Abraham Lincoln’s DARK Legacy Exposed

Summary

Camp Gagnon

Host: Mark Gagnon
Episode: Abraham Lincoln’s DARK Legacy Exposed
Release Date: July 23, 2025

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Introduction

In this thought-provoking episode of Camp Gagnon, host Mark Gagnon, alongside his co-hosts Gabe and Dave Sanchez, embarks on an in-depth exploration of Abraham Lincoln’s less celebrated actions and policies. While Lincoln is often revered as the savior of the Union and the emancipator of slaves, this episode seeks to uncover the complexities and controversies that also marked his presidency.

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Lincoln’s Racist Statements During the 1858 Senate Campaign [04:55]

The discussion begins with Lincoln’s candid remarks during his 1858 Senate campaign in Charleston, Illinois. Lincoln openly expressed opposition to the political and social equality of races, stating:

"I, as much as any other man, am in favor of having a superior position assigned to the white race."
[03:24]

This statement, delivered to thousands of voters and widely published in newspapers, reveals Lincoln’s public endorsement of white supremacy as a political strategy. The hosts debate whether these remarks reflected his genuine beliefs or were merely expedient tactics to counteract the relentless attacks from his opponent, Stephen Douglas, who branded Lincoln as a "Black Republican."

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Suspension of Habeas Corpus and Civil Liberties [10:33]

Mark and Gabe shift focus to Lincoln’s controversial suspension of habeas corpus shortly after the Civil War began. On April 27, 1861, Lincoln unilaterally suspended this fundamental legal protection, which traditionally requires the government to justify the detention of individuals. This action led to the imprisonment of an estimated 13,000 to 40,000 Americans without trial, violating constitutional protections [12:17].

A notable case discussed is that of Clement Vallandigham, an Ohio congressman arrested for his anti-war stance:

"Valandigham was arrested at his home at 2:30 in the morning by federal troops for giving a speech critical of the war effort."
[12:49]

The hosts argue that Lincoln’s disregard for Chief Justice Roger Taney’s Supreme Court ruling in Ex Parte Merryman set a dangerous precedent for executive overreach and undermined the judiciary’s authority.

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Treatment of Native Americans During the Civil War [21:11]

The episode delves into Lincoln’s administration’s policies towards Native Americans, particularly during the Dakota War of 1862. Lincoln’s focus on westward expansion led to the forced displacement and execution of Dakota men. The mass execution of 38 Dakota warriors remains the largest in American history:

"The decision to execute these men was made despite various questions about the fairness of their trials."
[23:18]

Mark emphasizes that Lincoln’s actions demonstrated a willingness to prioritize Union preservation over the rights and lives of Native Americans, perpetuating systemic injustices.

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Expansion of Executive Power and Its Legacy [29:20]

Mark and Gabe examine how Lincoln expanded presidential power beyond constitutional limits. By acting without congressional approval and bypassing judicial rulings, Lincoln established a template for future executive overreach. Examples include:

• Martial Law: Lincoln placed entire states under military governance, suspending civilian courts and asserting military authority over civil administrations.

  "This creates a model for authoritarian rule during times of crisis."
  [30:06]

• Unilateral Actions: Lincoln authorized military tribunals for civilians, leading to questionable legal proceedings and executions based on flimsy evidence.

  "Military tribunals operated under different rules of evidence and often lacked fair trial standards."
  [19:27]

The hosts draw parallels between Lincoln’s actions and those of later presidents like Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and George W. Bush, highlighting how Lincoln’s precedents facilitated the concentration of executive power during crises [32:21].

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Economic Policies: The Greenback System [33:02]

Facing a financial crisis due to the Civil War, Lincoln introduced the Greenback system—fiat currency not backed by gold or silver. This move allowed the government to finance the war without raising taxes or incurring excessive debt. However, it led to significant inflation:

"Inflation acted as a hidden tax on all Americans who held dollars."
[34:25]

Debtors benefited by repaying debts with devalued currency, while creditors and those on fixed incomes suffered significant losses [35:07]. The Greenback system contributed to long-term economic instability, influencing future financial policies and panics.

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Sherman’s March to the Sea and Warfare Tactics [37:50]

The episode critically examines General William Tecumseh Sherman’s "March to the Sea," authorized by Lincoln. Sherman’s strategy involved widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure to demoralize the Southern population and expedite the war’s end:

"Sherman's forces systematically destroyed railroads, mills, factories, livestock, and supplies."
[38:39]

These tactics violated contemporary principles of warfare by targeting non-combatants and civilian property, setting a precedent for future military strategies that blurred the lines between combatants and civilians [41:15]. Mark holds Lincoln accountable for endorsing these harsh measures, emphasizing the moral and legal implications.

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The Emancipation Proclamation’s Ambiguities [30:51]

While the Emancipation Proclamation is celebrated as a monumental step towards ending slavery, the hosts highlight its conditional and strategic nature:

"The Proclamation freed slaves in areas still in rebellion against the United States."
[31:42]

This selective emancipation allowed slavery to continue in border states and areas under Union control, raising constitutional questions about presidential authority [31:54]. Lincoln justified the Proclamation as a war measure, which some argue was more strategic than purely humanitarian [31:10].

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Evolution of Lincoln’s Views on Race [43:03]

Despite his earlier racist statements, Lincoln’s views on race evolved during his presidency. Influenced by advisors like Frederick Douglass and witnessing the bravery of black soldiers, Lincoln began to support limited black suffrage by 1864:

"Lincoln’s final public speech included an endorsement of limited black voting rights."
[44:14]

This evolution illustrates Lincoln’s capacity for personal growth, even within the constraints of his time. However, he never fully abandoned his belief in some fundamental racial differences, maintaining a complex and often contradictory stance on racial equality [43:31].

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Conclusion: The Complex Legacy of Abraham Lincoln [48:37]

Mark and Gabe conclude by emphasizing the necessity of a balanced historical perspective. Lincoln’s presidency was marked by both monumental achievements and significant moral and constitutional transgressions:

• Achievements: Preserving the Union, advancing emancipation
• Controversies: Racist statements, suspension of civil liberties, expansion of executive power, treatment of Native Americans, and endorsement of harsh military tactics

The hosts argue that acknowledging both aspects of Lincoln’s legacy is crucial for learning from history and preventing the concentration of power in future administrations. They caution against hero worship and advocate for critical evaluation of historical figures to ensure accountability and progress [50:09].

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

1. Opposition to Racial Equality:

   "I, as much as any other man, am in favor of having a superior position assigned to the white race."
   [03:24]

2. Suspension of Habeas Corpus:

   "The privilege of the right of habeas corpus is suspended throughout the United States for anyone involved in any disloyal practice."
   [12:05]

3. Imprisonment Without Trial:

   "The suspension of habeas corpus resulted in the imprisonment of an estimated 13,000 to 40,000 American civilians during Lincoln's presidency."
   [12:17]

4. Expansion of Executive Power:

   "This creates a model for authoritarian rule during times of crisis."
   [30:06]

5. Legacy of Executive Overreach:

   "The precedent of wartime power has been particularly influential with presidents from Wilson to Bush citing Lincoln."
   [32:56]

6. Complexity of Lincoln’s Legacy:

   "Lincoln's presidency demonstrates that even our greatest leaders can make bad decisions and contradict their own stated principles."
   [49:20]

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Final Thoughts

"Abraham Lincoln’s DARK Legacy Exposed" serves as a compelling reminder of the importance of scrutinizing historical figures beyond their celebrated achievements. By uncovering the controversial and morally ambiguous actions of Lincoln’s presidency, Mark Gagnon and his co-hosts encourage listeners to engage with history in a nuanced and critical manner. This examination fosters a more comprehensive understanding of leadership, power, and the intricate balance between morality and pragmatism in governance.

