Tracing the Roots of Lincoln's Democratic Vision

Abstract

No president looms larger in American memory than Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln permeates nearly every facet of American life. A variety of politicians have been obliged to claim Lincoln's mantle, including Radical Republicans, progressive reformers, and New Deal Democrats. Historians have found ample source material in Lincoln too. As Lincoln scholars are fond of noting, “historians have written more books on Lincoln than any other figure in world history—save Jesus Christ.” Similarly, poets, novelists, and artists have found great meaning and inspiration in the face, body, and biography of Lincoln. Finally, the Lincoln image has appeared in a diverse array of films, often as a source of inspiration to the hero struggling against corrupt forces. Lincoln also dominates the American memorial landscape. Monuments, memorials, busts, and sculptures appear in city parks, state capitals, and town squares around the country. The most famous memorials include Lincoln National Monument (1874) in Springfield,...