Abraham Lincoln (Sixteenth president) - Essay Example

Abraham Lincoln – “The Great Emancipator of slavery” (1809 –1865) Abraham Lincoln, being the 16th President of the United s and the first President from the Republican Party, is recognized to be one of the most prominent politicians and statesmen in the American history (USA Presidents n.p.). He went down in history as the “Great Emancipator” of slavery and the savior of the United States of America (BiographyShelf.com n.p.). Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in Kentucky and later at a young age moved to Illinois (USA Presidents n.p.).

During his adolescence, Abraham helped his father to work on their farm. Even though the great future speaker almost did not attend school he received a good self-taught education (BiographyShelf.com n.p.). During the Black Hawk War, Lincoln served as a captain in the U.S. army and later he tried himself at several political and business ventures (USA Presidents n.p.). Then he served four times in the Illinois State Legislature and was elected to Congress for two times in 1847 and 1849 (USA Presidents n.p.).

During this period, Lincoln being a member of the U.S. House of Representatives he opposed the Mexican War (Marian n.p.)During the Presidential election of 1860, Lincoln took the post of the head of the country. Being born to parents who thought the slave trade despicable, the President issued the Emancipation proclamation in 1863 (USA Presidents n.p.). This proclamation excited rebellion in some states, in result of which there were enacted the 13th and 14th Amendments of the United States Constitution.

Thus, Lincoln established the federal enforcement of civil rights and abolished slavery (USA Presidents n.p.). As a president, Abraham Lincoln was focused on the political and military dimensions of the war, showing tremendous leadership to the Union populace during the war (USA Presidents n.p.). Abraham Lincoln actively participated in the war and closely controlled the war effort (USA Presidents n.p.). Thus, he made the faithful decision to appoint an army commander General Ulysses S. Grant, who had applied his military skills and knowledge to bring about the close of the Civil War (USA Presidents n.p.).

During the Civil War, the president held more power than any previous president did; he frequently imprisoned Southern spies without trial and suspended the writ of habeas corpus (USA Presidents n.p.). During Lincoln’s terms in office, he set up the Department of Agriculture and facilitated the setting up of agricultural and mechanical colleges in each state (Marian n.p. and BiographyShelf.com n.p). Also, Lincoln supported the Homestead Act under which people were enabled to buy land in the West at very low prices (Marian n.p.).

By signing the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and 1864, he empowered transport and trade, and thus started the transcontinental road (Marian n.p.). As well, the 16th President of the United States constituted a model that influenced the operation of all State-run Universities; he set up the income tax, established the first paper currency and signed the National Banking Act, enabling the creation of a network of national banks (Marina and BiographyShelf.com n.p.). Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, during the visit of the Ford’s Theater in Washington (BiographyShelf.com n.p.). Works Cited:BiographyShelf.com (n.d.). Short Biography of Abraham Lincoln.

Retrieved from http://www.biographyshelf.com/abraham_lincoln_biography.htmlMarian K. (n.d.). Accomplishments Of Abraham Lincoln. Retrieved from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/accomplishments-of-abraham-lincoln.htmlUSA Presidents (2006). Abraham Lincoln. USA-Presidents.Info. Retrieved from http://www.usa-presidents.info/lincoln.htm