Abraham Lincoln: One Of America's Greatest President
Abraham Lincoln is known as one of America's greatest presidents in history. He rose from humble beginnings to the President of the United States and bounced back from many shortcomings in that span. He is credited with preserving the Union during the U.S. civil war and beginning the process of freeing the slaves with the emancipation proclamation. His belief in freedom and the rights of all men still influences the country and its people to this day. During his childhood, Lincoln and his family were forced to move often, which hindered him from getting a full education, yet he taught himself how to read and write. In his years as a young adult, Lincoln was a hard worker who developed a love for law and politics. His political career had many shortcomings but he still persevered and became the Sixteenth president of the United States. Lincoln led the Union to victory in the Civil War. Tragically, his life was taken soon after, before he could finish his
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second term in office.
Abraham Lincoln was born in a one-room log cabin in Hardin County. Kentucky to Thomas and Nancy Lincoln on February 1809. The couple had two other children: Abraham’s older sister Sarah and younger brother Thomas, who died as an infant. Abraham spent most of his childhood moving from place to place on land that Thomas would buy or lease. After the Lincoln’s were forced to move from their Kentucky home, they settled in Perry County, Illinois in 1817 living in a ragged shelter on public land. A year later, when Abraham was only nine years old, tragedy struck. His mother died from tremetol (also known as milk sickness). This put a tremendous burden on the family and required Abraham and Sarah to do more work around the house. In 1819 Abraham’s father met and married a woman named Sarah Bush Johnston. Johnston was a remarkably positive influence on Abraham’s life, Abraham and Sarah had a great relationship with each other, she encouraged him to read often. Neighbors would recall Lincoln walking miles just to get new books to read. Lincoln’s formal schooling was limited to three brief periods in local schools, as he had to work constantly to support his family (History.com staff)
As a young adult in 1820, Lincoln and a friend took a small boat filled with produce down to New Orleans, Louisiana, and once again in 1831. These trips opened his eyes to the reality of the African-American men and women being bought and sold in the slave trade. Years later he wrote “there were, on board, ten or a dozen slaves, shackled together with irons. That sight was a continual torment to me; and I see something like it every time I touch the Ohio, or any other slave-border.” (McPherson 4) Even though Lincoln didn’t see Blacks and Whites as equals, he didn’t enjoy seeing people treated in such a way. By 1830, Lincoln was ready to head out on his own, but didn’t do so until he moved to New Salem, Illinois in the summer of 1831. Lincoln worked many jobs in New Salem, such as a store clerk, mill hand, partner in a general store, surveyor, and postmaster. When in New Salem he developed a passion for politics and law. But before he pursued a career in politics, he volunteered to fight in the Black Hawk War against the Indians, though he didn’t see much action in the war and was honorably discharged later that year. His military career was very short, but important because it put him in contact with important people across the state.
A year later, in the fall of 1832, he decided to enter politics and run for Illinois legislature. He lost the legislature, finishing eighth out of 13 candidates. In 1834, he took another attempt at it and won. Lincoln served as a successful member of legislation from 1834 to 1842. As a legislator, Lincoln led in working to pass a bill that would improve roads and create a series of railroads and canals to improve traveling through the state, which passed. However, this wouldn’t be Lincoln’s largest victory as a legislator. In his greatest achievement, he moved the capital of Illinois from Vandalia to Springfield. The old capital building in Vandalia was in very poor shape, most legislators wanted the capital moved but couldn’t decide where, so Lincoln took charge and successfully led a group known as the Long Nine to move the Capital to Springfield. This victory boosted his statewide popularity and he became beloved in the city of Springfield. Lincoln decided to settle in Springfield, where he met Mary Todd, who he married in November of 1842. The Lincolns went on to have four sons: Robert, William, Tad, and Edward. William and Tad were the only ones who made it to their teenage years
Lincoln decided to move from the State Legislation to the House of Representatives for Illinois. He served from 1847-49. His time in congress was very insignificant. He was the only Whig from the state of Illinois in office. While in congress, he struggled to find any political allies. He used his term in office to speak out against the Mexican-American War, doubting President James K. Polk’s assertion that the Mexicans had fired the first shot, which caused some to question Lincoln’s patriotism and resulted in a loss of political support. He also collaborated with abolitionist Congressman Joshua R. Giddings to write a bill to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. He abandoned the bill when it didn’t receive enough support among Whig supporters. Neil A. Hamilton notes that these proposals raised controversy in Illinois (131).
