President Lincoln embarked a very challenging presidency from the very beginning, when he set out to lead a country facing a crisis so immense, that its very existence was threatened. In many instances, President Lincoln had to take matters into his own hands by making use of his executive powers, even when some may have questioned the Constitutionality of some his decisions at times. If one truly analyses President Lincoln’s “illegal or unconstitutional” actions, most of them were in fact the President doing what was necessary. Lincoln was a great leader because he was able to preserve the Union during the Civil War, begin the Emancipation Proclamation process leading to the end of slavery in the United States, all awhile preventing this …show more content…
12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. According to the WHITE HOUSE.gov, as a self-educated young man former President Lincoln liked public speaking. His inspiration came from his love for reading and wandering evangelists, some from politicians, and some from lawyers. He was willing to walk miles to watch a good lawyer in action. In an autobiography written at the behest of the Chicago Press & Tribune in 1860, Lincoln described his education and to add it all up, the aggregate of all his schooling did not even amount to one year; having never college or any academic school until he decided to obtain a law license. Eventually, he became a lawyer-politician serving in the Illinois state legislature from 1834 - 1841. In 1846, running as a member of the Whig Party, Lincoln won a seat in Congress.
Given the time-period, between the 1830s and '40s, chattel slavery in which black people were forced into slavery and held as property, this was the most important issue of the century for America. During this period, opinions in the South hardened and as inhumane as slavery was they believed it was a “necessary evil” and justified this method to be a good thing that should be defended to the death. To put their money where their mouths were, the Southern leaders began agitating for secession from the Union and advocated for an independent eleven-state Confederacy. Their goal was to spread their way of life which
The secession of South Carolina on December 20, 1860, by a vote of 169-0 was a response to the election of Abraham Lincoln of 1860. Lincoln perceived as an abolitionist wanted to contain slavery rather than ending it. The majority party above the Mason-Dixon line were Republicans and below were primarily Democrats and Republicans were viewed as abolitionists. The election of a Republican threatened the South’s status quo. The primary catalyst for secession was based on slavery. Different social cultures and political beliefs developed due to the South’s intimate and reliant relationship on slavery. Southern whites feared the end of slavery and this paranoia was shared among plantation slave owners and white Yeoman farmers. Southern whites felt that the North were threatening the supposed tranquility of the South. The South’s agrarian economy, honor, and independence were believed to be in danger. Slavery was intertwined with the South’s social, cultural, and economic makeup. As a result of slavery, the South developed a paternalistic culture and racial ideology of white supremacy. The perceived notion that the North was influencing it’s political and social beliefs on the South lead them to believe that secession was the only act of self-preservation. The growing differences between the South and North made it difficult to negotiate. This fear was exaggerated and accelerated the South’s eventual implosion. The South believed that without slavery it would self-destruct and
Today our nations built upon equality and the idea that every man is created equal. Abe Lincoln helped establish equality and the mindset that comes with these beliefs were introduced to early americans from Abraham Lincoln. He helped abolish slavery and introduce a new era and shape america how it is today. Not only is he one of the most prominent leaders of the Civil War but an early influence and catalyst on the later Civil Rights Movement.
Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in Hardin County, Kentucky. He moved between Kentucky and Indiana a little bit with his family and also traveled with his friend when he was old enough to do so. In 1831 he settled down in New Salem where he lived for 6 years, until he moved to Springfield, Illinois. He was a member of the Whig party, where under the guise of John T. Stuart, he studied law, obtaining licensure in 1836, and a year later became Stuart’s partner. He was successfully part of the Springfield legislature and when he retired, had a successful law practice. He also served one term in Congress but after that term was done, he was so discouraged by the embarrassing political reputation he’d created for himself in his opposition of the
The Southern states wanted to keep slavery yet, the North, wanted to stop the expansion of it and above all, abolish slavery. For example, in document three it states, “These Republicans claim the right to make a code of laws for the South, not only in the States, but in the territories, which shall control or prohibit slavery… If Lincoln were President… The Union would be endangered from that hour.” In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president. One of his many plans was to cut off the expansion of slavery. Obviously, when he ended up going through with his plan, the South did not respond kindly. Their response was rebelling from the North. The only way they could have kept slavery was if they seceded. In addition, a quote that backs up his hatred towards slavery, Lincoln states, “we deny the authority of congress… to give legal existence to slavery in any territory of the United States.” Clearly, Lincoln was against slavery. He believed that it was unconstitutional and planned to get rid of it once he became president. In conclusion, the Election of 1860 was the final reason for the South seceding from the
In Larry Madaras and James M. SoRelle’s book Taking Sides: Clashing Views in U.S. History Volume 1: The Colonial Period to Reconstruction the topic as to whether or not Abraham Lincoln was America’s greatest president during and after the eighteenth century is explored and debated by Phillip Shaw Paludan and Melvin E. Bradford. Paludan believes Lincoln was America’s greatest president on the grounds that he freed the slaves and kept the Union while the Civil War was going on. Bradford on the other hand believes Lincoln abused his power while being in office and did not follow the goals the Founding Fathers had set in the eighteenth century. Though Lincoln may have gone about his presidency a different way than others had previous to him, he still proved to be a great leader during the Civil War and was in fact America’s greatest president.
In the history of the United States, there have been many great Presidents, but there is one that has proved to be the greatest, and that is Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was known for his invariable fairness and utter honesty. He was also a President with a rare political skill, which helped him out tremendously (Current). He was elected the 16th president of the United States, also being the first republican to win presidency. To top it off, he simply captured the essence of the countries enveloping crisis with greater clarity and vision more than any of his other opponents.
