Abraham Lincoln Administrate His Cabinet Analysis

President Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth president of the United States, was the president during the time of Civil War. This meant that he was tasked with the responsibility of getting America through the war in one piece, or as close to it as possible. During the war, he had two main goals- one, to preserve the Union and, two, to abolish slavery. These goals did not stay the same during the war, however they did remain close. President Abraham Lincoln’s goals in the civil war were changed because of Lincoln’s use of humor, literary ability, and desire to keep conflict to a minimum.

During the American Civil War, leadership within the Union’s army was constantly an issue. Within the Union, various generals were found at times to be at odds with the political leaders in Washington. This was especially evident in the relationship between General George McClellan and President Lincoln. This tension was the result of McClellan’s approach to waging war. By examining the differing approaches to waging war of U.S. Grant and George B. McClellan one can gain a better appreciation for the decision making that was necessary by leaders like Lincoln, in selecting military

Although James McPherson presents Lincoln as having numerous qualities that defined him as a brilliant leader, he wastes no time in revealing what he believes to be Lincoln’s greatest strength. In his Introduction, McPherson states regarding Lincoln’s political leadership: “In a civil war whose origins lay in a political conflict over the future of slavery and a political decision by certain states to secede, policy could never be separated from national strategy…. And neither policy nor national strategy could be separated from military strategy” (McPherson, p.6). Lincoln could not approach the war from a purely martial standpoint—instead, he needed to focus on the issues that caused it. For the catalyst of the war was also the tool for its solution; a war started by differing ideologies could only be resolved through the military application of ideology. This non-objective approach to the waging of the war almost resembles the inspired approach McPherson brings to his examination of Lincoln himself.

620,000 American men tragically lost their lives fighting against themselves. The Union won the four year long war after many long and deadly battles. There were points in the war when the Union could have ended it, but they failed to do so. If the Union wouldn’t have won the Civil War then life today would be totally different. Nobody knows if the south would have survived as a lonely country, or how many more wars would have occured.

When Lincoln interacted with Scott, he showed a deference for Scott’s age and knowledge. Thus allowing Scott to share his skills, this humility was shored by General McClellan. Lincoln later changes his approach towards McClellan, trying to boost his confidence and courage. Williams continually shows McClellan as an egotist, who eventually replaced Scott as General in chief. McClellan is depicted as unsure, indecisive, self-centered and fearful of declaring war. Lincoln continually defends McClellan but is not afraid of tactfully sending criticism his way. One could easily be lead to believe that Lincoln was more of a placator. Williams shows us that Lincoln never hesitated in making difficult decisions based on results. Lincoln’s people skills are easily ascertained in Williams writings. Lincoln seems keen at applying pressure as well as giving his generals a free hand when necessary.

Abraham Lincoln is best remembered as being America’s first war president. In the nineteenth century, the American presidency had seen nothing like the Civil War, and war was upon Lincoln before he or anyone else considered how the position of Commander-in-Chief fit into the Constitution. This resulted in an unorganized thought process and policy. Brian Dirck, author of the article “Lincoln as Commander in Chief,” writes:

Lincoln’s war strategies shaped the war effort by making it a no ally war, blocking trade for the south, having the best general, and taking over the big capitol of the south. The first strategy was to mess with the economy of the southern states and proposed the Anaconda plan to blockade the southern ports. Doing this made no trade to occur, causing the South to not be able to trade their cotton with Great Britain and receive money for ammunition. He also made sure he had the best general for the army to pursue the acts Lincoln wanted to be done. When a general failed Lincoln would fire them and hire a new one and they failed mostly because they were intimidated by Robert Lee and were not prepared for a fight. He went through many generals until one could do what Lincoln really wanted to achieve from the war which was a preserved union and win the battles. Abraham Lincoln also made it possible that no other country could interfere with the war occurring, which meant no allies or help from any country making it just about their nation. The last tactic was to take over Richmond, Virginia because it was the capitol for the Confederate states.

