As somewhat new to the political arena in 1861, it was clear that Lincoln still had much to learn upon taking office. During a time of war, a president's decisions and role as commander in chief are even more crucial towards the country's future.
Lincoln had no political experience, unlike his Confederate counterpart Jefferson Davis, who had graduated from West Point. Yet, this reading paint Lincoln as an arguably successful commander-in-chief, even if he drastically expands his executive power in order to do so.
What is your evaluation of Lincoln as commander in chief? What are the key decisions that he makes in order to ensure Union strength and an eventual victory. And even more curious: why doesn't he fire McClellan right away, even upon Wade's insistence?
Although Abraham Lincoln had no real political experience, the point was that he had a good instinct. His military conceptions made him very popular right in the beginning because it helped of course, to win the Civil War.
ReplyDeleteLincoln didn't fire McClellan because he knew that he could still learn a lot from McClellans militaristic skills. Besides, there Although Abraham Lincoln had no real political experience, the point was that he had a good instinct. His military conceptions made him very popular right in the beginning because it helped of course, to win the Civil War.o
Lincoln didn't fire McClellan because he knew that he could still learn a lot from McClellans militaristic skills. Besides, there was nobody who could replace him. At this time, he was just the best man for the job, which is why everybody had to bear his spleens.
Based on this article it seems to me that Lincoln made a great commander in chief. In the very beginning of the article it states, "“When Lincoln became president, he was but a rank amateur in military affairs; however, the crisis of the Civil War made it crucial that he learn about such things. And to his great credit, this he did, efficiently and well.” So, although he did not have the experience of Jefferson Davis, he was a quick learner in my opinion. Further in the article it states that Lincoln even, "over a period of time, developed an insight that matched that of the professionals."
ReplyDeleteSome decisions that he made was the major alteration of his "principle of simultaneous advance." He began to place more emphasis on Robert E. Lee and his army and let other Union forces take care of the more vulnerable Confederates.
The reason for Lincoln not firing McClellan right away is confusing. After Wane insisted that "anybody" could replace McClellan, Lincoln responded that he needed "somebody." I guess Lincoln just feared that nobody else was available for the job as McClellan was, although he was not a great general.
Although Lincoln lacked necessary military training, I believe his strength was his intuition and common sense. After some trial and error in the beginning of the war, he was smart enough to establish the strengths and weaknesses of his opponent and carry out his plan based on that. I think his smart move was to find the South's major assets and try his best to get rid of them. For example, his main focus of confronting Lee's army and destroying Confederate territories around that allowed for the South's biggest strengths to be weakened (their strong military general Robert E Lee, and the southern spirit and morale.)
ReplyDeleteAs for McClellan, I agree with Emma. Lincoln was not a person to make quick decisions just to change something he automatically did not like. He waited it out because he realized that sometimes too much change and trying to hard can make a situation worse that it already is.
Lincoln seemed to have been a master learner, absorbing tons of information on the fly throughout his presidency in order to lead it out of these tough times. Lincoln mastered the most effective military strategies of the time an showed enough grasp of the material to weed out the bad advice and ncorporate the beneficial advice into his overall plan. He showed patience and fortitude by keeping cool and level headed when he meet disrespect and resentment from hi s underlings, while also getting the most use out of them. It seems like Lincoln is fighting more than the Confederate army, that he's actually fighting people within his administration as well.
ReplyDeleteI think that Lincoln did not fire McClellan straight away because he believed that there was potential in McClellan's leadership. However, it became apparent that McClellan was not the man for the job and had to be replaced.
ReplyDeleteLike Nicki said, I believe Lincoln had good intuition and common sense, so that he found his own way of being a good commander in chief.
Lincoln did what he had to as commander-in-chief. He remained a very steady hand at the helm of the US during the Civil War. He kept McClellan because he was a little bit of mentor to Lincoln and he was used to McClellan's strategies and was reluctant to let that strategy go, but when it stopped working and started to become very obvious that it was unpopular and inactive.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that he never had military training gains him much respect when looking back. But at that time, I understand why people would be so unsure of his presence. As Emma said, he has the traits of a quick learner which was defiantly essential through out the war. We can't have a leader who has no clue what he's doing.
ReplyDeleteThe reasoning behind him not firing McCellan, in my opinion was because he didn't know if someone else can successfully fill his spot. And it would look bad for his reputation and for the union if someone else was hired who was even worse. And that's the last thing he needs right now.
I think that even though lincoln had very little experience in war, the fact that he had a staff of war consultantes and generals guiding him helped the war effort tremendously. I think one key decision that Lincoln made was using the advice of his generals and not forming his own strategy to win the war. Lincoln knew he had little understanding of war, so he let his generals guide him and point him into various directions that they saw as a good way to win the war. I also think that the tactic of total war was very decisive in winning the war because it killed the drive to fight for the south and without it the war might of gone a bit differently.
ReplyDeleteI think that Lincoln didn't fire McClellan right away was because Lincoln knew that causing controversy and distrust among his generals was not an option in this war. he also knew that McClellan had a wealth of knowledge that Lincoln would be able to pull upon in the up coming battles of the war.
I CAN POST ON THE ACTUAL BLOG NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyways, I think Lincoln needed guidance when it came to military training. He did an amazing job of being smart and excellent leader. I think a key decision was his "general idea of the war". He understood that he must have a superior force. I don't think he fired McClellan right away because of his strategies and militaristic skills. Maybe Lincoln also wanted to wait and figure Mcclellan out.
ReplyDeleteLincoln May not have had raw military commanding experience but what he lacked in expertise he more than made for with talent. He was quite literally a natural born leader. one who knew when and how to follow his instincts. That fact that he was fast learner olny strengthen his position as commander and chief whar also would allow him to win the war.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alice that "Lincoln remained a very steady hand at the helm of the US during the Civil War", indeed,Lincoln was a good captain with less experience at the beginning, but i have to admit that he was such a good learner and good at keep himself calm and patient. Lincoln has good instinct and intuition in both political and military field. I think the reason Lincoln did not fire McClellan is because that Lincoln would may feel guilty to fire a mentor and a patriot right after they sacrificed themselves during the war, if he did so, that might cause potential damage to lincoln's reputation.
ReplyDeleteAs Commander in Chief, Lincoln had one of the greatest minds surrounding him (Team of Rivals), so it was easy for him to make decisions that benefitted the Union. As my classmates have previously stated, Lincoln saw McClellan as mentor, and was hesitant to get rid of him. Lincoln's lack of military experience was compensated for by the immense amount of help that he received from his generals and war secretaries. To strengthen the Union, Lincoln initiated the Homestead Act, which provided immense growth of the Union, toward the virtually unknown and undeveloped West. Lincoln had a unique leadership style that allowed him to get things done, even in the face of opposition, Lincoln was able to get people to come together and agree, to ensure progress for the Union.
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