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Note: This summary intentionally excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-essential segments to focus solely on the substantive discussions about Abraham Lincoln's legacy.

Transcript

[Mark Yagnum]

Today we're diving in to the dark side of one of the most beloved historical figures in American history, Abraham Lincoln. He is beloved across American history. His face is on the penny. Same president who issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves once declared in a public debate that he opposed political and social equality between races. He also happened to imprison tens of thousands of American citizens without trial. Today we're going to get to the bottom of who Abraham Lincoln was, not only looking at the amazing things that he did, but we'll also examine some.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Of the bad things on this record.

[Mark Yagnum]

We're going to ex Lincoln's explicitly racist statements during the 1858 Senate campaign, his systematic suspension of habeas corpus, his administration's treatment of Native Americans, not for the.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Desire to tear down an American icon.

[Mark Yagnum]

But rather to add fullness and context.

[Gabe Sanchez]

To the reality that all human beings are good and bad, and that great.

[Mark Yagnum]

Men are hard labor, good men, and that all people are capable of evil. So let's jump in. What's up, people? And welcome back to history camp. My name is Mark Yagnum, and thank you for joining me in my tent, where every single week we explore the most fascinating, controversial, and interesting stories from every historical figure throughout all history, throughout all time, anywhere in the universe. Yes, and today I'm joined by my dear friends Gabe and Dave Sanchez, helping.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Produce this whole thing.

[Mark Yagnum]

How are we doing, gentlemen? All right, all right, all right, that's enough of that. You know what I mean? You guys just constantly yapping non stop jibber jabber, and we don't have time because today we're diving in to the dark side of one of the most.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Beloved historical figures in American history. I'm sure this will not be controversial.

[Mark Yagnum]

We're talking about Abraham Lincoln, Honest Abe, as they call it, or, you know, it's mostly honest and sometimes had some crazy theories about race, but who doesn't, right? Abraham Lincoln is a fascinating figure because, of course, he is beloved across American history. His face is on the penny. He got domed by, you know, a gay guy. I think he was in a theater. Allegedly. People think he was gay. No one knows really anything about him. But today we're going to get to the bottom of who Abraham Lincoln was, not only looking at the amazing things that he did, like, obviously, you know, keep the Union together, emancipation of slavery in America, which is obviously a, a horrible, horrible practice that was done in the United States. But we'll also examine some of the, you know, sort of bad things on this record, some of the things that are you know, a little unsavory.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Again, not for the desire to tear.

[Mark Yagnum]

Down an American icon, but rather to.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Add fullness and context to the reality.

[Mark Yagnum]

That all human beings are good and.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Bad and that great men are hardly.

[Mark Yagnum]

Ever good men and that all people.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Are capable of evil.

[Mark Yagnum]

So let's jump in. Abraham Lincoln was. Was a guy who proclaimed that, quote, the government of the people, by the.

[Gabe Sanchez]

People, for the people shall not perish from the earth. He also happened to imprison tens of.

[Mark Yagnum]

Thousands of American citizens without trial. Sometimes you gotta do some dirty shit to get things going. You know what I mean? Crack a few eggs. Same president who issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves once declared in a public debate that he opposed political and social equality between races, stating that there must be a position of superior and inferior.

[Gabe Sanchez]

And I, as much as any other man, am in favor of having a superior position assigned to the white race. Yikes.

[Mark Yagnum]

Not ideal, but, hey, it was a debate. I've said some crazy stuff in a debate. You know what I mean? You're acting like your mom. We've all said things that we don't think is true, but we just happen to say them. Now, this again, is an exploration and.

[Gabe Sanchez]

A critical analysis of Abraham Lincoln and.

[Mark Yagnum]

How his ideologies develop. You know what I mean? I'm not here to just tear down this iconic guy, but to understand the full complexity of. Of one of our most revered leaders.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Right?

[Mark Yagnum]

So this analysis is based entirely on primarily, you know, primary historical sources. Congressional records, military documents, newspaper accounts from the 1860s, and Lincoln's own recorded speeches and writings. And what we're going to explore will.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Challenge the simplified narrative that you and.

[Mark Yagnum]

I probably learned, you know, in seventh grade US History class. We're going to examine Lincoln's explicitly racist.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Statements during the 1858 Senate campaign, his.

[Mark Yagnum]

Systematic, you know, suspension of habeas corpus, his administration's treatment of Native Americans, and the unprecedented expansion of executive power that sets a dangerous precedent for presidents even in the current day. And again, this is not character assassination.

[Gabe Sanchez]

It's just analysis.

[Mark Yagnum]

So to me, I think it makes it. You know, I think it makes us better citizens by showing us that even our greatest leaders can make decisions that contradict our most fundamental values. So let's go all the way back. September 18, 1858, Charleston, Illinois. Abraham Lincoln stands there before thousands of voters and delivers what would become some of his most damaging statements on race.

[Gabe Sanchez]

He says, as I mentioned before, I.

[Mark Yagnum]

Am not, nor have I ever been.

[Gabe Sanchez]

In favor of bringing about in any.

[Mark Yagnum]

Way the social and Political equality of.

[Gabe Sanchez]

The white and black races. Lincoln declared this and received thunderous applause from the crowd. But he doesn't stop there.

[Mark Yagnum]

He went on to explicitly oppose black.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Americans right to vote and serve on.

[Mark Yagnum]

Juries and hold public office or marry white people.

[Gabe Sanchez]

In perhaps his most shocking statement, he.

[Mark Yagnum]

Says, I will say then that I.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Am not nor have I ever been in favor of making voters or jurors.

[Mark Yagnum]

Of black Americans, nor of qualifying them.

[Gabe Sanchez]

To hold office, nor to intermarry with white people.

[Mark Yagnum]

He concluded this section of his speech by stating unequivocally that there must be.

[Gabe Sanchez]

A position of superior and inferior.

[Mark Yagnum]

And he says, I as much as any other man, am in favor of.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Having the superior position position on the white race.

[Mark Yagnum]

So not ideal, right? These aren't just private thoughts of, you know, a guy or like off the cuff remarks, you know, I mean, he's not on a live stream and just said something crazy. These were carefully pre prepared statements delivered to thousands of potential voters and published in newspapers across the state. Yikes. Now again, many people will say that this was Lincoln's attempt to, you know, gain public favor and try to win.

[Gabe Sanchez]

His role in the U. S. Senate.