On February 12, 1809 our sixteenth president of the United States, was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, He was the son of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, farmers. Thomas Lincoln had come to Kentucky from Virginia with his father Abraham in 1782. He learned only enough literacy to sign his name but gained modest prosperity as a carpenter and farmer on the Kentucky frontier. Thomas Lincoln married Nancy Hanks, whom also illiterate, in 1806. Abraham was born in a log cabin three miles south of Hodgenville. When he was only two years old the family moved to another farm on Knob Creek about seven miles northeast of Hodgenville. Abraham lived for five years on this farm of two hundred and thirty acres. Abraham Lincoln helped his parents with house work and Abraham actually learned his ABCs by attending school for a few weeks with his older sister Sarah. Abraham Lincoln would grow up to become a man who would accomplish many great things in life. Despite his meager beginnings he would change the lives of many people to this very day and his legacy and accomplishments will forever be remembered. From humble beginnings to achieve the highest office in the United States.
Though we have had many presidents, there are few we can actually say did any good. There are many we can say did no good at all. I wasn't alive for many of the presidents who served, so I can't really give much absolute information about who I believe the best president the US has had, only what I've been told and read about. The nation has faced many difficulties, overcome some of them, and may be a long time if ever at all that the nation will recover from the ones that have done damage.
“I walk slowly, but i never walk backwards.” That is one of Lincoln’s famous quotes. Abraham Lincoln was born on February, 1809, Hodgenville,KY and died on April 15,1865, Petersen House, Washington D.C. Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln’s formal schooling was limited to three brief periods in local schools, as he had to work constantly to support his family. In 1830, his family moved to Macon County in southern Illinois, and Lincoln got a job working on a river flatboat hauling freight down the Mississippi River to New Orleans.
Abraham Lincoln was a very ambitious man who was always trying to get new information, or learn some type of new skill. Even when Lincoln was young he had an urge to learn. He moved to Illinois in 1830, where he obtained several jobs that taught him a strong work ethic. Later on he moved to New Salem where he became a businessman, and gained many skills that he would use throughout his life as a political leader. After moving to Springfield, Lincoln’s political career began to take shape. Living on the frontier taught Lincoln a lot, he learned many skills, and different ways to interact with people. From businessman, to politician, to sixteenth president Lincoln's journey to greatness began in the tranquil fields of Illinois. Although he began
The slave states decided to secede, because they believed that the government would abolish slavery which was a violation of their rights. The government wasn’t able to protect these rights, so they had the right to secede from the government and make one of their own. According to the constitution, if the government didn’t protect their right to own slaves, then the south was allowed to leave and form a government of their own that would ensure their rights and allow slavery. They believed that the government’s values were northen oriented and that they were just against the south. Slavery was only to limited not eliminated, but the south would not
He had almost no formal schooling. “He ended up educating himself by study of a few books available to him” (Johnson 268). “1837 Abraham Lincoln moved to New Salem, Illinois. Where he was known for his strength and storytelling abilities” (Johnson 268). “Not a lot of people know that Abraham Lincoln volunteered for the Black Hawk War but he did. He was voted Captain of the Sangamon County, First Division” (Johnson 268). “He ended up studying law and became an able lawyer he was skilled in arguments, humorous, sincere, and lucid of speech” (Johnson 268). “As states right argument intensified Abraham Lincoln was more involved in politics. Abraham Lincoln was nominated as a Republican in 1858 to oppose Stephen Douglas in Illinois senate race” (Johnson 268). On November 6th, 1860 he was elected as the 16th President as the United States of America. “Even though he was not an abolitionist he still believed that slavery was evil. He opposed expansion of slavery to the states that are being carved out of the Western Territories” (Johnson 268). “Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 16, 1865 only a few weeks into his second term” (www.history.com). (Johnson 268;
Born in Hodgenville, Kentucky, Lincoln grew up on the western frontier in Kentucky and Indiana. Largely self-educated, he became a lawyer in Illinois, a Whig Party leader, and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, where he served from 1834 to 1846. Elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1846, Lincoln promoted rapid modernization of the economy through banks, tariffs, and railroads. Because he had originally agreed not to run for a second term in Congress, and because his opposition to the Mexican–American War was unpopular among Illinois voters, Lincoln returned to Springfield and resumed his successful law practice. Reentering politics in 1854, he became a leader in building the new Republican Party, which had a statewide majority in Illinois. In 1858, while taking part in a series of highly publicized debates with his opponent and rival, Democrat Stephen A. Douglas, Lincoln spoke out against the expansion of slavery, but lost the U.S. Senate race to Douglas.
The President that was murdered because he forever freed the slaves in 1863 is how many people in today’s society remember the sixteenth president of the United States of America. President Abraham Lincoln leadership qualities and accomplishments go far beyond that life altering proclamation. American educator Dr. Stephen Covey states, “Always surround yourself with people who are even more talented and competent than you” This quote is relevant to the leadership skills and qualities of President Abraham Lincoln because he was known for the quality of staff he appointed to serve alongside him as president. According to Historian Doris Goodwin President Abraham, Lincoln appointed only the best and brightest to his cabinet, individuals who were also some of his greatest political rivals. This fact clearly exhibits his true leadership skills and qualities by challenging this group of rivals to work together to form a unique team that represented the greatest minds of his time (10). During his time as President Abraham Lincoln displayed every character trait of a true leader.
President Abraham Lincoln was a very unique president. This being mostly because of the way that he followed the Constitution. He took everything it said into account before making any big decisions and follow its guideline to a ‘T.’ There is an oath that a president must swear before they are allowed to become president. This is called the, “Oath of office,” an oath that protects the rights of civilians and keeps the president from making an dramatic decisions. Before Lincoln could become president he had to swear the oath in which states that he would, “protect and defend the constitution of the United States.” Lincoln ruled the country with an iron thumb and completely relied on the Constitution and Declaration of Independence for what can and cannot be allowed. The