Abraham Lincoln’s speech is probably one of the most famous talks in American history because it was short and powerful. This 272-words long oration was delivered in 1863, amid the Civil War, near Gettysburg’s battlefield (Frederick, 2018, p. 100). President Lincoln was an exceptional storyteller with a unique sense of humor (David, 2020). Thus, his charisma in writing this speech was not surprising because he realized the importance of emotional connection with soldiers to raise their fighting spirit (David, 2020). Writing is a complex and mysterious process because it should not only catch the audience’s attention with beautiful wording, but it must be appropriate to the specific context (Barton, 2013). Every word Lincoln used conveyed a particular meaning because he knew that his talk should be short, not to overwhelm the tired and scared army but to inspire people.
The nouns and adjectives used in this oration had a special meaning applicable to the battlefield. For example, the word “proposition” means the Declaration of Independence in this context. The speech states that “our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” (Lincoln, 1863, p. 1). It is always critical to state the main points of writing or speech at the beginning to catch the audience’s attention (Hacker & Sommers, 2020). Indeed, Lincoln opened his talk by referring to the most essential document in U.S. history and highlighting the cause for which the soldiers were fighting. In this case, the word “consecrate” means to sanctify a place. Similarly, the “hallowed” ground indicates a site honored as holy. Lincoln tried to say that people who died on this battlefield for a higher purpose made this ground sacred with their blood, and hence those who remained could only finish their work to honor them.
Although Lincoln could deliver a longer speech, he decided to make it short but effective because he realized that soldiers were exhausted and needed a quick inspiration rather than a lengthy report. He delivered this 2-minute oration during the ceremony of honoring those who died on the battlefield at Gettysburg (Lincoln, 1863). It seemed that the president’s main goal was to remind people what historically happened on this ground. Furthermore, he wanted to honor those who gave their lives for a more significant cause and tell that the only task for everyone who survived was to finish this war for universal equality (Smith, 2019). However, unlike Frederic Douglass’s writings, Gettysburg Address could be perceived as an idiom to convince the nation that all the sacrifices are not meaningless. Even though many of Lincoln’s and Douglass’s writings were against racism and slavery, this particular speech had a distinct purpose of motivating the North to continue this fight rather than discuss racial discrimination.
In summary, President Lincoln’s speech at Gettysburg became one of the symbols of the American nation that had to go through the dark chapter in its history known as slavery. It was a brief oration that intended to raise the spirit of the citizens who came to honor those who lost their lives during the battle at Gettysburg. Lincoln certainly could deliver a longer speech that the audience would listen to and remember. Still, he decided only to highlight the work of the Founding Fathers and the contribution of those who died during the Civil War to convince people that they were on the right track.
References
Barton, M. D. (2013). Rhetoric and composition: A guide for the college writer [eBook]. Wikibooks.
David, A. (2020). Examining the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln. Enslow Publishing, LLC.
Abraham Lincoln is one of the most prominent US presidents of all time, occupying the post from 1861 to 1865. He earned this recognition as he successfully navigated one of the darkest events in the country’s history, the American Civil war, and was responsible for the abolishment of slavery. However, not many people know about Lincoln’s political career prior to becoming the president, during which he was not as popular amongst the citizens of the US. One prominent action of his that drew people’s disapproval was his speech in 1848 addressed to the president at the time, James K. Polk, criticizing the American-Mexican war that started two years prior. The purpose of this paper is to analyze Lincoln’s declaration in terms of its purpose and aim.
Background Information on Lincoln’s Speech
In 1848, Lincoln had been occupying a seat in the House of Representatives for two years and was representing the Whig political party. Despite having only recently started his career in politics, the future president took a strong stance against the American-Mexican war, outlining his criticism of the government’s actions in a speech. While the address begins with the words “Dear Chairman,” it is transparent that Lincoln meant for the recipient of his criticisms to be James K. Polk himself. In fact, there are many points in the speech, which specifically call out the US president, urging him to answer the posed questions[1][2]. However, as the address was public, Lincoln meant for regular citizens to be privy of his conclusions in terms of the American-Mexican war. As the general public’s opinion was split in the middle, he hoped to sway more people to his side. Lincoln’s stance on this issue was not received favorably by his political party, and his career in this area came to a brief halt until the 1850s.