President Lincoln’s skills as a political and military leader proved far superior to those of his counterpart, Jefferson Davis. Although Lincoln had no previous military experience, he possessed a basic common sense for understanding the strategy of war. Lincoln’s innovative leadership, adaptability, and the ability to provide quick resolutions, gave the North a decisive advantage. He also understood that his time was limited and did not try to micromanage his generals. Lincoln knew that he needed qualified individuals to handle the day-to-day military operations. He found such a person in General Grant and handed over complete military control to him in 1963.[vii]

President Abraham Lincoln was recently photographed meeting with General George McClellan after the gruesome Battle of Antietam. Lincoln seems to be controlling the war from the front-lines as a self-taught military strategist. After the news of McClellan’s removal from the action, it is assumed that Lincoln was questioning McClellan about why he went against orders to follow Confederate General Robert E. Lee across the Potomac River. Our president has shown great leadership in this war and has shown to have leadership similar to the likes of former presidents and generals Washington and Jackson. He has shown fortitude and intelligence past his education and experience without losing the purpose of preserving the Union. His main plan seems

This caused many to doubt me and a push for President Lincoln to remove me from my leadership position. However, he refused, and even praised my informal yet fierce battle style, by saying “I can’t spare this man; he fights.” Lincoln’s affinity for me continued to grow, especially with my victories at Vicksburg, Gettysburg, and Chattanooga, until he finally appointed me Commanding General of the U.S. Army. Though he was very confident in my abilities as a military officer, he also knew my limits and didn’t try to extend the power he had granted me in any inappropriate way, as summed up in what his Secretary of War, Edward Stanton, wrote me in 1865: “The President directs me to say to you that he wishes you to have no conference with Gen Lee unless it be for the capitulation of Lee’s army, or on solely minor and purely military matter. He instructs me to say that you are not to decide, discuss, or confer upon any political question: such questions the President holds in his own hands; and will submit them to no military conferences or conventions – mean time you are to press to the utmost, your military

Behind every army, there is suppose to be a great leader, but unfortunately for the Confederates their President, Jefferson Davis was less than pleasurable, whereas, for the Union, the actions of President Abraham Lincoln made the war more conquerable. At the beginning of Lincoln's Presidency, few military and political leaders found capable of the job, but eventually with his great ability to communicate with people as well as other leaders he proved that was a great asset to the Union (Davis, 2001). Both Davis and Lincoln lacked military knowledge and had to rely on other well-respected leaders, but their approaches were the total opposite. Davis was known for being short-tempered and very easy to be offended; he would lash out at anyone

Faced with the potential dissolution of the Union and overthrow of the govt., Lincoln acted and reacted by making new limits of authority and leadership beneath the pressure of dire civil strife. The nation, after all, was undergoing a civil war-something that no previous president had been forced to cope with and one thing that the commencement Fathers had not specifically provided for within the Constitution. Circumstances forced Lincoln to be innovative, and he even his growth of authority by invoking a brand new interpretation of the presidential oath relating to the Constitution itself.

1862 had been a tough year for President Lincoln. There was serious dissension in Lincoln's government and the Cabinet were far from being a unit; Even, some of them share mutual hatred. In addition to many reports noting that Lincoln does not treat a Cabinet as other Presidents, and that he decides the most important questions without consulting his cabinet. Lincoln had problems with military leaders as well. The Union Army had attacked entrenched Confederates at Fredericksburg on December 12th and 13th with disastrous results and horrific casualties. As president Lincoln closely followed the war battles, it was evident that the war was not about to end soon and that it would be bloody for the Northerners knowing that the

t. The election was very close so, as you can imagine, the other people running were not very happy they didn’t get elected. William H. Seward, Salmon P Chase, and Edward Bates were welcomed into the cabinet. To be in the Presidential Cabinet a person either had to be the President or a secretary of a department, Seward was Secretary of State, Chase was Secretary of Treasury, and finally, Bates was Attorney General. Choosing his opponents shocked the US. Originally, Seward though that he would be able to sway Lincoln’s decisions because he had more experience. Soon, he realized that the president was much smarter than he originally thought! At first it was very hard to balance all of the different opinions of the cabinet members. In time they

President Lincoln's Struggle With His Cabinet Abraham Lincoln is regarded by many historians as the greatest president ever to stand at America's helm. This reputation is extremely well deserved, as Lincoln was able to preserve the Union and gain victory in the civil war, despite his fighting an uphill battle against his own presidential cabinet. Had he not been struggling against this divided government, President Lincoln could have achieved victory with extreme efficiency and a minimum of wanton bloodshed (Angle 659). After Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4, 1861, he was forced to battle a split cabinet because of campaign promises made to various Republican factions, which made it almost mandatory for