Abraham Lincoln as the 16th President of the United States of America - Essay Example

AMERICAS EARLY YEARS al Affiliation Abraham Lincoln The explanation for why you chose Abraham Lincoln, what made him an important historical figure. The key reason for choosing Lincoln Abraham revolves around the controversy associated with his presidency and his involvement in the American civil war. Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States of America, and he entered into the political limelight with little experience, experiencing numerous failures on his track to the presidency. Lincoln strengths were his charisma, honesty and excellent character manifested in his strong will in solving the discordance in the Union. Lincoln`s humanity and innate wisdom portrayed him as the greatest president of the united states. Lincoln generated a legacy, which is in no doubt great for having Lincoln as the first president of the United States to be slain while in office (Stith, 2013). Abraham Lincoln is acknowledged for transforming the presidency’s role as chief executive and chief commander into an influential new position ensuring the supremacy of the president over both the courts and congress. By this Lincoln broke several laws and constitutional provisions asserting himself as the final interpreter of the constitution. He issued the Lincoln activism ranging from calling out of state militias, expansion of both the army and navy. Lincoln declared war without summoning the congress (Stith, 2013). · Biographical information (childhood, education, occupation). Abraham Lincoln was born 12th February 1809, to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Lincoln in Kentucky. His paternal grandfather-also Abraham- had moved their family to Kentucky from Virginia, he was later slain in an Indian raid leaving Thomas Lincoln to lead the Lincoln family. At the time of Abraham’s birth, Thomas was one of the richest people in Kentucky. However, in 1816, the family lost all its land due to fake property titles in a court case. The Lincoln family then moved to Ohio, a non-slave territory. As Lincoln entered his teens, he assumed responsibility of household chores and became an expert in building rail fences.as a frontier, Lincoln had little formal education in his early life. He was self-educated learning much from books and arithmetic from his grandfather and sister (Stith, 2013). Abraham first attended school at the age six in 1886. The nature of the education system, with no defined school calendar, ensured that he only attended school when he was six, seven, eleven, thirteen and fifteen years old as students only attended school when an educator was present to teach them. Even though his childhood edification was poor, that didn’t matter because of his fascination with books. At the age of 23, Lincoln partnered with a friend and bought a small store. Even with a booming economy their business struggled, and he eventually liquidated his ownership share. Lincoln served as postmaster and later a county surveyor. Gaining an interest in law, he schooled himself by reading law books and later became a lawyer. · Information about the era in Abraham Lincoln lived – The major issues faced by the country during that period that affected Abraham Lincoln During this era, the country was divided because of the civil war. The struggle to hold the union together transformed to fight for freedom and campaign against slavery. · The historical legacy of Abraham Lincoln Abraham’s legacy is based on his leadership impact on its citizens. As the great American president, the impact of his leadership on political and moral state of the union signified him greatly as one of the great presidents in the history of US. · A conclusion about what was important about Abraham Lincoln and the era he lived in. Abraham Lincoln led the United States during its civil war, America’s bloodiest civil conflict. Faced with both political and constitutional crisis, Lincoln demonstrated exemplary leadership, abolishing slavery, strengthening the federal government, modernizing the economy and preserving the Union. George Caleb Bingham the Artist The explanation for why you chose George Caleb Bingham, what made him an important historical figure. George Caleb Bingham is considered as the greatest painters of America in the nineteenth century. Renowned as America’s classic artist of the west. Bingham is the first artist from the west to produce outstanding works among America’s artists. Bingham`s works derived themes from depiction of daily lives western frontiers. His genre of paintings examined as narratives, immortalized and depicted the common citizen riverboat men, settlers and fur traders in settings of the frontier lifestyle. · Biographical information (childhood, education, occupation). Bingham was born in Virginia, Augusta County. His parents were henry Vest Bingham and Mary Amend. Mary`s father Amend granted Bingham ownership of an eighteen acres piece of land and the family mill with an arrangement that Henry lives with the Amends’ family for the rest of his life. The Binghams later moved to Missouri. George Caleb natured himself artistically –self-taught- with his field exposure limited to a visit to by an American portraitist Harding