The Summary and Aim of Lincoln’s Speech
The speech was written after the House of Representatives voted and passed an amendment that undermined Polk’s reasons for starting a war with Mexico. Lincoln had agreed with this decision, and in his speech, he promised to reverse his vote if the president would answer several questions[3]. Most of the inquiries were focused on the issue of the location of the first bloodshed. Polk had claimed that Mexican soldiers ruthlessly killed citizens on American soil, which was the grounds for waging war against them[4]. However, Lincoln believed that the location of this battle was never formally confirmed to be part of the US territories. He claimed that it was most likely part of the inhabited land, which was not under the jurisdiction of either country[5]. As such, the act of reiterating the first bloodshed as the reason for starting the war, as Polk had been doing in every address, was strongly criticized by Lincoln. Another part of the speech questions the duration of the fight with Mexico, which was initially promised to last no more than four months.
In order to obtain the truth, Lincoln urged the president to answer all of his questions. He put much emphasis on the responsibility of the president of the country to tell its citizens the truth and reminds Polk that he sits in the seat that Washington had once occupied[6]. While Lincoln promised to reverse his vote, it is evident that he was confident in his stance as he was openly invalidating the president’s reasons for starting a war. As such, the true aim of the address was most likely to make Polk take responsibility for his words and admit to lying to further his own agenda.
Conclusion
While Lincoln’s decision to speak out against the American-Mexican war resulted in him halting his political career for some years, this act proved to be a good indicator of his time as a president. In this address, one can see the future leader of the US’ oratory skills and critical thinking. Additionally, Lincoln’s respect for the presidential post and the responsibilities it entails are apparent as he criticizes Polk for not taking his position seriously enough.
The assassination of Abraham Lincoln is one of the most significant events in the history of the United States. The act was committed by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D. C, and was one of the most shocking events of the era, resulting in a long period of mourning for the nation. The murder was highly political in nature and, in fact, was a part of a larger conspiracy against the American government. From a historical research point of view, the assassination left a number of documents that were created shortly after the assassination. This paper will provide an overview of the event, information about John Wilkes Booth, an examination of Lincoln’s death, and a discussion of how the nation reacted after it was confirmed that the president had been assassinated.
Background
The event was preempted by the end result of the American Civil War. As the war drew to a close, it became clear that the South was about to lose. To either avenge the coming loss in the war or to cause a blow to the North that might allow the South to regroup, various people across America who sympathized with the South began to plan acts against the Union government. One such plan involved John Wilkes Booth and his associates kidnapping Lincoln. However, due to a change in Lincoln’s schedule, this idea was abandoned, and the plan to assassinate various high-ranking members of the government was created. Lincoln, vice president Andrew Johnson, and William Seward were chosen as the targets. Only president Lincoln was killed, however, as attempts on the other targets failed. The assassination occurred on April 14, 1865, at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. The killer John Wilkes Booth was able to enter the theatre balcony where the president of the United States was watching a play titled “Our American Cousin.” Booth then shot the president in the head and managed to escape. He was killed during pursuit 12 days later, and his associates were hanged as punishment for their actions. Lincoln died of his wounds the day after the assassination, and the nation mourned as millions of people came to see the railroad funeral procession which spanned 1700 miles (Holzer 218).
Before the Assassination
In 1864, the American Civil War was nearing its end. In March, the commander of the Union army Ulysses S. Grant chose to end the exchange of prisoners with the army of the Confederates. This action caused the southern forces, who were already feeling the effects of the war as the losses mounted with each passing day, to be left in a critical situation. This is when the idea of kidnapping President Lincoln was first formed by Booth and his co-conspirators. The plan was to capture Lincoln after a play and then blackmail the government into resuming prisoner exchanges with the southern army. However, the plan had to be canceled as the president did not choose to go to the theater, instead visiting a ceremony at the National Hotel. In less than a month, Grant took the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia and forced the army of the south to surrender. However, Booth and his associates did not cease their planning (Alford 186).