[Mark Yagnum]

And that this is what you had to do at the time in order to curry favor with the American public. Because of course the American public at.

[Gabe Sanchez]

The time in particular was a racist voting block.

[Mark Yagnum]

So, you know, that is one way to interpret it. But of course other people would say, you know, that his words represent a clear endorsement of white supremacist ideals and he stated them in the most public.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Forum possible during his campaign.

[Mark Yagnum]

And his statements, other people will point out, were not made necessarily in a vacuum. They were, like I said, part of a political strategy. In 1858, you know, supporting abolition was often equated with like, you know, supporting racial equality. And his opponent, you know, Stephen Douglas.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Had been relentlessly attacking Lincoln as a.

[Mark Yagnum]

Black republican who favored what Douglas called, you know, African American equality. Technically it's is a different type of equality. I just don't feel comfortable saying it. Right, Gabe, that's crazy. You know, I mean you're, you're from what country?

[Gabe Sanchez]

Guatemala.

[Mark Yagnum]

Guatemala. And you remember. I don't even say that one, you know, I mean, so as a result, you know, he's, he's being called a black republican, he's being attacked. And this is a charge that, you know, at the time could be politically fatal. So what does he do? Right, he's gotta make a decision here. He's in a tough spot. Douglas's strategy was to paint Lincoln as a radical who would overturn the racial.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Hierarchy that most, you know, most white.

[Mark Yagnum]

People in Illinois took for granted. In response, Lincoln attempted to thread the needle by opposing slavery while simultaneously assuring white voters that he didn't support racial equality. And this political maneuvering reveals Lincoln's willingness.

[Gabe Sanchez]

To embrace and promote some racist ideals.

[Mark Yagnum]

In order to serve his electoral interests.

[Gabe Sanchez]

The debate over whether Lincoln's statement reflected.

[Mark Yagnum]

His genuine belief or was just merely politically expedient kind of sort of misses.

[Gabe Sanchez]

The point in some regards.

[Mark Yagnum]

Regardless of his private thoughts, he's willing to publicly endorse white supremacy and racial discrimination in order to win votes.

[Gabe Sanchez]

And, you know, his words give legitimacy.

[Mark Yagnum]

To racist ideology and help normalize the ideas that, you know, opposing slavery didn't.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Require believing in racial equality.

[Mark Yagnum]

It's an interesting conundrum. You know what I mean? It's like, all right, he's willing to bend, let's say, you know, I think it's probably likely that he's, you know, views, you know, black Americans and white Americans as morally equal, which is obviously the right position to have, but he's willing to compromise us in order to win votes. It does that. Is that a, you know, an ethical gray area? I think it depends on what you do with it. You know what I mean? Like, if you are trying to curry.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Favor of a people and you say.

[Mark Yagnum]

Something that is potentially morally hazardous, but then you use that power to then push, you know, the moral framework of the society forward, you kind of look past it, you know, I mean, you're like, all right, you did some bad.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Stuff in the beginning to.

[Mark Yagnum]

To get a good dub at the end. You know, the ends justified the means. But if you just are saying racist shit and then get elected and then continue to do racist shit, then it's like, all right, it's not ideal. But I don't think that's the case with Lincoln. I think he. He ultimately did the right thing, and it almost cost the entire country. It's, you know, sanctity.

[Gabe Sanchez]

But he held it together.

[Mark Yagnum]

So shout out to him. But it doesn't end there. There are some other things that Lincoln.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Did that are a little tricky.

[Mark Yagnum]

Habeas corpus, you probably heard of it, literally means you have the body in Latin, which is what I say to.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Puerto Rican woman as they walk down the street.

[Mark Yagnum]

Right, David, Habeas corpus literally means you have the body in Latin, which is what I say to myself when I look in the mirror, right? When I look in the mirror, I'm like, oh, habeas corpus, mother and yeah, it represents one of the most fundamental protections in American law, right. It's, it's an ancient right basically that says that the government, it basically requires the government to justify why it's holding someone in custody and it prevents like arbitrary imprisonment without trial, which is a pretty good rule. U.S. constitution explicitly protects the right, stating that the privilege of the right of habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless.

[Gabe Sanchez]

When in cases of rebellion or evasion.

[Mark Yagnum]

You know, that the public safety might require it. The Constitution grants this power of suspension.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Exclusively to Congress, but not the President.

[Mark Yagnum]

Article 1, Section 9 places this authority firmly within the legislative branch, reflecting obviously the Founders suspicion of executive power and their commitment to preventing a single person.

[Gabe Sanchez]

From wielding the power to imprison citizens.

[Mark Yagnum]

Without some type of judicial oversight. But April 27th, 1861, just weeks after the Civil War begins, Lincoln unilaterally suspends.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Habeas corpus along the military line between.

[Mark Yagnum]

D.C. and Philadelphia, effectively giving military commanders the power to arrest and detain civilians without trial. This decision comes without congressional approval and.

[Gabe Sanchez]

In direct violation of the constitutional requirements that only Congress could authorize such suspensions.

[Mark Yagnum]

The constitutional crisis deepened when Chief Justice Roger Taney in the case Ex Part Merriman ruled that Lincoln's suspension was unconstitutional.

[Gabe Sanchez]

In order the release of John Merryman, a Maryland secessionist who had been imprisoned.

[Mark Yagnum]

By military authorities, Lincoln simply ignored the Supreme Court's ruling, basically said I don't give a shit. And some people say that this set.

[Gabe Sanchez]

A dangerous precedent for presidential defiance of sort of the judicial authority of the land.

[Mark Yagnum]

By September 1863, Lincoln had expanded the suspension nationwide, proclaiming that quote, the privilege.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Of the right of habeas corpus is.

[Mark Yagnum]

Suspended throughout the United States for anyone involved in quote, any disloyal practice. This sweeping proclamation gave military authorities virtually unlimited power to arrest and detain anyone.

[Gabe Sanchez]

They wanted around the whole country.

[Mark Yagnum]

And the suspension of habeas corpus resulted in the imprisonment of an estimated 13,000 on Aloha and up to like 40,000American civilians during Lincoln's presidency. The exact number is disputed because many arrests were never properly documented. And these weren't just Confederate spies or like saboteurs, they included ordinary citizens whose only crime was expressing opposition to the.

[Gabe Sanchez]

War or to Lincoln's administration.

[Mark Yagnum]

And among the most prominent victims was Clement Valdingham, an Ohio congressman and leader.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Of the anti war Copperhead movement.

[Mark Yagnum]

Valdingham was arrested at his home at 2:30 in the morning by federal troops for giving a speech critical of the war effort.

[Gabe Sanchez]

He was tried by a military tribunal and sentenced to Imprisonment for the duration.

[Mark Yagnum]

Of the war, despite being a sitting.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Member of Congress with full constitutional immunity for his speeches.

[Mark Yagnum]

And thousands of other Americans found themselves imprisoned for months or even years without a trial, often based on nothing more than, you know, maybe just like an accusation or suspected disloyalty.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Many were held in military prisons under harsh conditions with no legal recourse and really no way to challenge their detention.

[Mark Yagnum]

The psychological impact on families and obviously communities, just completely devastating.

