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Fate of Liberty : Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties by Mark E. Neely Jr. (1992, Trade Paperback)

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Notes: 2nd printing. 1991 Trade Paperback. xvii, 278 pp. "If Abraham Lincoln was known as the Great Emancipator, he was also the only president to suspend the writ of habeas corpus. Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks / Oxford University Press.

About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherOxford University Press, Incorporated

ISBN-100195080327

ISBN-139780195080322

eBay Product ID (ePID)72387

Product Key Features

Book TitleFate of Liberty : Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties

Number of Pages304 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication Year1992

TopicConstitutional, United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877), Presidents & Heads of State

IllustratorYes

FeaturesReprint

GenreLaw, Biography & Autobiography, History

AuthorMark E. Neely Jr.

FormatTrade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height0.9 in

Item Weight16.9 Oz

Item Length9.3 in

Item Width6.1 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

Reviews"A thorough and meticulously documented study....Highlighted by more than thirty pages of well-researched endnotes, a comprehensive index, and an index of 'prisoners of state.' Highly recommended."--Choice, "Excellent book--very informative, and appropriate for today's times as well as for the last century. I think it 'must' reading for students taking a course on the Civil War, and it would be apprpriate reading for several other courses."--Robert Langran, Villanova University, "A thorough and meticulously documented study....Highlighted by more thanthirty pages of well-researched endnotes, a comprehensive index, and an index of'prisoners of state.' Highly recommended."--Choice, "[An] excellent study of civil liberties in the North during the Civil War....Neely writes in clear, straightforward prose....An impressive and valuable addition to the literature of the Civil War."--The Journal of American History, "An in-depth summary of how Lincoln and his administration handled civilrights in the deepest crisis the nation has ever endured....A chilling reminderthat personal liberty always hangs in tremulous balance when the nation istangled in desperate crisis."--The Grand Rapids Press, "In this Pulitzer Prize-winning study, Mark Neely makes a major contribution to th[e] revision of the analysis of the nature of war behind the lines....A refreshing historical revision of the inner workings of the Union effort, which all too often is presented as if it had been a well-oiledmachine....It is to be hoped that this book will stimulate others to look at the impact of the war on civilians in more detailled ways."-Michael Fellman, Canadian Review of American Studies, "At last, some 125 years after the end of the Civil War, we have a moreaccurate and honest understanding of the Lincoln administration and civilliberties. After years of painstaking archival research Mark Neely presents acompelling argument that history should be left to those who do research and notto novelists, literary critics, or thos with political axes to grind, like the'lost cause' partisan who wrote American Bastile. Neely's book, which is thebest scholarly examination of this issue ever written, will rehabilitateLincoln's reputation on civil liberties....Extremely convincing."--PaulFinkleman, The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, "An impressive work, finely written and carefully presented. An important contribution that will serve the undergraduate as well as [the] scholar."--Professor Dennis M. Shannon, Alabama University - Montgomery, "An impressive work, finely written and carefully presented. An important contribution that will serve the undergraduate as well as [the] scholar."--Professor Dennis M. Shannon, Alabama University--Montgomery"Excellent book--very informative, and appropriate for today's times as well as for the last century. I think it 'must' reading for students taking a course on the Civil War, and it would be apprpriate reading for several other courses."--Robert Langran, Villanova University"In this Pulitzer Prize-winning study, Mark Neely makes a major contribution to th[e] revision of the analysis of the nature of war behind the lines....A refreshing historical revision of the inner workings of the Union effort, which all too often is presented as if it had been a well-oiled machine....It is to be hoped that this book will stimulate others to look at the impact of the war on civilians in more detailled ways."