“Red Republicans and Lincoln’s Marxists: Marxism in the Civil War” by Walter Donald Kennedy and Al Benson Jr. explores the influence of Marxism and socialist ideologies during the American Civil War. This book presents a controversial and often alternative perspective on the role of socialist ideas, specifically Karl Marx and his followers, in shaping the political and social environment of the Union side under Abraham Lincoln’s leadership.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the key themes and ideas of the book:
Central Thesis:
Kennedy and Benson argue that there was a significant and often overlooked Marxist influence on the Union during the Civil War. They claim that many of the radical Republicans and abolitionists who supported Lincoln had ties to socialist ideologies inspired by Karl Marx. According to the authors, these figures saw the Civil War as not just a fight to preserve the Union or abolish slavery, but as part of a broader ideological struggle against traditional conservative values, individual liberties, and economic freedoms.
Key Themes and Arguments:
Marx’s Influence on the Civil War:
- The authors explore Karl Marx’s direct and indirect influence on the Union war effort. Marx, who was based in London during the war, wrote extensively about the American Civil War in European newspapers. He viewed the conflict as a struggle between free labor and the aristocratic, slave-holding South, framing it within his broader theories of class struggle.
- Kennedy and Benson claim that Marx saw Lincoln’s policies, particularly the Emancipation Proclamation and the Union’s victory, as aligned with his vision for the destruction of the feudal-like slave system and the eventual rise of proletarian power.
“Red Republicans” and Radical Republicans:
- The book details how certain factions within the Republican Party, particularly the Radical Republicans, had connections to socialist and communist ideals. These radicals, such as Charles Sumner and Thaddeus Stevens, advocated for the immediate abolition of slavery, redistribution of Southern land, and harsh punishment of the Confederacy. The authors argue that their approach was heavily influenced by socialist ideals of equality and state control over wealth.
- The Radical Republicans are portrayed as Marxist sympathizers who sought to implement policies that aligned with Marx’s view of the state’s role in controlling and regulating economic and social systems. The authors suggest that their radical agenda went beyond ending slavery and aimed at transforming American society into one based on socialist principles.
German Immigrants and “Lincoln’s Marxists”:
- One of the key arguments in the book is that many German immigrants who fought for the Union were socialists or communists who had fled Europe after the failed revolutions of 1848. These immigrants, many of whom were inspired by Marx, brought their socialist ideals to America and found a home in the Union cause.
- The book highlights figures like Franz Sigel, a German immigrant and Union general who was an ardent supporter of democratic and socialist causes. The authors argue that Sigel and others like him brought Marxist ideology into the Union Army and helped shape the political discourse around the war.
Marx’s Correspondence with Lincoln and the International Workingmen’s Association:
- Karl Marx and the International Workingmen’s Association (IWA) sent a congratulatory letter to President Lincoln after his re-election in 1864. The authors interpret this as evidence of Marx’s ideological support for Lincoln’s policies, suggesting that Marx saw Lincoln as a vehicle for his socialist goals.
- Lincoln’s acknowledgment of the letter, while brief and diplomatic, is presented by Kennedy and Benson as further proof that Marxist ideas were not only influential but welcomed by the Union leadership.
Critique of Lincoln’s Policies:
- Kennedy and Benson are critical of Lincoln’s centralization of power during the war, particularly his suspension of habeas corpus, his use of executive orders, and his expansion of federal authority. They argue that these actions were consistent with socialist and Marxist ideals of a powerful, centralized state that overrides individual liberties for the supposed greater good.
- The authors assert that the Civil War, under Lincoln’s leadership, marked the beginning of the erosion of states’ rights and individual freedoms in favor of a more collectivist, centralized government, which they view as a dangerous trend aligned with Marxist thought.
The Civil War as a Class Struggle:
- The book posits that the Civil War, particularly from Marx’s perspective, was a conflict between two economic systems: the agrarian, aristocratic South and the industrial, capitalist North. Marx believed that the defeat of the South would pave the way for the rise of industrial capitalism, which he saw as a necessary stage before the proletarian revolution.
- Kennedy and Benson suggest that many in the Union leadership, influenced by Marxist ideas, saw the war as an opportunity to not only end slavery but to fundamentally reshape American society by weakening the power of the Southern elite and promoting a more centralized, state-controlled economic system.
Post-War Reconstruction and Marxist Influence:
- The authors explore how Marxist ideals continued to influence post-war Reconstruction policies, particularly those aimed at redistributing wealth and land in the South. They argue that the Radical Republicans’ push for federal control over Southern land and resources, as well as their efforts to punish the former Confederate states, were inspired by socialist notions of class struggle and wealth redistribution.
- Reconstruction, according to the authors, was an attempt to impose a new social and economic order on the South, one that aligned with the radical and Marxist ideals of the time.
Character Analysis: Lincoln, Marx, and the Radical Republicans:
- Abraham Lincoln:
- Kennedy and Benson present Lincoln as a pragmatist who, while not explicitly Marxist, embraced policies that aligned with Marxist ideals, particularly in his efforts to centralize power and expand federal authority during the war. They argue that Lincoln’s actions laid the groundwork for future expansions of government power at the expense of individual and states’ rights.
- The authors are critical of Lincoln’s legacy, suggesting that his leadership during the war marked a turning point toward a more collectivist, centralized government in America.
- Karl Marx:
- Marx is portrayed as a key ideological figure whose ideas influenced the Union cause, particularly through his correspondence with American socialists and the International Workingmen’s Association. The authors emphasize Marx’s belief that the Civil War was part of a broader class struggle between free labor and the aristocratic slave system.
- The book highlights how Marx and his followers viewed the Civil War as an opportunity to advance socialist ideas in America, even though Lincoln and the Union leadership may not have fully embraced these ideals.
- Radical Republicans:
- Figures like Charles Sumner, Thaddeus Stevens, and other Radical Republicans are portrayed as Marxist sympathizers who sought to impose socialist policies on the South during and after the Civil War. The authors argue that their push for federal control over Southern land and resources, as well as their harsh treatment of the former Confederate states, reflected Marxist ideals of wealth redistribution and class struggle.
- The Radical Republicans are depicted as using the Civil War as a means to transform American society in ways that undermined traditional values of states’ rights and individual liberties.
Conclusion:
“Red Republicans and Lincoln’s Marxists: Marxism in the Civil War” presents a controversial and revisionist interpretation of the Civil War, arguing that Marxist and socialist ideologies played a significant role in shaping the Union’s political and military strategy. The authors claim that many of Lincoln’s policies, as well as the actions of the Radical Republicans, were influenced by Marxist ideas of centralization, class struggle, and wealth redistribution.
While the book is critical of Lincoln and his allies for expanding federal power at the expense of individual and states’ rights, it also sheds light on the broader ideological currents that shaped the Civil War and its aftermath. For readers interested in alternative perspectives on the Civil War and its ideological underpinnings, Kennedy and Benson’s work provides a thought-provoking and controversial take on the influence of Marxism in shaping America’s most transformative conflict.