[Gabe Sanchez]

As the threat of arbitrary arrest created.

[Mark Yagnum]

A climate of fear and kind of, you know, a self censorship. Lincoln's administration systematically targeted newspapers and journalists.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Who criticized the war effort or their administration's policies.

[Mark Yagnum]

The New York World, the Chicago Times, and dozens of other newspapers were shut down. Their editors were often arrested, and printing.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Equipment was seized by federal troops.

[Mark Yagnum]

These weren't temporary wartime measures, but many publications remained closed for months or just.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Permanently after this and basically ceased operations.

[Mark Yagnum]

And the rest of newspaper editors sent kind of a message to the press, right? Criticize the administration at your own peril. Editors like Dennis Mahoney of the Dubuque.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Herald and Archibald McGregor of the Westchester.

[Mark Yagnum]

Jeffersonian were imprisoned for months without a trial, Their only crime being the publication of editorials opposing Lincoln's policies. This systematic oppression of, you know, press freedom created a culture of self censorship that went far beyond the newspapers that were directly targeted. You know, publishers and editors across the country began moderating their criticisms of the administration, knowing that too much dissent would result in imprisonment. And the effect was to severely limit public debate and criticism to during one.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Of the most crucial periods in American history.

[Mark Yagnum]

What's up, guys?

[Dave Sanchez]

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[Mark Yagnum]

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[Dave Sanchez]

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[Mark Yagnum]

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[Gabe Sanchez]

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[Dave Sanchez]

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[BNC Bank]

She's made up her mind to live pretty smart Learn to budget responsibly right from the start she spends a little less in puts more into savings Keeps her blood pressure low and credit score raises Gottin debt right out of her life she.

[Mark Yagnum]

Boring money moves make kind of lame songs but they sound pretty sweet to your wallet. BNC bank brilliantly boring since 1865. So again, it's tricky because you look at Lincoln, you're like, yeah, he's on.

[Gabe Sanchez]

The right side, right?

[Mark Yagnum]

Like he's on the side of liberating slaves in America.

[Gabe Sanchez]

That is obviously the moral position.

[Mark Yagnum]

But given all the chaos of the war, he's also willing to, you know, seemingly attack and even arrest people that.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Are dissenting against his administration.

[Mark Yagnum]

Now, of course, when you're on the.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Right side, you're like, yeah, no, then.

[Mark Yagnum]

It'S just by the means you got to do, do it. But if someone on the opposite side did this, you'd be like, oh, this.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Guy'S a tyrant and a terrible person.

[Mark Yagnum]

It's just interesting that it seems like we care less about what someone does.

[Gabe Sanchez]

And more why they're doing it.

[Mark Yagnum]

You know, like you look at, you.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Know, presidents today, whether it's, you know.

[Mark Yagnum]

Biden, Trump, Obama, whatever, and they do stuff.

[Gabe Sanchez]

But if it seems like they're doing.

[Mark Yagnum]

It in the interest of the American people, you're like, yeah, you know, it's fine, whatever, you know, foreign action, whatever, continuing some foreign war, but they're trying to help America.

[Gabe Sanchez]

But then if you do the same.

[Mark Yagnum]

Exact thing, but it seems like, oh, you're, you know, your intentions are bad, you're doing the wrong thing, then all of a sudden, that's when we get caught up.

[Gabe Sanchez]

So maybe that's a rule for leaders.

[Mark Yagnum]

If you're trying to take over power, make it seem like you're doing it for the noble cause. You know what I mean?

[Gabe Sanchez]

That's important. As long as you're being noble, then.

[Mark Yagnum]

People kind of let you do whatever you want. But it also doesn't stop there. You know, we have habeas corpus. People are kind of getting arrested without trial. And some people did get trials, and.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Those were not ideal either.

[Mark Yagnum]

So Lincoln's administration established these military tribunals to try civilians, but the issue is that they were doing them in areas where regular civil courts were still functioning. And this is a practice that violates the fundamental principles of due process and.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Civilian control over the military.

[Mark Yagnum]

So these tribunals operated under military law.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Rather than civilian legal standards, denying defendants basic rights like the presumption of innocence.

[Mark Yagnum]

And, you know, the right to legal counsel and, you know, a jury of one's own peers, all that kind of stuff. And the use of these military tribunals for civilians was, you know, particularly an.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Issue because it removed cases from the civilian justice system where defendants would have full constitutional protection.

[Mark Yagnum]

So military courts under operate under different rules of evidence, for example, like allowing hearsay testimony, and were often presided over by military officers who had no legal training and were just directly subordinate to the Lincoln administration. So military tribunals during Lincoln's presidency resulted in numerous executions based on, you know.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Some questionable evidence and some flawed legal proceedings.

[Mark Yagnum]

The most notorious example would later be the trial of Lincoln's assassination conspirators, where defendants were denied basic due process rights and executed based on evidence that many legal scholars today consider insufficient. These executions, again, might have been correct in that time, and perhaps they did the right thing because, you know, these.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Guys are terrible assassins.

[Mark Yagnum]

But it does set a dangerous precedent for future administrations. So, you know, this again demonstrates that the executive branch could bypass civilian courts and could execute American citizens through these military tribunals. And the speed and the secrecy of these proceedings combined with, you know, the Limited rights afforded to defendants and, you know, not having, you know, you know, right to fair trial, all that stuff raises serious questions about whether justice was.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Truly being served or whether the government.

[Mark Yagnum]

Was simply sort of eliminating inconvenient, potentially guilty opponents. And, of course, another thing with, you.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Know, old Lincoln that people like to.

[Mark Yagnum]

Bring up is the Native Americans. You know what I mean? I don't know if anyone treated them well. Let the record show. Like, I don't think anyone was like, oh, these are my boys. Like, we have to ask some natives about that. Like, did anyone do a good job? But, you know, Lincoln, like many presidents.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Doesn'T have a gleaming record when it comes to this issue. So.

[Mark Yagnum]

Even while fighting a civil war, Lincoln's administration aggressively pursued westward expansion at the.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Expense of many native tribes.

[Mark Yagnum]

The construction of the transcontinental railroad authorized by Lincoln in 62 required the seizure of vast territories from indigenous people who had lived on these lands for, you.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Know, hundreds, if not thousands of years.

[Mark Yagnum]

Military resources that could have been used in the civil war were instead deployed to clear Native Americans from the path of American expansion. The displacement of tribes during the Civil War was particularly brutal because it occurred.

[Gabe Sanchez]

When the federal government's attention was supposed.

[Mark Yagnum]

To be, you know, focused on preserving the Union. Instead, Lincoln's administration simultaneously fought two wars, one against the Confederacy and another, smaller.

[Gabe Sanchez]

War against the native Americans who stood.

[Mark Yagnum]

In the way of westward expansion. This dual focus revealed that even during the nation's greatest crisis, the drive for.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Territorial conquest still is a massive priority.

[Mark Yagnum]

So the Dakota War of 1862 began when the Dakota people, facing starvation due.

[Gabe Sanchez]

To some delayed government payments and some.

