While one or more of these interpretations remain popular among the Sons of Confederate Veterans and other Southern heritage groups, few professional… - James M. McPherson

Lincoln was the only president in American history whose administration was bounded by war.

Powerful racial prejudices? That was not true of Thomas Wentworth Higginson, or Norwood P. Hallowell, or George T. Garrison, or many other abolitionists and sons of abolitionists who became officers in black regiments. Indeed, the contrary was true. They had spent much of their lives fighting the race prejudice endemic in American society, sometimes at the risk of their careers and even their lives. That is why they jumped at the chance of help launch an experiment with black soldiers which they hoped would help African Americans.

Southern political leaders were threatening to take their states out of the Union if a Republican president was elected on a platform restricting slavery.