7/30/2019 Big Enough to Be Inconsistent: Abraham Lincoln Review

1/3

Michael Manley

April 23, 2013

Professor Brownlee

Book Review 1

Abraham Lincoln is a president that is thought of very highly in society. The

bookBig Enough to be Inconsistent: Abraham Lincoln Confronts Slavery and Race was

written by George M Fredrickson (inspired by W.E.B Du Bois) and confronts some of

the views of Lincoln. Fredrickson was the Edgar E. Robinson Emeritus Professor of

History at Stanford University.1 Aside from his work as a professor in 1982 he was

nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for History. 2 Fredrickson studied the big issues of

racism and white supremacy during history, which he is most famous for.

The book looked through Abraham Lincolns life and societys views of him

today and is broken up in three sections. The preface sets up a look into how the

book was inspired and what exactly made Frederickson inspired to write this book.

He tells the reader W.E.B Du Bois, an American historian and civil rights activist, was

his biggest influence and then discusses the book. He tells the point of the lectures

are to find the middle ground between the hagiographers [viewed Lincoln as

sincere and against slavery]and the debunkers setting up a controversial topic.3

The first section/chapter of the booktalks mainly about historians views over

Lincoln and some of the popular books about him today. It seems the main focus of

this chapter is to bring out the views of Lincoln being a white supremacist and that

1 Gross, Ariela. "American Historical Association." In Memoriam: George M.

Fredrickson. American Historical Association, 8 May 2008. Web.2http://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/19823 Frederickson page x

http://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/1982http://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/1982http://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/1982http://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/1982

7/30/2019 Big Enough to Be Inconsistent: Abraham Lincoln Review

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through his years there is evidence showing he was racist and against equality. In an

effort to, not specifically prove these historians wrong, but explain why his actions

were the way they were. He talks of Illinois as Lincoln was growing up being of big

importance in his life leading into Section two of the book. In section two

Fredrickson discusses Lincolns life up until 1861 when the war started. The chapter

discusses the things that Lincoln did growing up and being an official in the House of

Representatives. Fredrickson talks about the situations and decision Lincoln made

that could support he was an abolitionist, growing up working on a farm and other

peoples farms as a servant then giving all the money earned to his father, or a firm

believer in slavery, being a man who followed Henry Clays ideas of colonizing

slaves. As Fredrickson dives deeper and deeper into Lincoln he discusses his speech

in 1860 using the founders of America to support his idea that slavery should be

tolerated because its a necessity but that it should not be expanded. The chapter

ends saying Lincolns pre-war action proves he believes slavery should not be

abolished but during the war his views seemed the change. In last and final section

of the book Fredrickson discusses Lincoln during the Civil War. He shows that

Lincoln did not consider himself an emancipator until war had taken place. Lincoln,

wanting to keep the government together, purposed his idea of colonization of

slaves outside of America. As the war continued Fredrickson tells of Lincoln trying

to stop the war and end slavery going through his Preliminary Proclamation and his

final Emancipation Proclamation. Fredrickson ties the book up with what would

have happened if Lincoln would have lived speculating the possibilities for the

country.

7/30/2019 Big Enough to Be Inconsistent: Abraham Lincoln Review

3/3

Big Enough to be Inconsistentis a book filled with the life of Abraham Lincoln.

This book was chalked full of facts and opinions to see both sides of the spectrum.

One of the most impressing things about this book is Fredricksons use of quotes. In

a book about such a controversial subject, whether Lincoln was racist, it is almost

required that you prove where you are coming from and thats just what this author

has done. For example when Fredrickson says that Lincoln used the founders of

America to show his views he supported the claim with a quote from the actual

speech made that day. Another one of the more fascinating things about this book is

that it doesnt seem to be bias. Even with Fredricksons views sometimes coming

out, like his believe that Lincolns views changed during the war, the book shows

facts that could be used to argue both sides. He also told of Lincolns role model. By

Fredrickson showing Henry Clay as the person Lincoln looked up to it shows how he

gained his views on slavery. One of the few reasons that made me not enjoy the

book was how long it took to get into. In this first section of the book Fredrickson

constantly says well return to this subject later 4 and how he will explain certain

things in the upcoming pages but seems to take forever to actually get to his point.

The other issue I had with the book was the large vocabulary and acts. On some

things he will explain the meaning but on most he skips right over and never quite

explained the acts in which he would mention. These two points seem to make it a

more historian-orientated book than a book anyone could pick up and read but

overall was a great read with a little bit of patience.

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