Triumphs and Tribulations

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“With malice toward none, with charity for all… let us strive… to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations” (O’Reilly and Dugard, Killing Lincoln 60). Abraham Lincoln’s background and political beginnings contributed greatly to his ability to lead the country through the Civil War and handle the issue of slavery with poise. During the Civil War, Lincoln took necessary risks and openly objected other members of government in order to substantiate the Union’s victory. Most impressively, Lincoln managed to handle the issue of slavery, a topic that literally tore the nation apart, in a moderate manner. Lastly, Lincoln’s assassination cemented his role as a martyr, hero, and powerful leader for America. Sixteenth president of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln successfully led America through a difficult time in its history, bettering its people and moral standing for the long run. Abraham Lincoln’s upbringing fabricated his political skill set and aptitude for leadership, aiding him in his presidency. Born on February 12, 1809, in the city of Hodgenville, Kentucky, a slave state, he resided in a border state where several disputed the issue of slavery because of its location near the free states. His birth in a border state made him partial to the south but moving to Illinois helped form his more liberal viewpoints, explaining Lincoln’s sympathetic stance on slavery. Mary Todd espoused Lincoln in 1842, but Lincoln struggled with family life in spite of his successful and loving marriage because of his four sons, only one, Robert Todd Lincoln, lived beyond the age of eighteen (“Lincoln, Abraham”). Partially due to the solicitude brought on by positions of power durin... ... middle of paper ... ...abled the journey to equality, and made necessary sacrifices. Works Cited Field, Peter S. “Abraham Lincoln And The First-Person Plural: A Study In Language And Leadership.” American Nineteenth Century History 12.1 (2011): 49-75. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Apr. 2014. aph&AN=60122677&site=ehost-live>. “Lincoln, Abraham.” Encyclopedia. Issues & Controversies. Facts on File News Services, n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2014. . Lincoln. Dir. Steven Spielberg. DreamWorks SKG, 2013. DVD. O’Reilly, Bill, and Martin Dugard. Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot. New York City: Henry Holt and Company, LLC, 2012. Print. O’Reilly, Bill, and Martin Dugard. Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever. New York City: Henry Holt and Company, LLC, 2011. Kindle.

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