[Mark Yagnum]

Crop failures, launched an uprising in Minnesota that resulted in the death of approximately 5 to 600 sett killers and soldiers.

[Gabe Sanchez]

The conflict was fueled by years of broken treaties and forced relocations and systematic theft of Dakota lands by these white settlers and government officials. So following the defeat of the Dakota.

[Mark Yagnum]

Forces, military tribunals conducted mass trials that were little more than legal theater, you could say. In some cases, trials lasted less than five minutes, with defendants unable to understand.

[Gabe Sanchez]

The proceedings because they spoke no English and were provided no interpreters.

[Mark Yagnum]

Of the 362 Dakota men, 303 were sentenced to death. This is the largest mass death sentence in American history. Lincoln ultimately commuted the sentence of 264 men, but authorized the execution of 38 Dakota warriors on December 26, 1862, in Mankato, Minnesota. This still remains the largest mass execution.

[Gabe Sanchez]

In United States history.

[Mark Yagnum]

The men were hung simultaneously on a single gallow, their bodies left Dangling as a.

[Gabe Sanchez]

To the other tribes.

[Mark Yagnum]

The decision to execute these men was made despite various questions about the fairness of their trials. And, you know, the evidence against many of them. I mean, it's sick that he, you know, commuted 264 of their sentences, 38 of them. Obviously, you know, they got what they had to get. Maybe Lincoln, you know, you got to take on his word, right? Honest Abe, you're like, all right, he knew something about these 38 dudes, but still, it's just a wild record, right? You think about Abraham Lincoln, you're like, this is a guy that fights for the disenfranchised and, you know, tries to do the right. And then you see that he killed 30 people. You're like, okay, that's why I never want to be president, dude. You got to do some dirty shit. Even if you're like the best one. Even if you're the one, you're like, oh, this guy is the. He's our goat.

[Gabe Sanchez]

He's the. Steph Curry.

[Mark Yagnum]

Being a president, you're still gonna, you know, hit a couple bricks. So the Homestead act of 1862, signed by Lincoln, accelerated the seizure of a lot of Native American lands by offering.

[Gabe Sanchez]

160 acres of public land to any American citizen or willing to farm it for five years.

[Mark Yagnum]

The problem was that, you know, a lot of this land was actually the traditional territory of some Native American tribes who never gave the land away. They were just like, you're giving our land to other people. And the act resulted in the rapid settlement of millions of acres of Native American territory, basically making it impossible for the tribes to even maintain any semblance of their traditional way of life. The influx of homesteaders created, you know, a ton of conflict with Native Americans and provided a lot of justification for the military campaigns to clear tribes from their land. So, you know, you'd have a settler there, then a Native American guy would be nearby, and then they would get into some type of conflict. And then the government could be like, yo, these natives are attacking our guys. We got to go in there. But it's like you put them there in the first place.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Story oldest time.

[Mark Yagnum]

The long term consequences included the destruction of a lot of tribes and their sovereignty and their connection with the land, and a lot of forced assimilation of Native Americans into broader American society, typically to their detriment. Another interesting little issue in Lincoln's presidency comes in 1863, when Lincoln authorized the.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Creation of the Lieber Code.

[Mark Yagnum]

This is officially known as the instructions.

[Gabe Sanchez]

For the government of armies of the United States.

[Mark Yagnum]

In the field, but we just call it the Lieber Code. It was written by this guy, Francis Lieber. He's a German American legal scholar. And this document represents the first attempt.

[Gabe Sanchez]

To codify the rules of warfare for the US Military.

[Mark Yagnum]

And the code was presented as a.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Civilian influence on warfare. Designed to reduce unnecessary suffering and protect non combatants.

[Mark Yagnum]

Sounds pretty good, right? It's like Nice Honest Dave crushing it. Once again, however, the Libra Code was also a practical document. Designed to justify the increasingly brutal tactics.

[Gabe Sanchez]

That Union forces were employing against Confederate soldiers and civilians.

[Mark Yagnum]

And I know, oh, well, who cares about the Confederates?

[Gabe Sanchez]

I agree.

[Mark Yagnum]

No one's crying for the Confederates.

[Gabe Sanchez]

We're in alignment here.

[Mark Yagnum]

But you can't just break the rules when it is in your interest and in the interests of the good guys. You know what I mean? Cops got to play by the same.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Rules we do, right?

[Mark Yagnum]

So rather than truly limiting warfare, the code provided legal cover for practices that would today be considered war crimes, including, you know, destruction of civilian property and, you know, harsh treatment of, you know, prisoners. All sorts of stuff. The Libra Code explicitly permitted the destruction of civilian property when deemed necessary by the military, stating that, quote, the commander of the hostile country may levy taxes.

[Gabe Sanchez]

And exact military services for the maintenance of his army, and he may take and use what he needs for his army. This provision effectively authorized the wholesale looting and destruction. That characterized Sherman's March to the Sea and similar campaigns.

[Mark Yagnum]

The code also sanctioned harsh treatment of irregular fighters and guerrillas, allowing military commanders.

[Gabe Sanchez]

To execute captured partisans basically without a trial.

[Mark Yagnum]

Article 82 stated that men or squads.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Of men who commit hostilities, whether by fighting or inroads for destruction or plunder. Or by raids of any kind without commission, without being part and portion of the organization, are not public enemies. And therefore, if captured, are not entitled to the privileges of prisoners of war.

[Mark Yagnum]

So you basically just do whatever they wanted to them. Perhaps almost troubling, the code permitted retaliation against civilian populations.

[Gabe Sanchez]

For the actions of guerrilla fighters.

[Mark Yagnum]

So this provision was used to justify the burning of, like, entire towns and, you know, the displacement of civilian populations throughout the south, creating precedents that would.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Be used to justify similar actions in some future conflicts.

[Mark Yagnum]

Now, again, no one cares about the Confederates.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Sure.

[Mark Yagnum]

They're, you know, these people trying to be slavery and da, da, da, da.

[Gabe Sanchez]

It's not good.

[Mark Yagnum]

But just like with any conflict today, you know, you can imagine that, you know, there's, you know, a combatant side and there's perhaps a government.

[Gabe Sanchez]

And the government, the military is doing.

[Mark Yagnum]

Whatever you think is the wrong action. But There are also civilians that are, you know, in that nation that, you know, should be protected and that the civilians that are not actually engaging, you.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Know, women, children, they shouldn't be killed.

[Mark Yagnum]

Just because their government is carrying out.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Some type of war.

[Mark Yagnum]

You should be trying to take out military targets.

[Gabe Sanchez]

But again, it seems like in this.

[Mark Yagnum]

Case, that was not necessarily the case. You know, the. The Union army was coming in, just kind of taking whatever they wanted, burning down towns, displacing civilians. Things today that we would look at and be like, oof, not good. We kind of look past it because.

[Gabe Sanchez]

We'Re on the side of the Union. We're like, yeah, slavery is bad.

[Mark Yagnum]

But, you know, if you are trying.

[Gabe Sanchez]

To take the moral high ground, should you take it all the way through? This is the question.

