Abraham Lincoln: A Hero As A Hero

Christopher Reeves once wrote, “I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Abraham Lincoln was a hero, a hero for enslaved people lacking a voice, and a hero for this nation in desperate times of need. Despite losing his mother at a young age and his first love to typhoid fever, he continued to persevere. From shopkeeper, to lawyer, to politics, Lincoln succeeded in whatever he put his mind to. He never let the seemingly implacable struggles in his life overcome him. Throughout his childhood, adulthood, and his presidency, Lincoln’s resiliency and fortitude made him the legacy he is today. Abraham Lincoln was born February 12th, 1809, to Thomas and Nancy Lincoln.

In fact, at age twenty-two, as fledgling striking out on its own, he made a living with dexterous jobs such as railing fencing and chopping firewood. Furthermore, growing up in the backwoods of Kentucky and Indiana did not guarantee the sublime social skills required as the leader of a country. It was not until he owned a general store in New Salem, Illinois, that these skills developed. Around this time, the Black Hawk War had broken out, and the soldiers in the area needed a leader. This leader was Abraham Lincoln. He never saw the battlefield; however, his position as captain awarded him some political connections. In 1834, Lincoln’s career in politics began when he was elected to the state legislature of Illinois. It was here that Lincoln got his first look at issues of slavery, and developed his own opinion of the matter. The next step in his political career took him straight to Washington D.C. as a member in the House of Representatives. For two years, he opposed action in the Mexican-American War and promoted Zachary Taylor as a presidential candidate. This affected his popularity tremendously; he ended up only serving one term and turning towards a career in law. It was not until 1854 that Lincoln reappeared on the scene of national politics. Due to the annulment of the Missouri Compromise, states were now able to adjudicate whether or

Celebration comes with victory, but Lincoln’s was certainly ephemeral. The nation was falling apart; seven states from the south retracted from the Union preceding his inauguration. A few months later, shots were fired on Fort Sumter, severing once “united” states and commencing the deadliest war in American history. Despite early struggles, the Union finally began to obtain victories. On January 1st, 1863, Lincoln made history by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. Slavery was abolished; freedom was available to all people. During the following November, tragedy disseminated throughout the land. At the Battle of Gettysburg, 51,000 Americans lost their lives. It was here that Lincoln delivered his renowned Gettysburg Address. In it, he honored the fallen and dedicated the battlefield as a national cemetery. In 1864, it was time for another election. Lincoln was almost positive George B. McClellan would win, but Lincoln won by a landslide. One year later, the Confederate forces surrendered, and the Civil War was over. Now, a broken nation looked to their leader to piece it back together. Lincoln created a rebuilding plan called Reconstruction, but before he could initiate it, he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. The gun shot did not kill him instantly: instead he passed away