--Michael Fellman, Canadian Review of American Studies"At last, some 125 years after the end of the Civil War, we have a more accurate and honest understanding of the Lincoln administration and civil liberties. After years of painstaking archival research Mark Neely presents a compelling argument that history should be left to those who do research and not to novelists, literary critics, or thos with political axes to grind, like the 'lost cause' partisan who wrote American Bastile. Neely's book, which is the best scholarly examination of this issue ever written, will rehabilitate Lincoln's reputation on civil liberties....Extremely convincing."--Paul Finkleman, The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography"By far the best book on the subject....Masterful."--Gabor S. Boritt, Illinois Issues"Intriguing....Neely has refined the debate with exhaustive and impressive research. He has supplied detail and restored context to discussions of civil liberties during the Civil War. His questions are good ones. His answers are striking....The first book-length study of civil liberties during the Lincoln administrations. It will set a standard."--Francis N. Stites, Civil War History"A thorough and meticulously documented study....Highlighted by more than thirty pages of well-researched endnotes, a comprehensive index, and an index of 'prisoners of state.' Highly recommended."--CHOICE"An in-depth summary of how Lincoln and his administration handled civil rights in the deepest crisis the nation has ever endured....A chilling reminder that personal liberty always hangs in tremulous balance when the nation is tangled in desperate crisis."--The Grand Rapids Press"An important book....[Neely's] research is broad and deep, not only in range of the usual primary materials but in a massive amount of sources in the National Archives on specific cases, hitherto unused."--Indiana Magazine of History"[An] excellent study of civil liberties in the North during the Civil War....Neely writes in clear, straightforward prose....An impressive and valuable addition to the literature of the Civil War."--The Journal of American History"Neely's welcome book on civil liberties under Lincoln advances us beyond this sketchy profile to detail the workings of Lincoln's internal security system Neely reviews voluminous military court and federal prison records that have not heretofore received systematic attention, encompasses the perspectives of president and cabinet as well as those of hundreds of officials in the field, and refines the terminology and conclusions of the old authority, James G. Randall's Constitutional Problems Under Lincoln (1926). The result is a balanced and compelling account that fully acknowledges and explores repressive practices, but repeatedly emphasizes the limits observed by Lincoln and the wartime bureaucracy."--American Historical Review"Throroughly researched and well written--the best treatment by far of the subject."--Norman B. Ferris, Middle Tennessee State University, "Excellent book--very informative, and appropriate for today's times aswell as for the last century. I think it 'must' reading for students taking acourse on the Civil War, and it would be apprpriate reading for several othercourses."--Robert Langran, Villanova University, "In this Pulitzer Prize-winning study, Mark Neely makes a majorcontribution to th[e] revision of the analysis of the nature of war behind thelines....A refreshing historical revision of the inner workings of the Unioneffort, which all too often is presented as if it had been a well-oiledmachine....It is to be hoped that this book will stimulate others to look at theimpact of the war on civilians in more detailled ways."-Michael Fellman,Canadian Review of American Studies, "An impressive work, finely written and carefully presented. An important contribution that will serve the undergraduate as well as [the] scholar."--Professor Dennis M. Shannon, Alabama University--Montgomery"Excellent book--very informative, and appropriate for today's times as well as for the last century. I think it 'must' reading for students taking a course on the Civil War, and it would be apprpriate reading for several other courses."--Robert Langran, Villanova University"In this Pulitzer Prize-winning study, Mark Neely makes a major contribution to th[e] revision of the analysis of the nature of war behind the lines....A refreshing historical revision of the inner workings of the Union effort, which all too often is presented as if it had been a well-oiled machine....It is to be hoped that this book will stimulate others to look at the impact of the war on civilians in more detailled ways."