Chester. George provided Harding with assistance during his visit to Franklin. George first work was as a janitor. Later, George apprenticed with cabinet makers while ministering at camp meetings. At nineteen, George painted portraits selling them for twenty dollars apiece. He worked with Arrow Rock and Franklin while sharpening his painting skills. · Information about the era in George Caleb Bingham lived –The major events or problems of the country during that period that affected George Caleb Bingham? The major event that affected George Bingham during his time was the American civil war. Some seven southern states declared secession from the union forming the confederate states. The issues that caused of the war were slavery and extent of slavery in the west territories. During the war, Bingham was elected as Kansas City’s captain of guards. He was later named as the state treasurer by Roman Gamble where he served distinctively. · The historical legacy of George Bingham – what George Caleb Bingham accomplished George can claim to be the first exceptional American portrait artist from the West. He is well known for his portrait scenes imitative of the day to day life of the then Western frontier. George Caleb Bingham was the first-art professor at the university of Missouri. Bingham used his portrait painting of Jackson to try and shame the democrats who were pro-slavery during the American civil war. · A conclusion about what was important about George Caleb Bingham and the era they lived in. Bingham art paintings –narrations of everyday activities of frontiers-depicted the common person: the Missouri and Mississippi traders. His works also demonstrated the nation’s democracy and democratic process that is both elections and political campaigning’s. Bingham’s deep involvement in state politics and service in a political office was a demonstration of his push societal betterment. Levi Strauss: Businessman The explanation for why you chose Levi Strauss, what made him an important historical figure. The core reason for choosing Levi Strauss was to demonstrate his transformation from two different geographical and social settings and still experience success despite the challenges he faced in his transition. He was of German descent though an American citizen who founded the first blue jeans manufacturing company. · Biographical information (childhood, education, occupation). Levi was born on twenty-sixth February 1829 in Bavaria, Germany. His parents were Hirsh and Rebecca. While in Bavaria the family was exposed to extreme religious discrimination because of their Jewish faith. The discrimination ranged from restrictions on living places to special taxes imposed on them for their faith (Steenwyk, 1988). At the age of six, Levi lost his father to tuberculosis. Two years later his mother migrated with them-Levi and his two sisters-to the United States of America. On their arrival Levi reunited with his two elder brothers, Jonas and Louis. At the time, Louis and Jonas had established a business-dry good business-and Levi Strauss decided to work for his brothers. With the consent from Davis, a Nevada tailor, Levis registered the Levis denim trademark patent. He later opened a factory to manufacture and produce denim pants. His rugged jeans design contributed to his millionaire status (Steenwyk,1988). · Information about the era in which Levi Strauss lived – The major issues faced by the country during that period that affected Levi Strauss Because of their religious affiliation -Jews-the Strauss were discriminated against in Germany. They were restricted on places they could inhabit and extra taxes posed on them for their Jewish faith. In America Levi experienced the American four-year civil war, which greatly influenced the Americas fashion market and trends in terms military uniforms. · The historical legacy of Levi Strauss – what he accomplished Levi Strauss and Davis are accredited with birth of the denim jeans wear. The denim jeans are the most popular pants in fashion. The introduction of riveted denim jeans to the market drastically revolutionized the fashion industry providing a unique style of creativity to the then fashion lovers (Steenwyk,1988). · A conclusion about what was important about Levi Strauss and the era he lived in. As an immigrant into the United States of America Strauss depicted an image of a strong individual faced with migration, social and religious challenges, but managed through the ups and downs to build a fashion empire. The perseverance demonstrates Levis drive for success despite starting small. References Stith, M. M. (2013). War upon the Land: Military Strategy and the Transformation of Southern Landscapes during the American Civil War by Lisa M. Brady. Civil War History, 59(4), 538-540 Strozier, Charles.B.(1997) Presidential Studies Quarterly.American Civil War,27(4), 601-603 Boman, D. K. (2013). Abraham and Mary Lincoln/Lincoln and the Election of 1860/Abraham Lincoln and Horace Greeley/Lincoln and the Civil War. American Nineteenth Century History, 14(3), 353-356. Steenwyk, E. (1988). Levi Strauss: the blue jeans man. New York: Walker. Bloch, E. M. (1986). The paintings of George Caleb Bingham: a catalogue raisonné. Columbia: University of Missouri Press. Read More