Lincoln Looks West

by Etulain, Richard W.

• ISBN13: 9780809329618
• ISBN10: 0809329611
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-03-05
• Publisher: Southern Illinois Univ Pr

Summary

This first-ever volume to comprehensively explore President Abraham Lincoln's ties to the American West brings together a variety of scholars and experts who offer a fascinating look at the sixteenth president's lasting legacy in the territory beyond the Mississippi River. Editor Richard W. Etulain's extensive introductory essay treats these western connections from Lincoln's early reactions to Texas, Oregon, and the Mexican War in the 1840s, through the 1850s, and during his presidency, providing a framework for the nine essays that follow. Each of these essays offers compelling insight into the many facets of Lincoln's often complex interactions with the American West. Included in this collection are a provocative examination of Lincoln's opposition to the Mexican War; a discussion of the president's antislavery politics as applied to the new arena of the West; new perspectives on Lincoln's views regarding the Thirteenth Amendment and his reluctance regarding the admission of Nevada to the Union; a fresh look at the impact of the Radical Republicans on Lincoln's patronage and appointments in the West; and discussion of Lincoln's favorable treatment of New Mexico and Arizona, primarily Southern and Democratic areas, in an effort to garner their loyalty to the Union. Also analyzed is "The Tribe of Abraham"--Lincoln's less-than-competent appointments in Washington Territory made on the basis of political friendship--and the ways in which Lincoln's political friends in the Western Territories influenced his western policies. Other essays look at Lincoln's dealings with the Mormons of Utah, who supported the president in exchange for his tolerance, and American Indians, whose relations with the government suffered as the president's attention was consumed by the crisis of the Civil War. In addition to these illuminating discussions, Etulain includes a detailed bibliographical essay, complete with examinations of previous interpretations and topics needing further research, as well as an extensive list of resources for more information on Lincoln's ties west of the Mississippi. Loaded with a wealth of information and fresh historical perspectives, Lincoln Looks Westexplores yet another intriguing dimension to this dynamic leader and to the history of the American West. Contributors: Richard W. Etulain Michael S. Green Robert W. Johannsen Deren Earl Kellogg Mark E. Neely Jr. David A. Nichols Earl S. Pomeroy Larry Schweikart Vincent G. Tegeder Paul M. Zall

Author Biography

Richard W. Etulain, a professor emeritus of history at the University of New Mexico, is the author or editor of more than forty books, primarily on the history and culture of the American West. His most recent book is Beyond the Missouri: The Story of the American West. He is a coeditor of the Concise Lincoln Library book series.

 

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Abraham Lincoln and the Trans-Mississippi American West: An Introductory Overview	p. 1
Lincoln and the Mexican War: An Argument by Analogy	p. 68
Lincoln, the West, and the Antislavery Politics of the 1850s	p. 90
Lincoln, the Thirteenth Amendment, and the Admission of Nevada	p. 113
Lincoln and the Territorial Patronage: The Ascendancy of the Radicals in the West	p. 121
Lincoln's New Mexico Patronage: Saving the Far Southwest for the Union	p. 134
The Tribe of Abraham: Lincoln and the Washington Territory	p. 153
Dr. Anson G. Henry (1804-65): Lincoln's Junkyard Dog	p. 174
The Mormon Connection: Lincoln, the Saints, and the Crisis of Equality	p. 189
Lincoln and the Indians	p. 210
Lincoln and the American West: A Bibliographical Essay and a Bibliography	p. 233
Contributors	p. 251
Acknowledgments	p. 253
Index	p. 255
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.