Lincolnomics : How President Lincoln Constructed the Great American Economy

While revealing as history, Wasik’s account about the first Republican President’s launches of infrastructure shame the ignorant, obstinate, narcissist Republicans of today who wish instead to build up tyrant Trump’s political infrastructure. This is a book to be read and used today." ―Ralph Nader The only biography of its kind, Lincolnomics narrates The Great Emancipator’s untold legacy as The Great Builder of American infrastructure―developer of an economic ladder to democracy through national transportation, public education, and market access Lincoln’s view of the right to fulfill one’s economic destiny was at the core of his governing philosophy―but he knew no one could climb that ladder without strong federal support. Some of his most enduring policies came to him before the Civil War, visions of a country linked by railroads running ocean to ocean, canals turning small towns into bustling cities, public works bridging farmers to market. Expertly appraising the foundational ideas and policies on infrastructure that America’s sixteenth president rooted in society, John F. Wasik tracks Lincoln from his time in the 1830s as a young Illinois state legislator pushing internal improvements; through his work as a lawyer representing the Illinois Central Railroad in the 1840s; to his presidential fight for the Transcontinental Railroad; and his support of land-grant colleges that educated a nation. To Lincoln, infrastructure meant more than the roads, bridges, and canals he shepherded as a lawyer and a public servant. These brick-and-mortar developments were essential to a nation’s lifting citizens above poverty and its isolating origins. Lincolnomics revives the disremembered history of how Lincoln paved the way for Eisenhower’s interstate highways and FDR’s social amenities. With an afterword addressing the failure of American infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how Lincoln’s policies provide a guide to the future, Lincolnomics makes the case for the man nicknamed “The Rail Splitter” as the Presidency's greatest builder. A biography of Abraham Lincoln that examines his untold legacy as the Great Builder of American infrastructure. Abraham Lincoln’s view of the right to fulfill one’s economic destiny was at the core of his governing philosophy―but he knew no one could climb that ladder without strong federal support. Some of his most enduring policies came to him before the Civil War, visions of a country linked by railroads running ocean to ocean, canals turning small towns into bustling cities, public works bridging farmers to market. Expertly appraising the foundational ideas and policies on infrastructure that America’s sixteenth president rooted in society, John F. Wasik tracks Lincoln from his time in the 1830s as a young Illinois state legislator pushing internal improvements; through his work as a lawyer representing the Illinois Central Railroad in the 1840s; to his presidential fight for the Transcontinental Railroad; and his support of land-grant colleges that educated a nation. To Lincoln, infrastructure meant more than the roads, bridges, and canals he shepherded as a lawyer and a public servant. These brick-and-mortar developments were essential to a nation’s lifting citizens above poverty and its isolating origins. Lincolnomics revives the disremembered history of how Lincoln paved the way for Eisenhower’s interstate highways and FDR’s social amenities. With an afterword addressing the failure of American infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how Lincoln’s policies provide a guide to the future, Lincolnomics makes the case for the man nicknamed “The Rail Splitter” as the Presidency’s greatest builder. “In this unique blend of biography and policy prescription, journalist Wasik . . . casts Abraham Lincoln as America’s “foremost moral architect of economic and social opportunity” and looks to his life and political career for lessons in how the nation might rebuild its infrastructure and redress income inequality. . . . Wasik convincingly argues that [Lincoln’s] economic policies deserve more credit.” — Publishers Weekly “While revealing as history, Wasik’s account about the first Republican President’s launches of infrastructure shame the ignorant, obstinate, narcissist Republicans of today who wish instead to build up tyrant Trump’s political infrastructure. This is a book to be read and used today.” —Ralph Nader “Wasik invented a new word for this book because his theme bears new force: Abraham Lincoln sought a better-built nation and a freer legal space to help every individual, regardless of background, to aspire and rise. Most historians know this too vaguely about Lincoln; Wasik finally gives the great democratic idea the prominence it deserves.” —James M. Cornelius, Ph.D., editor, Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association Lincolnomics puts The Great Emancipator in his other rightful place as The Great Builder of the American economy, revealing Lincoln's untold legacy as an infrastructure advocate devoted to building an economic ladder to democracy for all through national transportation, public education, and market access The only biography of its kind, Lincolnomics offers a fresh take on America's sixteenth president: exploring the foundational ideas and policies on infrastructure he rooted in society and government. Lincoln's view that each person had a right to fulfill their economic destiny was at the core of his political philosophy--but he knew no one could climb that ladder without a strong federal government supporting commerce and transportation. Some of his most enduring policies came to him decades before the Civil War, visions of a country linked by railroads running ocean to ocean, canals turning small towns to bustling cities, bridging farmers to market. Author John F. Wasik tracks Lincoln from his time as a young Illinois state legislator in the 1830s, pushing to create canals and internal improvements; through his work as a lawyer representing the Illinois Central Railroad in the 1840s; to his presidential fight for the Transcontinental Railroad. To Lincoln, infrastructure was a bigger concept than just the roads and bridges he had a hand in building. These bricks and mortar developments were essential elements of what the nation could become, lifting citizens above poverty and its isolating origins. Lincolnomics revives the disremembered history of how Lincoln paved the way for Eisenhower's interstate highways, FDR's social amenities, and all those who would follow him in Washington, DC. With an afterword addressing the failure of American infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how Lincoln's policies provide a guide to the future, Lincolnomics makes the case for him as the Presidency's greatest builder.

