The Real Lincoln

The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War by Thomas J. Dilorenzo, Foreword by Walter E. Williams, Crown Publishing, 2003. 

The Right of Secession

The right of the southern states to secede was part of the tradition of the United States since its founding. After all, didn’t the United States secede from the British Empire? The United States was a voluntary association.

Statism versus Individualism

What has happened gradually since the founding of the country is the replacement of bottom up government by top-down government. Since the founding there has been a conflict between statism and individualism. The American statist called their system “The American System”. In Great Britain, it was called mercantilism. It is also called crony capitalism. 

The American System:

• High tariffs to protect native industries

• Internal improvements such as canals. and railroads

• Political patronage for firms that make the internal improvements

Advocates of the American System:

• Alexander Hamilton

• Henry Clay

• Abraham Lincoln

Advocates of Limited Government:

• Thomas Jefferson

• Henry C. Calhoun

The Civil War

The Civil War was unnecessary. Instead:

• Compensated emancipation

• Repeal fugitive slave law