Lincoln: character and leadership

Question 1

What leadership qualities did Lincoln demonstrate?

Answer 1

Balanced political with military considerations, good sense of timing, kept in check opposition to the war, learnt from mistakes

Question 2

What was Lincoln’s relationship with McClellan like?

Answer 2

Grew frustrated with McClellan’s inaction

Initially supportive despite political differences

Removed him after Antietam 1862

MAINTAINED FAITH IN HIM FOR TOO LONG?

Question 3

How was Lincoln’s relationship with Grant different?

Answer 3

Gave Grant strategic freedom

Strong mutual respect

Supported Grant despite heavy casualties

Question 4

What organisational changes did Lincoln implement in the War Department?

Answer 4

Created Bureau of Military Information

Established telegraph office in the War Department

Military expansion from 16,000 to over 1 million soldiers

1863 implemented first national draft

Question 5

How did Lincoln handle military failures?

Answer 5

Removed unsuccessful generals (but took a long time to appoint successful ones)- Fremont, McClellan, Burnside

Implemented new and evolving strategies

Prevented war-weariness from impacting morale- e.g. Gettysburg address

Question 6

Who was appointed as Secretary of the Treasury and prevented inflation from ruining the Northern economy?

Answer 6

Salmon P. Chase

Question 7

What was the Trent Affair? How did Lincoln manage it well?

Answer 7

1861 diplomatic crisis when Union Captain seized Confederate envoys from a British ship

Lincoln defused potential war with Britain by allowing Seward to craft a diplomatic solution and releasing the envoys

Question 8

How did Lincoln prevent border states from seceding?

Answer 8

Suspended Habeas Corpus in Maryland

Delayed the Emancipation Proclamation to avoid alienating slaveholders

Offered compensated emancipation to border states in 1862

Appointed border state politicians to cabinet positions