Historians Release New Ranking of Presidents

[Kasz216]

MontanaHatchet said:

Kasz216 said:

MontanaHatchet said:
I'm a huge history buff, but my classes have knocked a few things out of my brain. What did Lincoln do exactly that was so amazing? He did some pretty historic things, sure, but anyone could have done what he did. The Civil War was pretty much impossible to lose for the north, and as for banning slavery, it likely had a lot more to do with economics and a lot less to do with morals than most people seem to think. I hoped that historians would have put a bit more thought into their lists but now I'm disappointed yet again.

No you've got it about right.

Banning slavery was really just a political move intended to start slave riots and help the war effort.

Lincoln was actually a bit of a jerk... what suspending the Bill of Rights and all.

 

 

Not only that, but he actually made some pretty terrible decisions during the Civil War. For example, sending Grant to the western theater where the north was already doing successfully instead of say, the eastern theater where Davis had appointed his best commander. He cost thousands of lives by picking such terrible generals. But I'm just ranting.

 

Hey, he still made better decisions then the guys before him.

Presidents who get us through hard times will always be overrated though.

Look at FDR.  A lot of people even credit him for getting us out of the great depression despite unemployment being at like 20%+ during his entire reign because he didn't do anything to help private companies... and infact restricted their abilities to produce stuff actually stopping industries growth.

That's why I think Teddy Roosevelt is the best president of all time though.

He was the only one ranked in the top 5 or 10 or so who didn't have some great crisis to get us through.

He got there soley based on legislative descisions and by being foward on the issues of civil rights.