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Why did President Abraham Lincoln offer Giuseppe Garibaldi a command in the American Civil War?
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Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi, c. 1860ā82.
In July 1861, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln offered Giuseppe Garibaldi a command in the American Civil War because of the Italian revolutionary's immense international reputation and his proven leadership in guerrilla warfare.12
Garibaldi ultimately declined the offer for two primary reasons:
- Slavery: He felt that Lincolnās administration would not make a sufficiently strong condemnation of slavery.1
- Command Authority: He would not accept the position unless he was granted supreme command of the Federal troops, which Lincoln was unwilling to provide.1