And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle

Assess Jon Meacham’s biography of Lincoln. What is Meacham’s fundamental understanding of Lincoln? Do you think these claims match the facts as presented in the text?

Meacham treats Lincoln as a figure motivated both by personal ambition and by moral vocation. In your view, does Lincoln seem more possessed by one factor than other? Why?

Consider how Meacham approaches the narrative of Lincoln’s life, emphasizing or deemphasizing various aspects. How do these choices contribute to Meacham’s fundamental understanding of Lincoln?