“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.
Click here to unlock this and over one million essays
Show MoreAbraham Lincoln was faced with an extremely difficult crisis during his presidency. Through his brilliant leadership, his passionate speeches, and his great accomplishments, he was able to save the nation. Who knows what would have happened to the nation without the leadership of President Abraham Lincoln. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln on April 15, 1865 was an extremely tragic day, but his legacy as one of the greatest presidents in the history of the U.S. will never be forgotten.
Abraham Lincoln was an important figure who rose from being an uneducated man, to becoming the 16th president of the United States. Abraham Lincoln is also known for his determination towards ending slavery. One of Abraham Lincoln’s political accomplishments was issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. Before his presidency, Lincoln was not that knowledgeable about the military because he never really had a proper education when he was small. However, Lincoln’s entire presidency basically took place during the war.
Abraham Lincoln was elected as sixteenth president of the United States of America in 1861 and served until his assassination in 1865. He is viewed as a popular political figure and is known as the “Great Emancipator” for his role in freeing the slaves during the 1860s (Columbia University Press 2013, 1). He delivered the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 that declared “all persons held as slaves within the rebellious states are, and henceforth shall remain free” (Columbia University Press 2013, 1). Although the Proclamation made Lincoln seem like a hero, others would soon realize that the proclamation was a war tactic and in reality did not put an end to slavery. In The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War by Thomas J. DiLorenzo, the reader will discover facts about President Lincoln that are not told in the average history book. Within the chapters of DiLorenzo’s book, he explains Lincoln’s true view on slavery, reasons for his political success, and why Lincoln encouraged war between the North and the South.
Looking back at the life of Abraham Lincoln, if you read about him before 1858, you wouldn’t think he would be such a predominant figure in American history today. It’s not till you learn about the election in 1860 and the events following that you learn what cemented this man, who would become our nations sixteenth president, into our nation’s history. If Lincoln had not won the election, perhaps our only memory of him would be his famous “House Divided” speech from the Illinois Republican Convention in 1858, but we learn from a young as, that isn’t the case. Lincoln went on the be the President during the bloodiest war in American history. Despite having little schooling as a child he would also write his own speeches before and during his
Abraham Lincoln led America through its bloodiest war. His actions changed the nation forever, and his legacy lives on today. Lincoln was the sixteenth President of the United States. Throughout the Civil War, Lincoln’s political strategies aided the Union victory. Lincoln set the Reconstruction of America into motion, and abolished slavery. In what follows, I will be discussing the life of one of the nation’s greatest presidents. Before his famous political career, Lincoln was a self educated lawyer. In debates across his life, he opposed slavery. During his time in Congress and in the Senate, Lincoln passed many laws, some that locally abolished slavery before the Civil War.
“Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally”. Abraham Lincoln helped end slavery by enforcing the 13th amendment better known as the Abolition Of Slavery. Abraham Lincoln helped americans whenever he could for example; gave speeches to motivate citizens and keep their heads straight. However people thought he was the cause of the reason of the civil war. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln was unjust, because he helped abolish slavery, he try to help america whenever he could however; people thought he was the main cause of the Civil War.
Abraham Lincoln came from humble origins in the backwoods of Kentucky. He was born on February 12, 1809 in a one room log cabin on Sinking Spring Farm, in southeast Hardin county Kentucky. His father (Thomas Lincoln) was a poverty stricken frontiersman after losing his farm, which along with his wife (Nancy Hanks Lincoln) and other children had to work hard everyday for the necessities of life. Lincoln was no stranger to hard work; he split logs plowed his families land and used his carpentry skills around the farm. He did prefer reading and learning to the hard work which caused a strained relationship between he and his father. He only received 18 months of formal education and was largely self educated. In 1816 Lincoln’s father lost his farm and was forced to move to Perry County, Indiana. This area of the country near the Ohio River was very remote and rugged. Their first winter at the new homestead was very harsh but they were able to survive. Unfortunately that summer Lincoln’s mother died from a deadly disease known as “milk sickness” and left his father with the children to raise alone(Lincoln research project). After the death of his mother the family fell apart and the most of the day to day work was left to Lincoln and his sister. In the winter of 1819 Lincoln’s father went back to Kentucky and found a new wife Sarah Bush Johnson who was a widow with three children (notable biographies.com). His n...
