1. Warning:
The topic of this presentation is considered controversial and should only be approached in an open-minded manner. This is a very real theory that is debated by many accomplished scholars across different fields and departments.

2. Abraham Lincoln

3. President, Father, Husband…
Proto-Fascist

4. First Things First…. Defining Fascism
Fascism: A political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition (Merriam-Webster).
Autocracy: government in which one person possesses unlimited power

5. Historical Facts Concerning Lincoln
Elected to be president in 1860, despite the South’s protests and votes for the opposing candidate
Soon after, many southern states seceded from the Union due to fear, anger, frustration, what have you.
Civil War began April 12, 1861

6. Supporting Reason Number 1:
Abraham Lincoln’s suspension of the writ of habeas corpus

7. Habeas Corpus
“Latin for ‘that you have the body.’ In the US system, federal courts can use the writ of habeas corpus to determine if a state's detention of a prisoner is valid.  A writ of habeas corpus is used to bring a prisoner or other detainee (e.g. institutionalized mental patient) before the court to determine if the person's imprisonment or detention is lawful.  A habeas petition proceeds as a civil action against the State agent (usually a warden) who holds the defendant in custody. It can also be used to examine any extradition processes used, the amount of bail, and the jurisdiction of the court” (

8. Suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus
In 1861, President Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus, essentially allowing him to rule over the court of law without the consent of the court, arresting those he saw as threats to his rule and order without warrant.

9. When the court ruled that President Lincoln had no authority to suspend habeas corpus, he responded with a speech on July 4th declaring these powers to be necessary to quell the rebellion.
His establishment of this period of necessary, unprecedented power is the exact state of exception that forms the basis for Carl Schmitt’s later works on the need for a Fascist government in Germany.

10. Supporting Reason Number 2:
Abraham Lincoln had an intense sense of nationalism (a trait valued by Fascist leaders and theorists) and a need to preserve the union.

11. Nationalistic Intentions
Despite what many people believe, Lincoln did not take part in the Civil War to end slavery. Instead, he did so because he believed it his duty to preserve the union at all costs.

12. In a Letter to Horace Greeley
“I would save the Union…The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be "the Union as it was." …My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union.”

13. Adolf Hitler would later look back on Lincoln’s presidency and celebrate his suppression of the South’s rights in order to unite the nation, a form of action he would almost copy later when trying to conquer lands he believed to belong to Germany.

14. Supporting Reason Number 3:
Abraham Lincoln silenced Freedom of the Press.

15. Supporting Reason Number 3
During his presidency, Abraham Lincoln took control of the media
He would silence hundreds of newspapers and potentially damning articles in the North that spoke against him

16. Ending Remarks
The political ideology of Fascism doesn’t seem to come about until around the s, after Lincoln’s death
However, his dictator-like position and powers are what influenced many later Fascist theorists into hammering out what they believe to be a strong form of government
This was not to say that we should think any less of our former president, just know that many later Fascists look back to him as a great example of how a state ought to be run…