Abraham Lincoln, the President of America - Research Paper Example

Abraham Lincoln, the President of America Abraham Lincoln was born in a single room cabin in Kentucky on 12th February, 1809. He was a self educated person reared in a poor family. Somehow or other, he managed to be a country lawyer, and latter he became attorney which later helped in starting his political career. He was elected the 16th president of United States of America in November, 1860. Lincoln made many great speeches for American people. He served the USA from March 1861 to April 1865, till the day of his assassination. Abraham Lincoln is the president in the American history who led the country through some serious moral, military and constitutional crisis, caused by the greatest civil war (National Park Service, n.d.). What do you think Lincoln's greatest act as president was and why?  Although the list of Lincoln’s achievements is too long to narrate in few words but the greatest act he did for America as the president was closing the civil war that was about to split the country apart. When Lincoln took the presidential charge, the civil war between North and the Southern slave states was turning to a hazardous brink. The slave states formulated Confederate States of America claiming secession. But Lincoln took a powerful position in the civil war with the unspeakable leadership skills and preserved the Union from decay. He surely endured unexpected pressures not only from the generals who did not want to fight but he also face bickering from his own cabinet members for supporting the war. Thousands of soldiers died in the battlefield and he received many assassination threats to his life for continuing the war. But, he was truly determined to end up the war and defeat the confederacy (Abraham Lincoln Research Site, 1996). Lincoln’s greatest speech ever was Gettysburg Address in 1863. In the address, he clearly defined that the civil war was a contest to achieve liberty for the slaves and to secure and preserve the United Nations from splitting apart. He said: “Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives, that that nation might live” (Quoted from Ronald, 2008, p. 52). Although Lincoln was vehemently criticized for his decision for compromising the lives of about 8000 soldiers just in 3 days, but he had belief that his job was to preserve the country from disintegration in to two parts. With fighting this civil war, he kept the nation save from other external threats. Although he overstepped the limits of his traditional executive powers which led him face the threats of federal authority ever in the history of America. But he was determined to end the civil strife and he proved that he was capable to achieve what he was expected to be (Abraham Lincoln Research Site, 1996). So, there is no doubt that ending of civil strife was the greatest act ever in the American history that Abraham Lincoln achieved successfully. The four years of war were full of bloody combat which sacrificed many lives but at the end of the war, confederacy was beaten successfully and the rehabilitation process started. Slaves got free and unity of the country was restored. So, the good results were achieved from a bloody war in the end under Lincoln’s supervision. What were some of Lincoln’s other accomplishments as President? Abraham Lincoln’s greatest accomplishments including end of the civil war was the abolishment of slavery in which he worked as the great emancipator. He made a lot of speeches opposing the Kansas Nebraska Act. He believed that this act would spread the slavery. When he spoke vehemently against this slavery act, he gained national attention that helped him in forming the Republican Party which enabled him to contest for presidency in 1860 (Library of Congress, n.d.). Lincoln has been credited for beginning a process of Emancipation Proclamation that result in 13th amendment in the American constitution that formally ended the slavery. The following quotation will make his ideas clear about slavery and the real democracy. “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy”(Quoted from Abraham Lincoln: A legacy of freedom, 2008, p. 1). Emancipation proclamation was no doubt the greatest achievement but this is a fact that this act did not get the slaves free at once but it led the basis for end of slavery. In addition to it, this proclamation changed the way the Black was treated before. It was all due to Lincoln’s struggle that the Black soldiers were accepted for fighting the civil war. They joined the Union Navy and Army and by end of the war, 200,000 black fought for freedom and for the Union (National Park Service, n.d.). Other major accomplishments by Abraham Lincoln included his famous letters written to Lydia Bixby, Grace Bedell, Fanny McCullough and Horace Greeley. He also made so many great speeches that got him recognized worldwide and showed the strength of his character and leadership. His great speeches include the Gettysburg Address, First