O'Reilly, Bill, and Martin Dugard. Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot. New York: Macmillan Audio, 2012. Internet resource.
The autobiography Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War starts by talking about Abraham Lincoln’s childhood. He was born in 1809 in Nolan Creek, Kentucky. His parents were Nancy Hanks and Thomas Lincoln. Abraham 's father was described as “a tinker- a piddler- always doing, but doing nothing great” (2), meaning that he did just what was necessary to survive, never really getting ahead. During Abe’s childhood, the family would move several times, first to Indiana and later to Illinois. Abraham’s mother Nancy, died when he was still a boy. Leaving him and his sibling without a mother figure to care for them. The children gained the mother figure and care taker they needed when the following year his father, Thomas, remarried to Sarah Bush
Abraham Lincoln is the 16th president of the United States who is represented as a good and just leader, he also moved toward the freeing of the slaves. He was the president during the civil war era which made him play a huge part in many events. Abraham Lincoln contributed to major historic events during his time such as signing the emancipation proclamation, the thirteenth amendment, and the civil war.
Abraham Lincoln is perhaps the most revered American that has ever stepped foot on United States soil. Countless books have been written about him, and even today there are still authors who write their own take on his fascinating and unique life. Yet, for as famous and significant as this man was and continues to be, he is still a tremendous enigma. Historians have sought to know who the real man was ever since his life was prematurely ripped away by an actor whose heart was with his “country.” Of the many intriguing aspects of Lincoln’s life, there is one that has taken up steam almost immediately after April 15, 1865.
Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12th in Kentucky. He was the 16th president of U.S. He tried to preserve the unity of the United States. Lincoln was the president at the time of the Civil War. He started the Reconstruction plan to readmit seceded states. His stance becomes more about slavery than the Union. He took steps to abolish slavery. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation on 1863 in January. The Proclamation declared that the slaves in rebellious states would be free. He also influenced the 13th amendment banning slavery. Lincoln was slain in the presidential box at the Ford Theatre in Washington D.C. by John Wilkes. He did not live to see his plan on slavery become an
Abraham Lincoln is regarded by many Americans as the greatest president to ever hold office in the history of the United States, and his reputation is definitely well deserved. Lincoln wasn't scared to stand up and fight for what he knew was right. He was convinced that within the branches of government, the presidency alone was empowered not only to uphold the Constitution, but also to protect, and defend it. Lincoln was able to lead our country and preserve the Union, keeping the United States from splintering during the devastating times of the Civil War. As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization, and he rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that changed the war into a battle for freedom and declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy. That November, Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address, which stated how a country must be dedicated to human freedom in order to survive. He dedicated the battlefield to the soldiers who had perished, and called on the living to finish the task the dead soldiers had begun. (Donald, 1995) Lincoln believed that democracy could be a lasting form of government. He showed a nobility of character that had worldwide appeal, and he was a man of great integrity. However, Lincoln was not only the 16th president of the United States, he was an American hero. Lincoln was a well-rounded individual and he had numerous outstanding qualities. However, it is important to remember that Lincoln also led a private life, complete with close friends and family.
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
Abraham Lincoln wrote one of the greatest speeches in American history known as the Gettysburg Address. It was not only used as a dedication to the fallen troops of the North and South, but as a speech to give the Union a reason to fight and attempt to unite the divided nation. The sixteenth president’s handling of his speech at Gettysburg demonstrated how the effectiveness of juxtaposition, repetition, and parallelism, could bring unity to a nation deeply divided on beliefs. His speech touched the hearts of many and indirectly put an end to the Civil War. Lincoln may have been considered a tyrant at the time but he was a great leader of a nation, a war, and a democracy.