Lincolns Last Speech, Louis P. Masur
Lincolns Last Speech, Louis P. Masur
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Lincoln's Last Speech
Wartime Reconstruction and the Crisis of Reunion

Author: Louis P. Masur

Narrator: Stephen Paul Aulridge, Jr.

Unabridged: 7 hr 15 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Wetware Media

Published: 04/13/2016


Synopsis

What did Abraham Lincoln envision when he talked about "reconstruction?" Assassinated in 1865, the president did not have a chance to begin the work of reconciling the North and South, nor to oversee Reconstruction as an official postwar strategy. Yet his final speech, given to thousands gathered in the rain outside the White House on April 11, 1865, gives a clear indication of what Lincoln's postwar policy might have looked like-one that differed starkly from what would emerge in the tumultuous decade that followed.

In Lincoln's Last Speech, renowned historian and author Louis P. Masur offers insight into this critical address and its vision of a reconstructed United States. Coming two days after Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox and a week after the fall of Richmond, Lincoln's speech was expected to be a victory oration. Instead, he looked to the future, discussing how best to restore the seceded states to the national government, and even endorsing limited black suffrage. Delving into the language and arguments of Lincoln's last address, Masur traces the theme of reconstruction as it developed throughout his presidency, starting with the very earliest days of the war.

Masur illuminates the evolution of Lincoln's thinking and the national debate around reconstruction, touching on key moments such as the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction on December 8, 1863, and Lincoln's pocket veto of the Wade-Davis bill in July 1864. He also examines social reconstruction, including the plight of freedmen and the debate over the place of blacks in society; and considers the implications of Lincoln's speech after April 1865, when Andrew Johnson assumed office and the ground was laid for the most radical phases of the postwar policy. A nuanced study of Lincoln's views on national reconciliation, this work gives us a better understanding of the failures that occurred with postwar Reconstruction and the eventual path that brought the country to reunion.

About Louis P. Masur

Louis P. Masur is Distinguished Professor of American Studies and History at Rutgers University. He is the author of many books, including The Civil War: A Concise History, The Soiling of Old Glory, and Lincoln's Last Speech. His essays and reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Slate, and he lectures around the country for One Day University.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Joseph on June 01, 2021

A brief snapshot of a pivotal moment in American history, this volume touches on a subject seldom chronicled in the vast trove of Lincoln lore: Lincoln's final speech. Based on numerous newspaper excerpts, the narrative is brisk, concise, and engaging. While this book might not be targeted towards t......more

Goodreads review by Joe on September 12, 2021

Just 5 weeks after delivering his magnificent Second Inaugural speech, Lincoln appeared on the White House balcony to deliver his last public address, just 2 days after Lee's surrender at Appomattox and on the eve of his assassination. You would have thought this moment of victory, after 4 unimagina......more

Goodreads review by Peter on February 26, 2023

The Historian Louis P. Masur published Lincoln’s Last Speech: Wartime Reconstruction and the Crisis of Reunion in 2015. The book is part of the Pivotal Moments in American History series. I read on my Kindle. The book also contains a section of notes divided by each chapter. Masur’s book contains an......more

Goodreads review by Casey on January 06, 2019

This book is misleading in that the title has very little to do with the subject matter in the book. The author spends little time on the speech with the majority of the book focused on the subject of reconstruction and bringing the country back together after the civil way. He does a an adequate jo......more

Goodreads review by Richard on November 16, 2021

On April 11, 1865, a few days before his death, President Abraham Lincoln made a speech that was focused on the end of the Civil War and his ever flexible plans for “…re-construction (as the phrase goes)…” Lincoln wanted and anticipated a better world after the end of the rebellion and the killing. Li......more