John Wilkes Booth
James Wilkes Booth was a relatively successful actor. He was born in 1838 in Bel Air, Maryland. From an early age, he gained an interest in acting and political power. His first performance was in an 1855 production of “Richard III” at the age of 17. Though his early inexperience led to a negative reaction from the audience, in time he improved, and his good looks quickly gained him attention. His success made him quite rich. Politically speaking, he was opposed to the abolitionist movement and supported the Confederate cause. Lincoln’s actions created deep hate in Booth. However, Lincoln was appreciative of Booth’s acting and invited him to visit the White House multiple times, though Booth never accepted these invitations,. One of the possible motives for his decision to assassinate Lincoln was an act of revenge for the fall of Confederacy (Alford 13).
The Assassination
The assassination occurred in the middle of the play. As an actor at Ford’s Theatre, he was already familiar with the play and when the loudest reaction from the audience would occur. With this in mind, he planned to enter the booth at one such moment and use the sound to mask the shot or any sound of a struggle. He hoped to shoot Lincoln with a derringer pistol and subsequently stab Grant who was supposed to accompany him. However, Grant declined Lincoln’s invitation and was not present in the box at the time of the assassination. The policeman who was supposed to guard Lincoln’s theater box left his post during the intermission and did not return before Booth arrived. During an especially loud audience reaction, he entered the booth and shot Lincoln in the head. In the ensuing struggle with the other people in the box, he took out a knife and used it to free himself. He jumped onto the stage and yelled what was reported to be “Sic Semper Tyrannus!” and then promptly escaped (Gunderson 212).
Lincoln’s Death
Two physicians were able to tend to Lincoln in the theater. The wound did not immediately kill him but did leave Lincoln in a comatose state. The bullet was lodged much too deep for the medical professionals of the era to remove. However, they were able to dislodge blood clots that were present in the wound. This slightly improved Lincoln’s condition, after which he was moved to a neighboring house. A number of other physicians were called, but none thought that he would be able to survive this wound. On April 15, 1865, the 16th president of the United States passed away (Stone).
Period After Lincoln’s Death
During the period after Lincoln’s death, Booth was killed in pursuit by Sargent Boston Corbett. People associated with Booth and his co-conspirators were arrested and tried in a court of law. While some were eventually released, a number of them were hanged. A funeral procession for Lincoln was organized with specialized trains bringing people from other cities to pay their respects to him. After this, a train was used to transport his remains across the country to Springfield, Illinois. Millions of people came to the rails as the train drove by as a form of mourning (Holzer 308).
Conclusion
Lincoln’s assassination is one of the defining moments of American history. A terrible act committed by a man filled with anger and desire for revenge shaped people’s perception of the era. The original plan was not carried out, but Booth was still able to kill the president and briefly escape, only to be caught and killed later. In Lincoln’s death, the nation united to mourn him, which is why the assassination of Abraham Lincoln is likely to remain one of the most discussed events in American history.
Works Cited
Alford, Terry. Fortune’s Fool: The Life of John Wilkes Booth. Oxford University Press, 2015.
Gunderson, Jessica. The Wound Is Mortal: The Story of the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Capstone, 2015.
Holzer, Harold. President Lincoln Assassinated!!: The Firsthand Story of the Murder, Manhunt, Trial, and Mourning:, Library of America, 2015.
It is a historical fact that in every generation, there are those individuals who have performed extra-ordinary deeds and as such referred to as pioneers and heroes. It is also a historical fact that every generation of humans possesses its own ideals. The human population has always been and will still be fragmented into at least two classes with the majority worshiping the past with their backs to the sunrise and the minority keeping their faces towards the dawn. The majority are often contented with existence as it is while the few struggle and suffer for future’s sake, seeking to alter caste prejudices and distinctions, emancipate the bonded and bring civilization to mankind. Yet, as it often happens, those who have brought freedom in a given time later become the oppressors. They achieve remarkable reputation, their names becoming as distinguished as those of demigods.
