LINCOLN AND THE INDIANS  Lincoln and the Indians has stood the test of time and offers this generation of readers a valuable interpretation of the U.S. governments Indian policies”and sometimes the lack thereof”during the Civil War era. Providing a critical perspective on Lincolns role, Nichols sets forth an especially incisive analysis of the trial of participants in the Dakota War of 1862 in Minnesota and Lincolns role in sparing the lives of most of those who were convicted. ”James M. McPherson, Pulitzer P rize“winning author of Battle Cry of FreedomFor the Dakota people, the Indian System started with the Doctrine of Discovery and continued  through Abraham Lincolns presidency and beyond. The United States was bound to protect the rights of Indian parties. But in the end, the guilty were glorified and the laws for humanity disgraced. This book tells that story, and it should be required reading at all educational institutions. ”Sheldon Wolfchild, independent filmmaker, artist, and actorUndoubtedly the best book published on Indian affairs in the years of Lincolns presidency. ”American Historical ReviewDavid A. Nichols was vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Southwestern College in Kansas. He is a leading expert on the Eisenhower presidency, and his most recent book is Eisenhower 1956.