and Second Inaugural Addresses, Cooper Union Address and House Divided Speech. His other accomplishments include signing of the legislations in to laws i.e. the Morrill Act, first transcontinental railroad bill, the National Banking Act (Abraham Lincoln Research Site, 1996). Abraham Lincoln’s character: Abraham Lincoln was a man of tough character and morale. He was a strong man of courage and faith. It was the result of his courage and determination that made him face the deadliest conditions of the country. He always remained firm in his decision despite all the opposition he had to bear in fighting the civil war going on in the country. J. T. Duryea of the U.S. Christian Commission, who met repeatedly with President Lincoln, writes about his character in the following words: “In temper he was earnest, yet controlled, frank, yet sufficiently guarded, patient, yet energetic, forgiving, yet just to him; generous yet firm. His conscience was the strongest element of his nature. His affections were tender and warm. His whole nature was simple and sincere, he was pure, and then was himself”. He was no doubt the most respected leader in the American history. A French writer, Marquis de Chambrun came to know Lincoln personally in the final years of his life. He writes about Lincoln’s character in the following lines: “Such a nature was admirably constituted to direct a heroic struggle on the part of a people proud enough to prefer a guide to a leader, a man commissioned to execute the popular will but, as in his case, strong enough to enforce his own” (Quoted from Richard, Mr. Lincoln's Personality, 2003). Abraham Lincoln was undoubtedly the greatest leader in American history, a man with character of leadership and honesty. He spent approximately 5 years in the white house and gained some great achievements that other presidents in American history could not achieve. He ended up slavery and restored the rights of the black to end up the darkness in America. He saved the country from splitting apart by fighting a war that was going on in the country. He made such a powerful foreign policy that did not let the foreign countries intervening in the homeland civil war that otherwise could have worsened the country’s situation. His greatest achievement was undoubtedly the closure of civil war that was about to tear the country apart. He was killed just when he restored the peace in the country. Lincoln was undoubtedly the greatest achiever as president in American history ever who was truly inspirational for the upcoming presidents. So, it proves that Lincoln was a man of determination and true character. What did Lincoln's assassin say as he ran across the stage at Ford's Theatre? Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on 14th April, 1865 on the day of Good Friday. He was killed within a week when the civil war was drawing to its end. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a famous stage actor. He killed the president when he went to watch a show by Booth in Ford’s theatre in Washington. Booth had some ideological differences with the president. He believed that the Union was still facing the civil war. He believed that the forces of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston were still fighting against the Union and Lincoln was responsible for secession of 11 southern states from the Union. He was also not in favor of the abolition of slavery. So, many political differences with Lincoln made Booth to kill him. Booth shot Lincoln on the back of his head. When he assassinated the president, he said: “Sic semper tyrannis”. That is Virginia state motto which means “The south is avenged” (NPR, 2009). Work cited: “Abraham Lincoln: A legacy of freedom” U.S. Department of State. 2008. 10 March. 2013. http://photos.state.gov/libraries/korea/49271/dwoa_122709/lincoln.pdf “Abraham Lincoln” National Park Service. n.d. 10 March. 2013. http://www.nps.gov/liho/forteachers/upload/lincoln%20ms%20biography.pdf “Abraham Lincoln: Presidential accomplishments” National Park Service. n.d. 10 March. 2013. http://www.nps.gov/history/logcabin/html/al3.html “At Ford's Theatre, Lincoln's death revisited” NPR. 12 February. 2009. 10 March. 2013. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100577343 Richard, J. Behn. “Abraham Lincoln’s personality”. Abraham Lincoln’s Classroom. 2003. 19 March. 2013. http://www.abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org/Library/newsletter.asp?ID=107&CRLI=155 Ronald, C White Jr. “The words that moved the nation”. U.S. Department of State. 2008. 10 March. 2013. http://photos.state.gov/libraries/korea/49271/dwoa_122709/lincoln.pdf “The accomplishments of president Abraham Lincoln” Abraham Lincoln Research Site. 1996. 10 March. 2013. http://rogerjnorton.com/Lincoln87.html “Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln: Three great presidents” Library of Congress. n.d. 10 March. 2013. http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/presidents/pdf/teacher_guide.pdf Read More