Abraham Lincoln's Accomplishments

Contrary to popular belief, Abraham Lincoln was not made great by his actions during presidency; he was an exceptional person long before he even became the President of the United States. Although his triumphs during his time in the White House were amazing and arduous tasks, Lincoln was great from multiple other aspects of his identity and personality long before he was catapulted to fame by national politics. Lincoln was born into poverty on February 12, 1809 to Thomas and Nancy Lincoln, dirt farmers in Hodgenville, Kentucky. From the moment he was born his life was predetermined for him: he was to be illiterate, like his parents, and take over the farm when he was older. However, this was not the life that Lincoln was meant to lead, so

The crippling deaths of his mother and sister early on in his life were some factors into Lincoln’s severe depression. Lincoln was particularly close with his mother, whom he admired greatly; unfortunately she died when Lincoln was only nine years old because of a disease carried in milk. Within a couple years of this Mother’s death, Lincoln also lost his other closest family member, his sister Sarah, who died in childbirth. Lincoln did not show symptoms of depression, or “melancholy”, as a teen but he did as an adult. These tragic deaths paired with intense studies and too much alone time are factors that probably played into Lincoln’s depression (Siegel). Lincoln was known around town for having a good sense of humor and great storytelling abilities, and he was able to use these aspects of his personality to cope and start to make himself feel better. However, Lincoln’s fear of being forgotten after he died propelled him to keep moving forward (Doris Kearns). In an interview Goodwin paraphrased that after signing the Emancipation Proclamation Lincoln told his best friend this: “well, Speed, remember that conversation we had when I was in my depths? Well, maybe at last, my fondest wish has been realized. I will be remembered after I die”. Lincoln was able to overcome a fear, and have a dream come true at the same time; however, even though Lincoln was able to beat his depression it led to him having an overall melancholy disposition in