[Mark Yagnum]

Now, it doesn't end there. You also have, you know, executive power and the expansion of a lot of, you know, basically presidential abilities. And this, again, is not inherently bad when Abraham Lincoln does it, but it.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Does create a dangerous precedent.

[Mark Yagnum]

So Lincoln, as many people know, dramatically.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Expands presidential power beyond anything the Constitution's framers had envisioned.

[Mark Yagnum]

Often acting without congressional approval or in direct defiance of judicial rulings, he spent.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Federal funds without congressional appropriation and established new military departments and creates new bureaucracies without legislative authorization.

[Mark Yagnum]

These actions, again, are not inherently bad in their own right because, you know.

[Gabe Sanchez]

He'S generally doing it for the right reasons.

[Mark Yagnum]

But it does create a dangerous precedent.

[Gabe Sanchez]

For presidential power that future executives would later exploit. So the imposition of martial law, for.

[Mark Yagnum]

Example, across large portions of the United States represented another unprecedented expansion of executive authority.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Lincoln placed entire states under military governance.

[Mark Yagnum]

Suspending civilian courts, putting military commanders in.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Charge of, you know, these civil administrations. And this militarization of civilian governments violates.

[Mark Yagnum]

A fundamental principle of American democracy.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Right. It creates a model for authoritarian rule during times of crisis. And Lincoln's willingness to ignore a lot of these judicial rulings, particular doing during.

[Mark Yagnum]

The ex part Merriman case that we talked about before, again created just a dangerous precedent that presidents could simply disregard Supreme Court decisions when they conflicted with executive policy. And this undermining of, you know, judicial authority just goes against the constitutional system of checks and balances. So while the Emancipation Proclamation is remembered.

[Gabe Sanchez]

As a great moral achievement, which it.

[Mark Yagnum]

Was, it was actually issued as a.

[Gabe Sanchez]

War measure rather than a humanitarian policy.

[Mark Yagnum]

And it raised serious constitutional questions about presidential authority. Lincoln himself acknowledged that he had no constitutional power to, quote, free slaves in peacetime, but claimed that his war powers.

[Gabe Sanchez]

As commander in chief gave him the.

[Mark Yagnum]

Authority to confiscate enemy property, including slaves. Which is pretty clever, right? He's kind of like working with the language of the law in order to exercise his mission. And the Proclamation's limited scope revealed it's primarily strategic rather than, you know, a moral purpose.

[Gabe Sanchez]

It freed slaves in areas still in rebellion against the United States, while explicitly including slaves in border states loyal to the Union in areas of the Confederacy already under Union control.

[Mark Yagnum]

So what does that mean?

[Gabe Sanchez]

This selective application means that the Proclamation.

[Mark Yagnum]

Actually freedom, not the total amount of slaves. Right? It basically allowed slavery to continue in.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Areas under Union control.

[Mark Yagnum]

And the constitutional problem with the Emancipation.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Proclamation went beyond its scope to its very foundation.

[Mark Yagnum]

The President had assumed the power to.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Unilaterally alter the property laws of entire.

[Mark Yagnum]

States without congressional approval or any type of amendment. And this expansion of executive power again set precedents that future presidents would use.

[Gabe Sanchez]

To justify their own unilateral actions in times of crisis.

[Mark Yagnum]

So the expansion of these executive powers creates an issue, right? Woodrow Wilson cited Lincoln's example when suppressing.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Dissent during World War I. Franklin Roosevelt invoked Lincoln when interning Japanese Americans during World War II.

[Mark Yagnum]

And George W. Bush even referenced Lincoln.

[Gabe Sanchez]

When authorizing warrantless surveillance after 9 11. Now, again, this is not necessarily Lincoln's.

[Mark Yagnum]

Fault, but it is worth noting that.

[Gabe Sanchez]

His behavior did create a dangerous precedent for presidents to use unauthorized power down the line.

[Mark Yagnum]

The growth of what historians call Imperial.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Presidency can be traced directly to precedents established during Lincoln's administration.

[Mark Yagnum]

The idea that, you know, presidents could act unilaterally during times of crisis and, you know, suspend constitutional rights became embedded in American political culture, making it easier for future executives to concentrate this power. Constitutional scholars have long warned about the.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Dangers of these precedents, noting that each.

[Mark Yagnum]

Crisis becomes an opportunity for presidents to.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Just continue taking more power unilaterally, with.

[Mark Yagnum]

Few of these expansions ever going backwards. So Lincoln's presidency established the template for this pattern, showing how even well intentioned leaders doing the right thing, trying to use whatever means they have possible to, you know, push the moral framework of our country into the future, could fundamentally alter the balance of power in the American government. Abraham Lincoln also introduced something in 1862 that really changed the sort of economic.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Foundation that America was built on. So in 1862, facing a financial crisis.

[Mark Yagnum]

Caused by the enormous costs of the Civil War, Lincoln authorized the creation of a new paper currency backed not by.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Gold or silver, but solely by the government's promise to pay.

[Mark Yagnum]

These were called greenbacks, and they represented the first time in American history that.

[Gabe Sanchez]

The federal government issued a fiat currency.

[Mark Yagnum]

Just a money with no intrinsic value.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Other than the government's guarantee.

[Mark Yagnum]

And the greenback system was revolutionary and of course, controversial because it abandoned the.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Gold standard that had anchored American currency since the nation's founding.

[Mark Yagnum]

By printing money without gold backing, the.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Government could finance the war without raising taxes or borrowing money.

[Mark Yagnum]

It also created inflation that acted as.

[Gabe Sanchez]

A hidden tax on all the Americans who held dollars. The greenback system created clear winners and.

[Mark Yagnum]

Losers in American society, with the benefits.

[Gabe Sanchez]

And costs distributed in ways that favored some over others.

[Mark Yagnum]

So debtors benefited enormously because they could repay their debts with inflated currency that was worth less than when they borrowed the money. Farmers with mortgages, small business owners with loans, and others with fixed debts saw their real debt burden increase because inflation.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Reduced the value of their money.

[Mark Yagnum]

However, creditors, people on fixed incomes, and those who had saved money in banks suffered devastating losses as inflation eroded the value of their wealth. Inherently, elderly people living on savings and workers with fixed wages and bondholders saw their real income decline sharply as prices.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Rose faster than their incomes.

[Mark Yagnum]

This redistribution of wealth was often harmful to many vulnerable members of society that had no way to protect themselves against inflation. And the economic instability created by the greenback system persisted long after the Civil War ended, contributing to many financial panics and economic uncertainty that plagued the American economy for decades.

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[Mark Yagnum]

Using monetary policy as a tool of economic warfare would be repeated in many future Conflicts with similar consequences for economic stability. I mean, this is a tough one, because I don't know what other options Lincoln had, right? Like, they're facing a financial crisis. You could tax the heck out of.

[Gabe Sanchez]

You know, all your constituents, or you can borrow money and send your country into more debt. Or you do this third option, which obviously changes the economic framework of your.

[Mark Yagnum]

Nation and causes inflation, but it also.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Allows for you to pay for things.

