was grieving the loss of a son of the high cost of the war and the loss of thousands of American sons. Although dangerous, the three-mile ride to and from the cottage would have provided Lincoln with opportunities to "feel" the pulse of the people when he traveled without a military escort. Our guide indicated that slips of papers containing Lincoln's writings which were left throughout the cottage were placed in Lincoln's desk at the end of the day, which would suggest that he might have been drafting the Emanciptation Proclamation while there. Although not being able completely escape the stress of the Civil War, Lincoln's Cottage probably helped the president deal with the pressures of it.
Having experienced Washington in hot July I understand fully Lincoln’s need too “cool off” outside the city and Soldiers’ Home provided the perfect retreat. While three miles may not seem far into the country back in the 1860s the Cottage felt very far from the heat of the city catching any breezes upon the hill overlooking the capitol. Far enough away to think clearly but yet with soldiers camped on his lawns constantly reminded of the country’s struggle to preserve the Union. From the firsthand accounts we know Lincoln was able to relax and be himself here as we envision him playing checkers and chatting casually with the soldiers. I think this opportunity to return to his humanity on a nightly basis helped Lincoln stay in touch with the enormous price the war had in terms of men’s lives. Perhaps by keeping the war personal, Lincoln was more motivated to write the Emancipation Proclamation as a means to try to end the war more quickly by enlarging the war’s purpose to include the freeing of the slaves.
ReplyDelete#5 - Lincoln's Cottage
ReplyDeleteI was irate when the tour guide for the evening viewing of the monuments (Tourmobile) described Lincoln's cottage as "a place he would go because he couldn't take the summer heat and humidity of DC". This made the cottage seem as a place Lincoln would go to hide when the summer heat got the best of him. I think the excellent tour guide at the Cottage would have creamed this other tour guide, and it would have been a lot of fun to watch her explain the true significance of the cottage.
I think the cottage was a place where Lincoln went not to get away, but to give perspective to the many issue with which he was dealing. He was reminded of the casualties of war and the realities of life outside of DC. It was also a place where he was able to go to face the loss of his own child. The fact that Lincoln would ride to and from the Cottage was probably te only time Lincoln had to clear his head, and also the only time he would come face-to-face with the locals of the area. The Cottage shed a tremendous amount of light on the hardships of the Lincoln presidency.
Lincoln’s Cottage #5
ReplyDeletePresident Lincoln with his wife Mary and son Tad, bought a summer retreat just three miles from the White House in June 1862. Sadly, the family needed a place where they could mourn the death of their son Willie. Mary was quite depressed and was “in need of quiet”. President Lincoln needed a relaxed atmosphere where he could process his sons’ death and the pressures of the war. Despite the fact that many soldiers and veterans shared his country cottage and a national cemetery was in eyes view, the president did find time to read Shakespeare, the Bible, poetry and his passion for storytelling. He would walk and take carriage rides with Mary and made quality time with his son Tad. Mary was quite the hostess and would invite friends for dinner and conversation that would she hoped would keep Lincolns mind away from Willie and the war…even if it was only for a few moments. President Lincoln also commuted everyday from the cottage to the White House. This gave him many opportunities to speak with soldiers and freed slaves which helped him to understand the thinking of the common man and their point of views. President Lincoln was a introspective thinker and wanted to know different views and opinions before he would make his decisions concerning the war…the people mattered.