--Michael Fellman, CanadianReview of American Studies"At last, some 125 years after the end of the Civil War, we have a more accurate and honest understanding of the Lincoln administration and civil liberties. After years of painstaking archival research Mark Neely presents a compelling argument that history should be left to those who do research and not to novelists, literary critics, or thos with political axes to grind, like the 'lost cause' partisan who wrote American Bastile. Neely's book, whichis the best scholarly examination of this issue ever written, will rehabilitate Lincoln's reputation on civil liberties....Extremely convincing."--Paul Finkleman, The Pennsylvania Magazine of History andBiography"By far the best book on the subject....Masterful."--Gabor S. Boritt, Illinois Issues"Intriguing....Neely has refined the debate with exhaustive and impressive research. He has supplied detail and restored context to discussions of civil liberties during the Civil War. His questions are good ones. His answers are striking....The first book-length study of civil liberties during the Lincoln administrations. It will set a standard."--Francis N. Stites, Civil War History"A thorough and meticulously documented study....Highlighted by more than thirty pages of well-researched endnotes, a comprehensive index, and an index of 'prisoners of state.' Highly recommended."--CHOICE"An in-depth summary of how Lincoln and his administration handled civil rights in the deepest crisis the nation has ever endured....A chilling reminder that personal liberty always hangs in tremulous balance when the nation is tangled in desperate crisis."--The Grand Rapids Press"An important book....[Neely's] research is broad and deep, not only in range of the usual primary materials but in a massive amount of sources in the National Archives on specific cases, hitherto unused."--Indiana Magazine of History"[An] excellent study of civil liberties in the North during the Civil War....Neely writes in clear, straightforward prose....An impressive and valuable addition to the literature of the Civil War."--The Journal of American History"Neely's welcome book on civil liberties under Lincoln advances us beyond this sketchy profile to detail the workings of Lincoln's internal security system Neely reviews voluminous military court and federal prison records that have not heretofore received systematic attention, encompasses the perspectives of president and cabinet as well as those of hundreds of officials in the field, and refines the terminology and conclusions of the old authority, James G.Randall's Constitutional Problems Under Lincoln (1926). The result is a balanced and compelling account that fully acknowledges and explores repressive practices, but repeatedly emphasizes the limitsobserved by Lincoln and the wartime bureaucracy."--American Historical Review"Throroughly researched and well written--the best treatment by far of the subject."--Norman B. Ferris, Middle Tennessee State University, "An important book....[Neely's] research is broad and deep, not only in range of the usual primary materials but in a massive amount of sources in the National Archives on specific cases, hitherto unused."--Indiana Magazine of History, "Neely's welcome book on civil liberties under Lincoln advances us beyondthis sketchy profile to detail the workings of Lincoln's internal securitysystem Neely reviews voluminous military court and federal prison records tahthave not heretofore received systematic attention, encompasses the perspectivesof president and cabinet as well as those of hundreds of officials in the field,and refines the terminology and conclusions of the old authority, James G.Randall's Constitutional Problems Under Lincoln (1926). The result is abalanced and compleeing account that fully acknowledges and explores repressivepractices, but repeatedly emphasizes the limits observed by Lincoln and thewartime bureaucracy."--American Historical Review, "[An] excellent study of civil liberties in the North during the CivilWar....Neely writes in clear, straightforward prose....An impressive andvaluable addition to the literature of the Civil War."--The Journal of AmericanHistory, "At last, some 125 years after the end of the Civil War, we have a more accurate and honest understanding of the Lincoln administration and civil liberties. After years of painstaking archival research Mark Neely presents a compelling argument that history should be left to those who doresearch and not to novelists, literary critics, or thos with political axes to grind, like the 'lost cause' partisan who wrote American Bastile. Neely's book, which is the best scholarly examination of this issue ever written, will rehabilitate Lincoln's reputation on civil liberties....Extremelyconvincing."--Paul Finkleman, The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, "An in-depth summary of how Lincoln and his administration handled civil rights in the deepest crisis the nation has ever endured....A chilling reminder that personal liberty always hangs in tremulous balance when the nation is tangled in desperate crisis."