Last Best Hope of Earth

Tag: Simon Cameron

  • Preparing for Invasion

    Preparing for Invasion

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    Abraham Lincoln Meeting with His Cabinet in 1862. By: Francis Bicknell Carpenter.

    From the Union perspective, the dawn of 1862 presented as good an opportunity as ever for an attack on Richmond. If successful, it could force the Confederacy into surrendering and negotiating its reconciliation with the federal government with the only question being the extent of the retribution for secession. However, to be a successful strike on the Confederate capital, Abraham Lincoln must have known that military leadership as well as his administration heads would need to flawlessly execute a plan. This was particularly true given the Confederacy’s posture in the war: one that was entirely comfortable maintaining the status quo of defending its territory from the aggressor. (more…)

  • The Preparedness of the Union and Confederacy

    The Preparedness of the Union and Confederacy

    At the outset of the Civil War, the discrepancies between the Union and Confederate armies were evident. Despite their differences in background and appearance, both sides were poised to not only revolutionize the American method of warfare but also to change life for civilians throughout the country. (more…)

  • The Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln

    The Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln

    From the time of the Election of 1860 to the beginning of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, there was uncertainty as to how Lincoln and his administration would handle the growing Confederacy and existential crisis facing the country.  (more…)

  • The Election of 1860

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    The United States Capitol in 1860. Courtesy: Library of Congress

    Every presidential election is consequential, but the Election of 1860 would play a significant role in whether the United States would remain one nation. The division of the North and South on the issue of slavery threatened to cause a secession of the South. The result of the election would determine whether that threat would materialize and cause a Second American Revolution. (more…)