Tag Archives: Abraham Lincoln

“Law on the Move”: The Legal Climate of Abraham Lincoln’s Illinois—Its Rhythms and Culture

Posted on October 29, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive summary Between statehood (1818) and the Civil War, Illinois law matured from a rough-hewn, locally inflected system into an increasingly professional, statute-guided, market-oriented order. Abraham Lincoln practiced in the very center of this evolution (1830s–1850s). The daily life of … Continue reading →

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White Paper: The Early Political Speeches of Abraham Lincoln: Foundations of Statesmanship

Posted on September 8, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary Abraham Lincoln’s early political speeches—delivered before his presidency—reveal the contours of his moral philosophy, political prudence, and rhetorical style. Among these, the Temperance Address (1842) and the Lyceum Address on the Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions (1838) stand … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Lincoln’s Code

Posted on December 3, 2023 by nathanalbright

Lincoln’s Code: The Laws Of War In American History, by John Fabian Witt There are tens of thousands of books about Abraham Lincoln, and while this book is not entirely unique in its interest in the Lieber Code that was … Continue reading →

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Book Review: The Fiery Trial

Posted on November 18, 2023 by nathanalbright

The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln And American Slavery, by Eric Foner There are a lot of books that have been written about Abraham Lincoln, including a great many I have read (which is only a small percentage of the total), … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Lincoln’s Lie

Posted on November 17, 2023 by nathanalbright

Lincoln’s Lie: A True Civil War Caper Through Fake News, Wall Street, And The White House, by Elizabeth Mitchell Now, this book is somewhat falsely titled. The author, herself a member of that unethical variety of pond scum known as … Continue reading →

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Book Review: The Crooked Path To Abolition

Posted on November 15, 2023 by nathanalbright

The Crooked Path To Abolition: Abraham Lincoln And The Antislavery Constitution, by James Oakes Given how many books there have been written about Abraham Lincoln (in the tens of thousands), this book is a worthy winner of the Lincoln Prize, … Continue reading →

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Book Review: The Broken Constitution

Posted on November 14, 2023 by nathanalbright

The Broken Constitution: Lincoln, Slavery, And The Refounding Of America, by Noah Feldman When I first began reading this book, I was at least mildly sympathetic to the author’s argument that Lincoln sought to transform the meaning of the American … Continue reading →

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Book Review: We Have The War Upon Us

Posted on November 5, 2023 by nathanalbright

We Have The War Upon Us: The Onset Of The Civil War, November 1860-April 1861, by William J. Cooper The beginning of the Civil War is a subject that interests me and enough other people that there have been quite … Continue reading →

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Audiobook Review: Lincoln: A Life Of Purpose And Power

Posted on May 20, 2021 by nathanalbright

Lincoln: A Life Of Purpose And Power, by Richard Carwardine, read by Stefan Rudnicki Abraham Lincoln is an interesting historical figure, especially because of the combination between the high moral tone of his approach as a leader and the shrewdness … Continue reading →

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Audiobook Review: Rise To Greatness

Posted on May 20, 2021 by nathanalbright

Rise To Greatness: Abraham Lincoln And America’s Most Perilous Year, by David Von Drehle The author of this book makes the case that 1862 was the most perilous year in America’s history, and in doing so presents a compelling case … Continue reading →

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