As a lawyer, Lincoln mostly handled matters like debt, ejectment, trespass, divorce, and foreclosure. Soon enough, he became one of the top lawyers in the state. In 1854, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska act, which allowed states and territories to decide for themselves if they allowed slavery. This inspired Lincoln to get back in to politics, and he began to resent slavery. Though Lincoln didn’t see African-Americans and Whites as equal, he believed all men should have inalienable rights. Lincoln joined the Republican Party in 1856 and the state Republican party convention nominated him for the U.S. Senate in 1858. The battle for the senate was between Lincoln and current Senator Stephan Douglas. Douglas and Lincoln held seven debates against each other, Lincoln warned that supporting slavery was threatening the values of the republican party and accused Douglas of misrepresenting the values of the Founding Fathers that all men are created equal, while Douglas emphasized that it was the right of the local settlers to decide whether to allow slavery or not. At the end of these debates, the legislature chose to elect Douglas, but the debates gave Lincoln enough exposure to rise to national politics.
In 1860, operatives in Illinois organized a campaign to support Lincoln to run for president. Lincoln was one of more unknown candidates at the beginning. The frontrunner was the former governor of New York Governor William H. Seward. At the Republican National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, Lincoln surpassed all the candidates including Seward and won the nomination to represent the republican party in the 1860 presidential election. His victory was mostly due to his modest views on slavery. In the general election, Lincoln faced off against Stephan Douglas, John Bell, and John C. Breckinridge. Lincoln received 1,866,452 votes, Douglas 1,376,957 votes, Breckinridge 849,781 votes, and Bell 588,789 votes, Although Lincoln won only a plurality of the popular vote, his victory in the electoral college was decisive: Lincoln had 180 and his opponents added together had only 123 and on November 6, 1860, he was elected the 16th president of the United States. The southern states did not support Lincoln whatsoever, he only won 2 of 996 counties in all the southern states. Tension between the northern and southern United States over issues including states’ rights versus federal authority, westward expansion and slavery had already been going on for decades, and the election of Lincoln escalated it even further. He was officially inaugurated on March 4, 1961. During his inauguration, he stated he had no intentions of abolishing slavery and explained that he would not allow the southern states to secede from the union. He finished his speech saying, “We are not enemies, but friends, we must not be enemies Though passion might be strained, it must not break bonds of our affection” (Harris 328). Regardless Seven southern states seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States of America; four more joined them after the Civil War had already begun. After the Union victory at Antietam, he issued an Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that as of January 1, 1863, all slaves in confederate states “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” The proclamation did not free a single slave, but it was an important turning point in the war, transforming the fight to preserve the nation into a battle for human freedom. (History.com staff). Four years of gruesome war were highlighted by battles at Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Vicksburg, among many more. The General Robert E. Lee and the Confederacy finally surrendered to the union in 1865. The Civil War was one of the deadliest and most important wars in American history.
Lincoln had plans to rebuild the nation after the war was over, three days after days after the confederacy’s surrender, Lincoln gave a speech on his plans to do so.
In the crowd was John Wilkes Booth. Booth was a supporter of the confederacy and had a great hatred for Lincoln. Upon listening to Lincoln’s speech, Booth told a friend, "Now, by God, I'll put him through. That is the last speech he will ever make." Neil A. Hamilton reports that Booth had already tried to kidnap Lincoln in early March, but failed (137). This time he concluded that he must kill him, he devised a plan that took place on April 14, 1865. While Lincoln was watching a play in Ford’s Theater in Washington D.C. Booth snuck past Lincoln’s seemingly careless security team whilst holding a derringer pistol, and shot Lincoln in the back of his head. Lincoln remained in critical condition until he died a day later. Booth managed to escape the theater and remained on the run until April 26th, where he was fatally shot while hiding in a tobacco
barn.