Main body
In 1809, a baby was born amid poverty and difficulty in the woods of Kentucky. He received his education from the skies, the hard soil and from his existence. It can be stated that he earned his degrees from the University of Nature, his name being associated with the emancipation of a great majority of people and the salvation of the American Republic. Abraham Lincoln is the name of this man. Nineteenth century glowed because of this man. What could have been more important than breaking the bonds of slavery and freeing a million individuals from the captivity of the soul? Very few men and women have made a nation glorious and the memory of Abraham Lincoln is the most precious treasure of the United States of America. This paper is about Abraham Lincoln and his genius as a statesman. Lincoln in his first speech as the president of the Union stood on solid rock and he was not wrong. He understood the political questions of the day and no man during his time was as equipped as he was for intellectual conflict. Abraham Lincoln knew the minds of people, their biases, hopes and dreams. Comprehending the average mind was not a big task for him. He was very articulate in his analysis of situation, always candid, logical and honest. Lincoln had a unique association with both the South and North, his kinship ties and sympathies being with the South while his ideals were with the North. He made a stirring inaugural address, appealing for the preservation of the Union. He called for compromise in order to maintain Northerner’s support without alienating the Southerners since he took office during the time when there was tension between North and South. Lincoln was well aware of the evils of slavery and understood the thrill of freedom. A kind and gentle personality, Lincoln had a kind of greatness which would have neither allowed him to be a master nor a slave. He was truly an independent individual who possessed insurmountable manhood and genuine greatness. He was unwilling to put a burden which he himself could not bear upon others due to his justness. Always a man whose desire was to find something to do for the people, Lincoln was more of a statesman than a politician.
Lincoln understood his responsibility and duty as a president especially during the time when slavery was the main problem of the Republic. He deeply resented slavery. In his first message, he made an assurance to the South about the returning of the laws which also governed slavery but they did not accept it. The North was afraid that slavery could be destroyed. Lincoln knew that slavery must perish. The course he pursued was kind, gentle, logical and wise to the extent that millions of democrats sprung to his defense. In 1862, Lincoln read the Proclamation of Emancipation to his cabinet and informed them that he needed no advice. On the 22nd of September the same year, the Proclamation of Emancipation was issued. On the issue of freedom and slavery, Lincoln made a striking generalization holding that the free are only assured of their freedom if the slaves are granted freedom.
Having been educated at the University of Nature, Lincoln not only understood the natural rights of humans but also that of nations and states. In his capacity as a lawyer, Lincoln well understood the human nature. As a lawyer, he never let personal prejudices interfere with his objective analysis of cases. As such, he was always a seeker of truth. His goal was to get in the midst of the case so he may not be deceived. He went against his interests and passion to unearth the truth and pronounce judgment. He possessed an unrivaled sense of humor with a very keen wit. This enabled him to view situations in a way only unique to himself, making the most serious of all situations appear humorous.
Conclusion
The life of Abraham Lincoln pays testimony to the fact that he built upon the rock. He laid a wide, strong and safe foundation. Through years of difficulty, sacrifice and self denial, he struggled, toiled and hoped, not letting his vision be tainted. His purpose was never swayed, his patience infinite. He possessed no prejudice and gave charity for all. Slowly by slowly, he designed and built a strong foundation until finally the Proclamation came to the hearts and minds of men. The only thing he feared was the fear to do wrong, despising slavery and seeking to conquer prejudices. In him, the Republic found the hope and courage to yearn for a better tomorrow. The memory of Abraham Lincoln will never be erased from the minds of the living citizens of the great Republic.
Bibliography
Jeremy Roberts. (2003). Abraham Lincoln. Twenty-First Century Books.
Michael Burlingame. (1997). The Inner World of Abraham Lincoln. University of Illinois Press.
Robert Green Ingersoll, On Abraham Lincoln. Bank of Wisdom, 1894.