Lincolnomics puts The Great Emancipator in his other rightful place as The Great Builder of today's economy, revealing Lincoln's untold legacy as an infrastructure advocate devoted to building an economic ladder to democracy for all through national transportation, public education, and market access The only biography of its kind, Lincolnomics offers a fresh take on America's sixteenth president: exploring the foundational ideas and policies on infrastructure he rooted in society and government.Lincoln's view that each person had a right to fulfill their economic destiny was at the core of his political philosophy—but he knew no one could climb that ladder without a strong federal government supporting commerce and transportation. Some of his most enduring policies came to him decades before the war, visions of a country linked by railroads running ocean to ocean, canals turning small towns to bustling cities, bridging farmers to market. Author John F. Wasik tracks Lincoln from his time as a young Illinois state legislator in the 1830s, pushing to create canals and internal improvements; through his work as a lawyer representing the Illinois Central Railroad in the 1840s; to his presidential fight for the Transcontinental Railroad. To Lincoln, infrastructure was a bigger concept than just the roads and bridges he had a hand in building. These bricks and mortar developments were essential elements of what the nation could become, lifting citizens above poverty and its isolating origins. Lincolnomics revives the disremembered history of how Lincoln paved the way for Eisenhower's interstate highways, FDR's social amenities, and all those who would follow him in Washington, DC. With an afterword addressing the failure of American infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how Lincoln's policies provide a guide to the future, Lincolnomics makes the case for him as our nation's greatest builder.

The only biography of its kind, Lincolnomics narrates The Great Emancipator's untold legacy as The Great Builder of American infrastructure -- developer of an economic ladder to democracy through national transportation, public education, and market access. Lincoln's view of the right to fulfill one's economic destiny was at the core of his governing philosophy -- but he knew no one could climb that ladder without strong federal support. Some of his most enduring policies came to him before the Civil War, visions of a country linked by railroads running ocean to ocean, canals turning small towns into bustling cities, public works bridging farmers to market. Expertly appraising the foundational ideas and policies on infrastructure that America's sixteenth president rooted in society, John F. Wasik tracks Lincoln from his time in the 1830s as a young Illinois state legislator pushing internal improvements; through his work as a lawyer representing the Illinois Central Railroad in the 1840s; to his presidential fight for the Transcontinental Railroad; and his support of land-grant colleges that educated a nation. To Lincoln, infrastructure meant more than the roads, bridges, and canals he shepherded as a lawyer and a public servant. These brick-and-mortar developments were essential to a nation's lifting citizens above poverty and its isolating origins. Lincolnomics revives the disremembered history of how Lincoln paved the way for Eisenhower's interstate highways and FDR's social amenities. With an afterword addressing the failure of American infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how Lincoln's policies provide a guide to the future, Lincolnomics makes the case for the man nicknamed "The Rail Splitter" as the Presidency's greatest builder