--The Grand Rapids Press, "Intriguing....Neely has refined the debate with exhaustive and impressiveresearch. He has supplied detail and restored context to discussions of civilliberties during the Civil War. His questions are good ones. His answers arestriking....The first book-length study of civil liberties during the Lincolnadministrations. It will set a standard."--Francis N. Stites, Civil WarHistory, "An impressive work, finely written and carefully presented. An important contribution that will serve the undergraduate as well as [the] scholar."--Professor Dennis M. Shannon, Alabama University--Montgomery "Excellent book--very informative, and appropriate for today''s times as well as for the last century. I think it ''must'' reading for students taking a course on the Civil War, and it would be apprpriate reading for several other courses."--Robert Langran, Villanova University "In this Pulitzer Prize-winning study, Mark Neely makes a major contribution to th[e] revision of the analysis of the nature of war behind the lines....A refreshing historical revision of the inner workings of the Union effort, which all too often is presented as if it had been a well-oiled machine....It is to be hoped that this book will stimulate others to look at the impact of the war on civilians in more detailled ways."--Michael Fellman, Canadian Review of American Studies "At last, some 125 years after the end of the Civil War, we have a more accurate and honest understanding of the Lincoln administration and civil liberties. After years of painstaking archival research Mark Neely presents a compelling argument that history should be left to those who do research and not to novelists, literary critics, or thos with political axes to grind, like the ''lost cause'' partisan who wrote American Bastile. Neely''s book, which is the best scholarly examination of this issue ever written, will rehabilitate Lincoln''s reputation on civil liberties....Extremely convincing."--Paul Finkleman, The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography "By far the best book on the subject....Masterful."--Gabor S. Boritt, Illinois Issues "Intriguing....Neely has refined the debate with exhaustive and impressive research. He has supplied detail and restored context to discussions of civil liberties during the Civil War. His questions are good ones. His answers are striking....The first book-length study of civil liberties during the Lincoln administrations. It will set a standard."--Francis N. Stites, Civil War History "A thorough and meticulously documented study....Highlighted by more than thirty pages of well-researched endnotes, a comprehensive index, and an index of ''prisoners of state.'' Highly recommended."--CHOICE "An in-depth summary of how Lincoln and his administration handled civil rights in the deepest crisis the nation has ever endured....A chilling reminder that personal liberty always hangs in tremulous balance when the nation is tangled in desperate crisis."--The Grand Rapids Press "An important book....[Neely''s] research is broad and deep, not only in range of the usual primary materials but in a massive amount of sources in the National Archives on specific cases, hitherto unused."--Indiana Magazine of History "[An] excellent study of civil liberties in the North during the Civil War....Neely writes in clear, straightforward prose....An impressive and valuable addition to the literature of the Civil War."--The Journal of American History "Neely''s welcome book on civil liberties under Lincoln advances us beyond this sketchy profile to detail the workings of Lincoln''s internal security system Neely reviews voluminous military court and federal prison records that have not heretofore received systematic attention, encompasses the perspectives of president and cabinet as well as those of hundreds of officials in the field, and refines the terminology and conclusions of the old authority, James G. Randall''s Constitutional Problems Under Lincoln (1926). The result is a balanced and compelling account that fully acknowledges and explores repressive practices, but repeatedly emphasizes the limits observed by Lincoln and the wartime bureaucracy."--American Historical Review "Throroughly researched and well written--the best treatment by far of the subject."--Norman B. Ferris, Middle Tennessee State University, "Intriguing....Neely has refined the debate with exhaustive and impressive research. He has supplied detail and restored context to discussions of civil liberties during the Civil War. His questions are good ones. His answers are striking....The first book-length study of civil libertiesduring the Lincoln administrations. It will set a standard."--Francis N. Stites, Civil War History

