Iconic Presidents of the United States - Essay Example

?Presidents and history Introduction Politics has shaped the history of humankind for the longest time. Among some of the greatesthistorical events included the two world wars, colonization of Africa, and the emancipation of the African American society in the United States among many others. In all such historical events, politics was always center stage dictating the nature of the events. In analyzing the influence of presidents in history, it is fundamental to analyze the lives and influences of some of the presidents who ruled during some of the most tumultuous times. The United States, which is both the greatest economy and democracy in the world, has influenced the course of history of the world. It therefore provides a definite relationship between presidents and the historical occurrences. Among iconic presidents of the United States was Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States who served until his untimely assassination in 1865. The events in his tenure including his assassination depicted the influence that the presidents had in shaping the history of their times. He served during some of the most tumultuous times in the country. He led the country through the most historic constitutional, moral and military crisis. His contribution and time in office thus makes him the best president whose analysis may easily depict the role of presidents in influencing the history of their tenures (Burkhimer, 2003). Additionally, he provides an effective basis of comparison with some of the recent presidents such as the incumbent president Barack Obama and George Bush among many others who also served during some of the most tumultuous times in the history of the country. Presidents are always at the help of politics. They are influential people who readily access all the power brokers in a country. The American politics consists of a set of members of parliaments and senators all of who are influential in managing the domestic politics in the different states. The presidents on the other hand has influence over such and enjoy vast constitutional power to institute policies but with the consent of such politicians. Born and raised in a poor American family at a time that capitalism and slave trade was at the pick, Abraham Lincoln educated himself and later joined politics. He lost a senate seat in 1858 for maintaining a hard line rejection for the plan to expand slavery. He was determined to end slavery in the country. Though not a Member of Parliament, the president influenced the lawmakers during his tenure as the president of the United States thus succeeding in emancipating the African Americans. The liberation of the black society in the United States was one of the greatest historical occurrence in the country that earned Abraham Lincoln both friends and foes in equal measure thus possibly leading to his assassination. His role in liberating the African Americans and safeguarding the rights of the marginalized society to take part in election in the country’s constitution was a self-depiction of the influence that presidents have over the historical occurrences. Slave trade had employed millions of American capitalism merchants; it had necessitated the agrarian revolution thus developing the country’s economy. Vouching for the abolition of slave trade and developing an equal American society in which the African Americans would enjoy equal rights as their white counterparts was therefore a major historical occurrence. The success to end slavery was not a timely occurrence; it was not any time coming. President Abraham Lincoln worked hard and tried all he could to convince and black mail some of the members of parliament to accept and pass the bill that would change the country’s constitution. The desire to free the society had cost him his political career in the past but his determination finally bore fruits thus possibly resulting in his assassination. The life and works of president Abraham Lincoln portrays the influence that presidents and their offices have over historical events. Just as discussed earlier, politics influence historical occurrences and anybody capable of influencing politics is therefore capable of influencing history. President George Bush portrayed the same dedication and influence on history, his dedication to end terrorism all over the world influenced the history of the country. Apparently, the country had earned some dedicated enemies who were willing to overcome any barrier just to hurt Americans. President George Bush used his power and influence over the country’s politics to launch one of the greatest wars after the Second World War. Dubbed war on terror, the American military launched an offensive on Iraq with the aim of flushing out the self-proclaimed dictator president Sadam Hussein who had provided safe haven for terrorist in the expansive Middle East. The war was controversial and faced stiff opposition from some of the global humanitarian organizations all over the world. The war was costly and drained the American economy despite the evident loss of innocent lives both the Iraqi civilians and the American soldiers who could not leave the country easily owing to the potential threat that the country’s intelligence kept predicting. However, with his authority and influence as the president. George Bush managed to sustain the war that culminated in the ouster, trail and murder of the Iraqi president. It was a show of might as the president convinced the congress that the war against Iraq was timely thus compelling the house to approve the launch despite the fact that it bore the potential of earning the country some enemies and have serious financial ramifications (Foner, 2008). The election of President Barack Obama a democrat after the end of George Bush’s tenure was yet another historical occurrence. As the first African American president in the country, Barack Obama faced intense opposition and propaganda but owing to the immense political influence that he enjoyed, he managed to convince and won the national support. After his election, the president has dedicated his effort in completing some of the works started by his predecessors and make the loves of the people better. By developing the Obama care bill, the president anticipated some resistance. The fact that it is one of the most controversial bills in the country but still passed and became an act portrays the influence that presidents have over history and events. In retrospect, presidents have direct control over the historical occurrences. They influence politics, which in turn influences the events and daily lives of the people. The lives and actions of some of the presidents of America exhibit the immense power and influence they have over historical events. Each of the American presidents has enacted policies that influenced the history of the world. Being the president of the strongest economy in the world earns one the power to influence global history. References Burkhimer, M. (2003). One Hundred Essential Lincoln Books. New York: Cumberland House. Foner, Eric (2008). Our Lincoln: New Perspectives on Lincoln and His World. New York: W.W. Norton. Read More