[Mark Yagnum]

Without having to, you know, affect your constituents and taxing them or taking more of their money, because you got to get money from them somehow to pay for the war. So either you take it on the front end through taxes, or you take it on the back end through inflation, or you take it even farther down the line by borrowing money that then you have to pay back in, you.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Know, 50, 100 years.

[Mark Yagnum]

So, I don't know.

[Gabe Sanchez]

I give Abe kind of a pass.

[Mark Yagnum]

On that one, because that's. That's tough, right? I mean, you got to pay for war somehow. But people also will point to the.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Destruction of civilian infrastructure.

[Mark Yagnum]

We touched on this a little bit in one of the earlier sections, but.

[Gabe Sanchez]

In more detail, you have something known as Sherman's March.

[Mark Yagnum]

So this guy, General William Tecumseh Sherman.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Marches to the sea and has this.

[Mark Yagnum]

Subsequent campaign around the Carolinas. And it represents this, you know, brilliant moment of, you know, the Union soldiers basically taken back the south and the country that tried to leave. And to many in the south, it also represents a strategy of targeting civilian infrastructure and property to break the will of many people in the South. So Sherman's forces systematically destroyed railroads and.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Mills and factories and livestock and food.

[Mark Yagnum]

Supplies and just basically destroyed everything in their path. This hard war philosophy was explicitly designed.

[Gabe Sanchez]

To make the civilian population suffer for.

[Mark Yagnum]

Their support of the Confederacy. Sherman himself wrote that he, quote, wanted to make Georgia howl and believed that.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Targeting civilians was necessary to end the war quickly. His forces destroyed an estimated $100 million worth of civilian property, which today is.

[Mark Yagnum]

Roughly like 1.5, 1.6 billion, leaving thousands of families homeless and destitute. And the systematic destruction extended beyond military targets, including churches and schools, libraries. And this targeting of civilian infrastructure was designed to demoralize the population and demonstrate.

[Gabe Sanchez]

The futility of continued resistance, which, you.

[Mark Yagnum]

Know, again, you're fighting for the good guys, so we don't give a. But it also violates, you know, traditional principles of warfare that distinguishes, you know, that basically distinguish between combatants and non combatants. And the deliberate targeting of civilian property, again raises questions about the morality and.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Legal of some of Sherman's tactics, even by standards of the 1860s.

[Mark Yagnum]

International law at the time, though not as developed as it is obviously today, recognizes principles that prohibited the unnecessary destruction of civilian property and required military forces to distinguish between legitimate military targets and civilian infrastructure. Sherman did not do that. Right.

[Gabe Sanchez]

His forces went far beyond the military.

[Mark Yagnum]

Necessity and destroyed property with no strategic value and just kind of inflicted suffering on civilians who really posed no threat, but he just wanted them to feel.

[Gabe Sanchez]

The burden of their actions.

[Mark Yagnum]

This precedent set by Sherman, again, what Sherman did, you could be like, oh, that's fine.

[Gabe Sanchez]

It doesn't matter. But again, American law is built so much on precedent.

[Mark Yagnum]

And, you know, it would later be used to justify similar tactics in future conflicts, including the strategic bombing of civilian.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Targets in World War II and the.

[Mark Yagnum]

Destruction of civilian infrastructure in Vietnam. You know, basically saying, like, hey, we're going to go to Vietnam and destroy, you know, civilian churches and schools, because, hey, we did it in America and it worked out here, and we're on the right side here, and obviously we're on the right side there, so let's destroy their. The idea that targeting civilians was an acceptable way to break morale became kind of embedded in military doctrine. And the consequences of that extended far.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Beyond the Civil War.

[Mark Yagnum]

Now, of course, Sherman is the one that did these campaigns, but Lincoln bore.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Ultimate responsibility as the commander in chief for authorizing and supporting tactics.

[Mark Yagnum]

I mean, Lincoln was fully aware of Sherman's methods and gave him explicit approval of the destruction of civilian property. In his correspondence with Sherman, Lincoln expressed satisfaction with the general's progress and actually.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Encouraged him to continue his devastating march.

[Mark Yagnum]

Lincoln's support for these tactics revealed, again.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Just further willingness to use any means.

[Mark Yagnum]

Necessary to win the war, regardless of.

[Gabe Sanchez]

The cost to civilian population.

[Mark Yagnum]

His authorization of total war against Southern civilians represented, again, just another shift in American military doctrine from limited warfare between.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Armies to unlimited warfare against entire societies.

[Mark Yagnum]

And the president's role in authorizing the destruction of civilian infrastructure established, again, just a dangerous precedent, you know, and this.

[Gabe Sanchez]

President would be invoked repeatedly in future conflicts, like we mentioned.

[Mark Yagnum]

Now, again, I don't want you to think I'm just sitting here bagging on old Honest Abe. That is not the point. Okay? You know, defenders of Lincoln's controversial actions often argue that extraordinary times require extraordinary times measures.

[Gabe Sanchez]

And the Civil War is one of the most extraordinary moments in US History.

[Mark Yagnum]

And, you know, by any means necessary.

[Gabe Sanchez]

You need to preserve the Union.

[Mark Yagnum]

And this justified the temporary suspension of.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Constitutional rights and a lot of democratic norms. This argument holds that Lincoln faced this unprecedented crisis that threatened the existence of the United States.

[Mark Yagnum]

He's in an impossible situation I couldn't even imagine. And that the conventional legal and constitutional constraints were inadequate to meet the emergency. Right. I mean, that makes sense to me. Proponents of this view argue that Lincoln's.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Primary obligation was to preserve the Union.

[Mark Yagnum]

At all costs and that allowing the.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Confederacy to succeed would have resulted in far greater long term harm to human freedom and a democratic government.

[Mark Yagnum]

They contend that the temporary suspension of civil liberties was a necessary sacrifice to.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Prevent the permanent destruction of American society. This is known often as the necessary evils argument.

[Mark Yagnum]

And this argument also suggests that Lincoln's controversial actions actually prevented greater bloodshed by shortening the war and deterring future rebellions. By demonstrating the federal government's willingness to use all available means to preserve the Union. Lincoln, you could say, discouraged other potential secessions and helped establish the principle that.

[Gabe Sanchez]

The United States was an indissoluble union.

[Mark Yagnum]

And Lincoln's racial attitudes did genuinely evolve.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Over the course of his presidency, influenced.

[Mark Yagnum]

By his interactions with Frederick Douglass and other black leaders and his observation of black soldiers courage during the Civil war. So by 1864, Lincoln was privately supporting limited black suffrage for educated former slaves and black veterans, representing a significant departure.

[Gabe Sanchez]

From his 1858 position.

[Mark Yagnum]

The influence of advisors like Frederick Douglass, who met with Lincoln multiple times during the war, helped broaden the president's understanding of racial issues and the capabilities of black Americans.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Lincoln's willingness to listen to these advisors.

[Mark Yagnum]

And modify his views demonstrated a capacity for growth that I think distinguished him.

[Gabe Sanchez]

From many of his contemporaries. So by the time of his assassination.

[Mark Yagnum]

In 1865, Lincoln was moving toward a more expansive vision of racial equality, Though he never fully abandoned his belief in.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Some fundamental racial differences.