TitleLeadingThe

Edition DescriptionReprint

SynopsisIf Abraham Lincoln was known as the Great Emancipator, he was also the only president to suspend the writ of habeas corpus. Indeed, Lincoln's record on the Constitution and individual rights has fueled a century of debate, from charges that Democrats were singled out for harrassment to Gore Vidal's depiction of Lincoln as an "absolute dictator." Now, in the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Fate of Liberty, one of America's leading authorities on Lincoln wades straight into this controversy, showing just who was jailed and why, even as he explores the whole range of Lincoln's constitutional policies. Mark Neely depicts Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus as a well-intentioned attempt to deal with a floodtide of unforeseen events: the threat to Washington as Maryland flirted with secession, disintegrating public order in the border states, corruption among military contractors, the occupation of hostile Confederate territory, contraband trade with the South, and the outcry against the first draft in U.S. history. Drawing on letters from prisoners, records of military courts and federal prisons, memoirs, and federal archives, he paints a vivid picture of how Lincoln responded to these problems, how his policies were actually executed, and the virulent political debates that followed. Lincoln emerges from this account with this legendary statesmanship intact--mindful of political realities and prone to temper the sentences of military courts, concerned not with persecuting his opponents but with prosecuting the war efficiently. In addition, Neely explores the abuses of power under the regime of martial law: the routine torture of suspected deserters, widespread antisemitism among Union generals and officials, the common practice of seizing civilian hostages. He finds that though the system of military justice was flawed, it suffered less from merciless zeal, or political partisanship, than from inefficiency and the friction and complexities of modern war. Informed by a deep understanding of a unique period in American history, this incisive book takes a comprehensive look at the issues of civil liberties during Lincoln's administration, placing them firmly in the political context of the time. Written with keen insight and an intimate grasp of the original sources, The Fate of Liberty offers a vivid picture of the crises and chaos of a nation at war with itself, changing our understanding of this president and his most controversial policies., Only one president has ever suspended habeas corpus: the Great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln. This insightful account of civil liberties under Lincoln sheds new light on the controversy over the great president's record on domestic security. Far from Gore Vidal's "absolute dictator," Neely's portrait of Lincoln shows a leader prone to mercy, attempting to deal firmly and fairly with an unprecedented threat to national survival. This book offers an unusual look at the most critical moment in American history., If Abraham Lincoln was known as the Great Emancipator, he was also the only president to suspend the writ of habeas corpus. Indeed, Lincoln's record on the Constitution and individual rights has fueled a century of debate, from charges that Democrats were singled out for harrassment to Gore Vidal's depiction of Lincoln as an "absolute dictator." Now, in the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Fate of Liberty , one of America's leading authorities on Lincoln wades straight into this controversy, showing just who was jailed and why, even as he explores the whole range of Lincoln's constitutional policies. Mark Neely depicts Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus as a well-intentioned attempt to deal with a floodtide of unforeseen events: the threat to Washington as Maryland flirted with secession, disintegrating public order in the border states, corruption among military contractors, the occupation of hostile Confederate territory, contraband trade with the South, and the outcry against the first draft in U.S. history. Drawing on letters from prisoners, records of military courts and federal prisons, memoirs, and federal archives, he paints a vivid picture of how Lincoln responded to these problems, how his policies were actually executed, and the virulent political debates that followed. Lincoln emerges from this account with this legendary statesmanship intact--mindful of political realities and prone to temper the sentences of military courts, concerned not with persecuting his opponents but with prosecuting the war efficiently. In addition, Neely explores the abuses of power under the regime of martial law: the routine torture of suspected deserters, widespread antisemitism among Union generals and officials, the common practice of seizing civilian hostages. He finds that though the system of military justice was flawed, it suffered less from merciless zeal, or political partisanship, than from inefficiency and the friction and complexities of modern war. Informed by a deep understanding of a unique period in American history, this incisive book takes a comprehensive look at the issues of civil liberties during Lincoln's administration, placing them firmly in the political context of the time. Written with keen insight and an intimate grasp of the original sources, The Fate of Liberty offers a vivid picture of the crises and chaos of a nation at war with itself, changing our understanding of this president and his most controversial policies., There has been considerable controversy over the last century about Abraham Lincoln's record on the Constitution and individual rights during the Civil War. Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus during the war - the only time this basic political right has ever been suspended in American history. Neely first examines the whole range of Lincoln's constitutional policies and, in particular, shows who was convicted and jailed for what crimes during the war. He puts this whole discussion into the political context of the time. The result is a mixed record but one that basically reflects well on Lincoln.