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How Did Abraham Lincoln Influence America

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Abraham Lincoln positively influenced the United States, by unifying the American people, and ending the slavery era through his literature and speeches. Abraham Lincoln is widely know for not just his presidency, but also his literature. Abraham was born on February 12, 1809 in Hardin County, Kentucky. At the age of 25, he won the election to the Illinois state legislature. Lincoln opposed slavery and had a grand idea of expanding the United States, with the focus on cities and commerce, rather than agriculture. Lincoln joined the Republican Party, which was mostly formed from the opposition of slavery in the states. Lincoln gave many speeches which made him gain popularity, and a reputation throughout the United States. The Republicans chose Lincoln as their candidate for president, and he won presidency. The election of the anti-slavery as the 16th president, drove many southern states to secede from the Union. The Confederates fired upon a Union fort and fleet, which marked the beginning of the Civil War. Lincoln surprised many by his quick learning of tactics and strategy, proving to be a more than capable wartime leader, and choosing the wisest commanders for the Union. Lincoln issued a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which took effect on January 1, 1863, and …show more content…

Abraham Lincoln used many allusions to other famous works such as the Bible, Pericles’ Funeral Oration, and the Declaration of Independence. Lincoln covered many themes in his speech such as freedom, equality, and representative government. The speech starts off by taking us back to the beginning of our country, a country that was “conceived in liberty (Lincoln 503).” The United States was born by revolutionists, people who had fought a war to gain and maintain independence for all people. Now, in the Civil War, the idea of independence and liberty was yet again threatened on a personal level and national

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