Lincoln’s life and legacy was, and still is very important and influential to the United States. Though he failed quite often, his willingness and determination helped him reach presidency. He is mostly known for leading the nation during its Civil War and saving the nation and leading the path to freeing the slaves in the southern states. Lincoln believed that all men had rights that could not be alienated. His childhood was difficult, he and his family were forced to move often and he was not able to receive a full education. His life as a young adult in New Salem taught him the value of hard work, there he began his political career, that would eventually end with him as president. He was in the early stages of his second term as president when he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.
second term in office.
Abraham Lincoln was born in a one-room log cabin in Hardin County. Kentucky to Thomas and Nancy Lincoln on February 1809. The couple had two other children: Abraham’s older sister Sarah and younger brother Thomas, who died as an infant. Abraham spent most of his childhood moving from place to place on land that Thomas would buy or lease. After the Lincoln’s were forced to move from their Kentucky home, they settled in Perry County, Illinois in 1817 living in a ragged shelter on public land. A year later, when Abraham was only nine years old, tragedy struck. His mother died from tremetol (also known as milk sickness). This put a tremendous burden on the family and required Abraham and Sarah to do more work around the house. In 1819 Abraham’s father met and married a woman named Sarah Bush Johnston. Johnston was a remarkably positive influence on Abraham’s life, Abraham and Sarah had a great relationship with each other, she encouraged him to read often. Neighbors would recall Lincoln walking miles just to get new books to read. Lincoln’s formal schooling was limited to three brief periods in local schools, as he had to work constantly to support his family (History.com staff)
As a young adult in 1820, Lincoln and a friend took a small boat filled with produce down to New Orleans, Louisiana, and once again in 1831. These trips opened his eyes to the reality of the African-American men and women being bought and sold in the slave trade. Years later he wrote “there were, on board, ten or a dozen slaves, shackled together with irons. That sight was a continual torment to me; and I see something like it every time I touch the Ohio, or any other slave-border.” (McPherson 4) Even though Lincoln didn’t see Blacks and Whites as equals, he didn’t enjoy seeing people treated in such a way. By 1830, Lincoln was ready to head out on his own, but didn’t do so until he moved to New Salem, Illinois in the summer of 1831. Lincoln worked many jobs in New Salem, such as a store clerk, mill hand, partner in a general store, surveyor, and postmaster. When in New Salem he developed a passion for politics and law. But before he pursued a career in politics, he volunteered to fight in the Black Hawk War against the Indians, though he didn’t see much action in the war and was honorably discharged later that year. His military career was very short, but important because it put him in contact with important people across the state.
A year later, in the fall of 1832, he decided to enter politics and run for Illinois legislature. He lost the legislature, finishing eighth out of 13 candidates. In 1834, he took another attempt at it and won. Lincoln served as a successful member of legislation from 1834 to 1842. As a legislator, Lincoln led in working to pass a bill that would improve roads and create a series of railroads and canals to improve traveling through the state, which passed. However, this wouldn’t be Lincoln’s largest victory as a legislator. In his greatest achievement, he moved the capital of Illinois from Vandalia to Springfield. The old capital building in Vandalia was in very poor shape, most legislators wanted the capital moved but couldn’t decide where, so Lincoln took charge and successfully led a group known as the Long Nine to move the Capital to Springfield. This victory boosted his statewide popularity and he became beloved in the city of Springfield. Lincoln decided to settle in Springfield, where he met Mary Todd, who he married in November of 1842. The Lincolns went on to have four sons: Robert, William, Tad, and Edward. William and Tad were the only ones who made it to their teenage years
Lincoln decided to move from the State Legislation to the House of Representatives for Illinois. He served from 1847-49. His time in congress was very insignificant. He was the only Whig from the state of Illinois in office. While in congress, he struggled to find any political allies. He used his term in office to speak out against the Mexican-American War, doubting President James K. Polk’s assertion that the Mexicans had fired the first shot, which caused some to question Lincoln’s patriotism and resulted in a loss of political support. He also collaborated with abolitionist Congressman Joshua R. Giddings to write a bill to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. He abandoned the bill when it didn’t receive enough support among Whig supporters. Neil A. Hamilton notes that these proposals raised controversy in Illinois (131).
