The Legacy Of Abraham Lincoln

It is hard not to agree with David Herbert Donald in his biography of Abraham Lincoln. He does his best to not give his professional opinion of anything and only writes about the topics from which he has proof of. The main ideas that the author has throughout the text is greatly supported with Lincoln’s own papers and from written first-hand accounts of his generation. Donald accounts for the changes of position on slavery and the equality of blacks throughout his presidency. I think that this book is a great depiction of Abrahams Lincoln’s life.

Hofstadter is an author who criticizes many historians. In the book, “In The American Political Tradition” Hofstadter does nothing but criticize different historians. One particular historian he challenges in his writings is Abraham Lincoln. According to Hofstadter, Abraham Lincoln was “the exemplar of the self-made man,” he was a very humble man that easily pleased the people and easily attained very high political ranking, as well as success and a lot of power. Abraham Lincoln’s flaws as a president were often overlooked because many Americans felt as if he brought to life what is known to be the great American dream. Because of this, many of his good qualities were true, but yet exaggerated. In this chapter about Lincoln it was

President Lincoln lived a difficult childhood face with many obstacles, but would end up becoming one of the most influential president’s the United States would ever have. His death came all too soon, but his legacy will life on forever.

Abraham Lincoln was born Feb. 12, 1809 (Nicolay 4). When he was seven years old his mother died. (Nicolay 14). His education was never the best. Most people would said he education was very little in school (“Abraham Lincoln”). When he was at school one day he got dare to touch the mounded buck above the door. When he did so he hung on the antlers and broke the them. His honesty didn't get him in trouble. From that day on he was called “Honest Abe” (Ostendorf

It was at this point that Abe decided he was man enough at 22 years of age to live on his own. Abe now needed to work and make a living for himself, so he went into a laborious job. He became a lumber jack swinging an ax, cutting down trees for fencing, firewood and various other things. As time moved forward Lincoln moved to another destination to call his home. This wasn't a large but a rather small town called New Salem, Illinois. Here Abe work in a shop he maintained, was a postmaster,and then when time had past enough he became the owner of the general store. This was a turning point in Lincoln’s life, Abe was forced to have a lot of social interaction with a majority of the local and traveling public who came through the small town. This is where he learned the ability of talking and telling tails that drew people in and made him well know for his

Many argue that there was no other president that took office in more difficult times that Abraham Lincoln did. The day he was elected president a large part of the South had decided to secede as soon as they found out he has become president. To top it off, he lacked support from the North as well. Making his presidency difficult since the beginning.

Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States, underwent countless complications in his life which prepared him to become the leader of the United States. To start, “Thomas Lincoln [Abraham Lincoln’s father] had practically no education and could barely write his name. His first wife Nancy Hanks Lincoln…could not write her name at all” (Wilson). Lincoln grew up in an extremely uncultivated lifestyle, so with the help of library books, he gave himself an education. After decades had past and Lincoln was finally knowledgeable, he “made an unsuccessful run for the Illinois legislature as an anti-Jackson whig…” (Wilson). Although Lincoln failed in his first election, the loss prepared him for future state legislature elections. Lincoln then proceeded to win a seat

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.

“That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.” In other words Abraham Lincoln knew many were politically capable of showing achievements, and Abraham stated he may have come from a lower class family but with perseverance you can achieve it as well. Many were suspicious Lincoln will be a positive president, Abraham knew he could bring back prosperity to our nation, when our nation was going into burdensome situations, but with his proper guidance and determination our nation could unite as one again. I believe Lincoln did reunite our nation, with proper guidance. Abraham Lincoln has had an indisputable impact on American History, due to the First Continental Railroad, reuniting our Nations and the abolishment of slavery.

Abraham Lincoln has been studied more than any other in American history. In fact, over 15,000 different books have been written about our 16th president. Throughout the pages of these books, President Lincoln is affectionately referred to by many different names, such as the Railsplitter, Honest Abe, and the Great Emancipator. A vast majority of these written works honor Lincoln as one of our greatest presidents.

Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected president in November 1860, and would be inaugurated on March 4, 1861. Tensions had been growing between southern slave states and northern free states. Lincoln hailed from the Northern free state of Illinois, and made his anti-slavery views as he campaigned. Lincoln did not receive any votes from the southern states; his name was not even on their ballots. All of the slave states were outraged when Lincoln was elected, and feared he would abolish slavery. As a result, South Carolina seceded from the union on December 20, 1860. This led many other southern states to consider seceding. 100 Mississippi delegates gathered in Jackson, Mississippi for a convention to discuss secession. An ordinance for secession was read aloud at the convention on January 9, 1861. Most of the delegates were in favor of secession; however, there were a small group of men who did not want Mississippi to secede. Three of these men each proposed one *amendment* to the ordinance in order to delay or halt the secession of Mississippi from the union.

In chapter eight of the book Abraham Lincoln’s political legacy is looked at. It goes in depth on how during the Reconstruction, the republican party essentially ruined the South for twelve years by instituting puppet governments that constantly raised taxes but provided very few public benefits (7). This chapter talks also talks about how the republican party stole money from the raised taxes. It seems like the main goal for the government at this point was to become an empire under Abraham Lincoln and his business supporters. “Lincoln’s own Reconstruction ideas made a mockery of democracy (227). “He believed that at least 10 percent of the southern population probably had Unionist sympathies, and he wanted representatives of that group to be put into place by the Republican Party as the governors, mayors, and local public officials of the Southern states after the war” (227). Abraham Lincoln seems like he is trying to get all the power he can by taking control of the south and making them do certain duties after the war is over. Lincoln was trying to explore Central Government according to Richard Bensel (232).

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12th, 1809 in a log cabin in Kentucky. He was raised by poor parents and received less than a year of formal education. He was mainly self-educated by reading a lot of books on his own. Lincoln was known for being an opponent of slavery. He was the 16th president of the United States and served from March 1861 until he was assassinated in April of 1865. His main accomplishments include leading the United States through the Civil War and abolishing slavery.

According to Martin Luther King Jr., “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals”. Slavery was a struggle that America had to overcome in the 1800s in order for America to progress. At the time, slaves were also going through hard times by getting separated from their families and going through excessive hard work on the plantations. Even though it was a struggle for the north, and the slaves, but not for the south since it was a benefit for them. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was put into the Presidential office and would have a major impact on our nation by affecting slavery forever.

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12th, 1809, in Hardin County Kentucky in a one room log cabin to Thomas and Nancy Lincoln. Nancy died when the boy was young of “milk sickness” (which comes from a cow’s milk being bad) in 1818. Shortly after Thomas and the young Abraham moved to southern Indiana. Education was limited for the young boy to just 3 brief periods, because he had to work with his father to continue living in their home. In total the spots in time he did go to school only totaled to about one year. Lincoln basically taught himself by reading, and re-reading a small collection of books he owned. Later on his father went on to marry a widow named Sarah Bush Johnston who had children of her own; she loved Lincoln like one of her own.