[Mark Yagnum]

His final public speech, delivered just days before his death, included an endorsement of limited black voting rights, suggesting that his views may have even continued to evolve.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Further had he lived.

[Mark Yagnum]

So. When evaluating Lincoln's actions, it's important to remember that he was operating within the context of 1860s America, where racial inequality was accepted by the vast majority of white Americans and democratic norms were less.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Established than they were today.

[Mark Yagnum]

And compared to political leaders of his era, Lincoln's racial views, while objectionable by modern standards, were pretty moderate, if not progressive. The standards of the 1860s regarding executive power, civil liberties and warfare were also different from modern expectations. Many of Lincoln's contemporaries, including some of his critics, accepted that wartime conditions might require extraordinary measures that would be unacceptable during peacetime.

[Gabe Sanchez]

However, it's also important to note that.

[Mark Yagnum]

Lincoln's actions were controversial even by the.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Standards of his own time.

[Mark Yagnum]

Chief Justice Taney, Congressional Democrat, and many northern newspapers criticized his suspension of habeas corpus and the expansion of the executive power. And the fact that these actions were.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Contested during Lincoln's own time again suggests.

[Mark Yagnum]

That they cannot be dismissed simply as.

[Gabe Sanchez]

A product of the historical moment.

[Mark Yagnum]

So Lincoln's presidency obviously establishes three critical.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Precedents that continue to shape the government to this day. The expansion of executive power during war.

[Mark Yagnum]

The suspension of civil liberties during an.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Emergency, and the use of military force against civilians.

[Mark Yagnum]

These precedents have been invoked repeatedly by subsequent presidents to justify their own actions.

[Gabe Sanchez]

During times of crisis.

[Mark Yagnum]

And the precedent of wartime power has been particularly influential with. With presidents from Wilson to Bush citing Lincoln. The idea that presidents can act unilaterally during emergencies, bypass congressional approval, and ignore judicial rulings has become deeply embedded in American political culture, even to this current president. And Lincoln's willingness to suspend civil liberties and target civilian population also, again, just establishes a template that future administrations would follow. Now, of course, I don't know if this is necessarily Lincoln's fault, but certainly.

[Gabe Sanchez]

It should be a part of his.

[Mark Yagnum]

Legacy in some capacity that we can.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Acknowledge all the good that he did.

[Mark Yagnum]

But also recognize that there were some.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Things that did have bad downriver effects. Of course, the heroic narrative surrounding Lincoln has obscured the complex reality of his presidency.

[Mark Yagnum]

And really, it makes it difficult for Americans to grapple with the dangerous precedents that he may have established. By portraying Lincoln simply as a flawless moral leader that never did anything wrong, popular culture has made it easier for future presidents to claim his mantle while.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Adopting his most problematic policies.

[Mark Yagnum]

Right. I mean, you can imagine, you know, FDR being like, hey, Lincoln did it, so therefore it's good. When really we should just look at.

[Gabe Sanchez]

The behaviors in a vacuum and say, is interning a bunch of Japanese people good or not?

[Mark Yagnum]

Rather than just tying yourself to an incorruptible moral leader and saying, this guy did nothing wrong.

[Gabe Sanchez]

So therefore, anything that we do that he did is also fine. This is the importance of nuanced historical.

[Mark Yagnum]

Understanding that cannot be, in my opinion, overstated in a democracy where citizens have.

[Gabe Sanchez]

To evaluate the actions of their leaders.

[Mark Yagnum]

Right. It is our job to elect presidents and congress people, and ultimately we have.

[Gabe Sanchez]

To evaluate their character.

[Mark Yagnum]

So when we mythologize historical figures, we lose the ability to learn from their mistakes and become more vulnerable in the.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Future to the same types of abuses in our own time.

[Mark Yagnum]

So by understanding the full complexity of.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Lincoln and his presidency, both his amazing.

[Mark Yagnum]

Achievements and the phenomenal things that he did. But Also his failures and the things that he could have done better. I think it's essential for maintaining any type of accountability and preventing the concentration of power into one specific position or one specific branch of government. And only by honestly examining our own history can we hope to avoid repeating the same mistakes. So the historical record on Abraham Lincoln.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Reveals a president who did very many.

[Mark Yagnum]

Great things, but also had some systemic violations of constitutional rights and at one point, some racist ideals and authoritarian policies that also has lasting consequences for American society. From, you know, explicit endorsement of white supremacy in 1858 to suspension of habeas corpus, mass execution of Dakota warriors. You know, Lincoln's presidency established some dangerous precedents. And these controversial actions cannot be separated.

[Gabe Sanchez]

From Lincoln's genuine achievements to preserve the Union and advancing the cause of emancipation. The same president who freed the slaves.

[Mark Yagnum]

Also put some people in prison without trial.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Two things can be true, and this.

[Mark Yagnum]

Is just the complexity of any historical figure.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Right?

[Mark Yagnum]

Lincoln's presidency demonstrates that even our greatest leaders can make bad decisions and, you know, they can contradict their own stated.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Principles and harm the very people that they claim to serve, just like all human beings ever. Just like you watching this could be a good person, but also do bad things.

[Mark Yagnum]

And this again is the danger of hero worship, is that it prevents us from learning from history's mistakes and creating.

[Gabe Sanchez]

An even better nation.

[Mark Yagnum]

So the most important lesson here is to examine the controversial actions and, you know, be vigilant when it comes to.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Evaluating our own leaders today.

[Mark Yagnum]

Understanding the scope of Lincoln's presidency should make us more critical consumers of historical narratives and, you know, skeptical in general of leaders who claim that, you know, extraordinary circumstances justify extraordinary measures.

[Gabe Sanchez]

We need to be scrutinizing not only.

[Mark Yagnum]

Of people in our own day, but also in history. Anyone that is perfectly infallible and has never done anything wrong needs to be scrutinized. And people that are only evil also need to be scrutinized. So I encourage you to dive into.

[Gabe Sanchez]

These topics even further. Right.

[Mark Yagnum]

You know, read the Lincoln Douglas debates, examine the military records from the Dakota war, study the constitutional question raised by Lincoln's expansion and the executive power.

[Gabe Sanchez]

And only by engaging with the full record of history can we hope to learn from the past and build a more just future.

[Mark Yagnum]

But let me know what you think.

[Gabe Sanchez]

I mean, did I miss anything?

[Mark Yagnum]

Is there anything here that was oversimplified?

[Gabe Sanchez]

If you're a student of history or.

[Mark Yagnum]

An ardent Abraham Lincoln follower, is there more nuance that I myself might even be missing?

[Gabe Sanchez]

Please drop it in the comments.

[Mark Yagnum]

Even if you agreed, I would love to know what you think. Is there elements of this or Lincoln's.

[Gabe Sanchez]

Story that you were not aware of.

[Mark Yagnum]

That you did not learn in AP American history? I read all the comments YouTube Spotify, so please drop them in there. I really appreciate everyone rocking with this new channel.

[Gabe Sanchez]

I've been overwhelmed by the support. Thank you guys so much for watching.

[Mark Yagnum]

And I will see you all next week. Peace.

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