As a lawyer, Lincoln mostly handled matters like debt, ejectment, trespass, divorce, and foreclosure. Soon enough, he became one of the top lawyers in the state. In 1854, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska act, which allowed states and territories to decide for themselves if they allowed slavery. This inspired Lincoln to get back in to politics, and he began to resent slavery. Though Lincoln didn’t see African-Americans and Whites as equal, he believed all men should have inalienable rights. Lincoln joined the Republican Party in 1856 and the state Republican party convention nominated him for the U.S. Senate in 1858. The battle for the senate was between Lincoln and current Senator Stephan Douglas. Douglas and Lincoln held seven debates against each other, Lincoln warned that supporting slavery was threatening the values of the republican party and accused Douglas of misrepresenting the values of the Founding Fathers that all men are created equal, while Douglas emphasized that it was the right of the local settlers to decide whether to allow slavery or not. At the end of these debates, the legislature chose to elect Douglas, but the debates gave Lincoln enough exposure to rise to national politics.
In 1860, operatives in Illinois organized a campaign to support Lincoln to run for president. Lincoln was one of more unknown candidates at the beginning. The frontrunner was the former governor of New York Governor William H. Seward. At the Republican National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, Lincoln surpassed all the candidates including Seward and won the nomination to represent the republican party in the 1860 presidential election. His victory was mostly due to his modest views on slavery. In the general election, Lincoln faced off against Stephan Douglas, John Bell, and John C. Breckinridge. Lincoln received 1,866,452 votes, Douglas 1,376,957 votes, Breckinridge 849,781 votes, and Bell 588,789 votes, Although Lincoln won only a plurality of the popular vote, his victory in the electoral college was decisive: Lincoln had 180 and his opponents added together had only 123 and on November 6, 1860, he was elected the 16th president of the United States. The southern states did not support Lincoln whatsoever, he only won 2 of 996 counties in all the southern states. Tension between the northern and southern United States over issues including states’ rights versus federal authority, westward expansion and slavery had already been going on for decades, and the election of Lincoln escalated it even further. He was officially inaugurated on March 4, 1961. During his inauguration, he stated he had no intentions of abolishing slavery and explained that he would not allow the southern states to secede from the union. He finished his speech saying, “We are not enemies, but friends, we must not be enemies Though passion might be strained, it must not break bonds of our affection” (Harris 328). Regardless Seven southern states seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States of America; four more joined them after the Civil War had already begun. After the Union victory at Antietam, he issued an Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that as of January 1, 1863, all slaves in confederate states “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” The proclamation did not free a single slave, but it was an important turning point in the war, transforming the fight to preserve the nation into a battle for human freedom. (History.com staff). Four years of gruesome war were highlighted by battles at Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Vicksburg, among many more. The General Robert E. Lee and the Confederacy finally surrendered to the union in 1865. The Civil War was one of the deadliest and most important wars in American history.
Lincoln had plans to rebuild the nation after the war was over, three days after days after the confederacy’s surrender, Lincoln gave a speech on his plans to do so.
In the crowd was John Wilkes Booth. Booth was a supporter of the confederacy and had a great hatred for Lincoln. Upon listening to Lincoln’s speech, Booth told a friend, "Now, by God, I'll put him through. That is the last speech he will ever make." Neil A. Hamilton reports that Booth had already tried to kidnap Lincoln in early March, but failed (137). This time he concluded that he must kill him, he devised a plan that took place on April 14, 1865. While Lincoln was watching a play in Ford’s Theater in Washington D.C. Booth snuck past Lincoln’s seemingly careless security team whilst holding a derringer pistol, and shot Lincoln in the back of his head. Lincoln remained in critical condition until he died a day later. Booth managed to escape the theater and remained on the run until April 26th, where he was fatally shot while hiding in a tobacco
barn.
Lincoln’s life and legacy was, and still is very important and influential to the United States. Though he failed quite often, his willingness and determination helped him reach presidency. He is mostly known for leading the nation during its Civil War and saving the nation and leading the path to freeing the slaves in the southern states. Lincoln believed that all men had rights that could not be alienated. His childhood was difficult, he and his family were forced to move often and he was not able to receive a full education. His life as a young adult in New Salem taught him the value of hard work, there he began his political career, that would eventually end with him as president. He was in the early stages of his second term as president when he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.