Every president of the nation is unique when it comes to the leadership styles that they are using to manage the state. They have their own level of intelligence, a sole mass approach and a diverse expression of passion to lead. Every potential leader has its own perception and ideas about the things that must do to accomplish a goal for the country where they are in. Leadership style can be an autocratic, democratic or laizzes-faire, when the need arises, for sometimes, those three styles is being used at the same time by the leader to follow the plotted plan for the population.
Richard Neustadt viewed that because of the limited authority of the elected president, the leader is compelled to use his interpersonal abilities to implement rules and influence people (Preston, 2001). His description of presidential power stresses the ultimate significance of what he called personal presidency. The definitive presidential power lies in the hand of the existing leader and his actions are certainly being scrutinized.
That is why, in the real world, the present leader of the nation can never be safe from comparing to the previous leaders when it comes to management approach. The people of the nation are the first line to be affected with how the president handles the state that is why they are very keen in evaluating the current president. Citizens also evaluating the leadership styles of the previous presidents. With that, they are seeking for the distinctions and resemblances that would play a big part to make their nation more successful.
The Americans are trying to look for the character of the privileged if they are really competent and have the capacity to bring out the bacon for their country. As we go on with the discussion, comparison between current US president Barack Obama and previous US president Abraham Lincoln will be talked about, their differences and similarities with their leadership styles, and how it affects the perception of the people to put them in power and to become a president of their state.
Discussion
Which President do you feel your leadership style most resembles?
The president that resembles most is Barack Obama because of his passion of being a democrat and being an agent for change. Barack Obama has also a huge heart for those who are unprivileged. He used to convey speeches that really play a big impact in every Americans.
According to New York Times (2009), Barack Obama has been a font of cool confidence regardless of lots of difficulty that he has since he became the president of the United States. He really wants to have transformed the current government into its development. Barack Obama is one of the greatest people who actually practice democracy. He solicited guidance from his constituents and do consolidate the actual problems and plans to arrive with the accurate resolution.
He adopted and blended the individuality and traits of his two precursors, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton that able him to come up with a very rewarding insights. As a matter of fact, during an assembly, he absolutely got the votes of GOP senators and winning the support of his group. The New York Times (2009) quoted his decisions as crisp and efficient. He was observed to a good listener and at the end of the meeting; he used to sum up what he have learned.
Many Americans describe President Obama as a Catalytic leader. This is exactly the leadership style the country and the world needs for the development that is similarly related to our history. To give information about this leadership style, Catalytic Leadership is a style of leadership whereby a person in charge encourages various constituencies to move forward and work as one and where efficient solutions to troubles are fashioned by such constituencies jointly working, with everyone trade into the problem solving process. Being involved and invested in the said process, stakeholders who may crave diverse results may yet come to support a key for the reason that they are part of the course.
President Obama is exactly an alluring leader, he is simply a charismatic figure as quoted by the writer. The true power of President Barack Obama lies in what come into view to be his natural management skill and his cleverness at illustrating a variety of diverse constituencies into his decision-making practice. There are some that will not agree with the conclusion of every proposal he displays forward but everyone will at least be capable to articulate that they were consulted and had their voice heard.
President Barack Obama loves to listen to those who have something to say, he even doesn’t want to insecure citizen. Newsweek (2009) quoted that If the person who is talking to Obama has nothing to say, he will do an action on it. He will exert some effort to call on that person. According to Newsweek (2009) President Barack Obama usually thinks that this person disagrees with the issues they are discussing but according to his aides, he never gets mad easily.
As a matter of fact President Barack Obama yells only two times in four years that really counts because being patient, especially when you are in leadership field, is a very vital characteristic (Newsweek, 2009). President Barack Obama fights for the unity of his nation; he doesn’t want to be on the top but wants his countrymen to go with the right path of success. As evidence, the Newsweek (2009) quoted the word of Obama, “We’re going to rise or fall together”.
What leadership qualities enabled these presidents to become the President of the United States?
Similarities of Obama and Lincoln
Barack Obama is the current president of the United States and he shows to the whole state that he is not overwhelm with the power he has right now, a presidential power. Obama actually look up to preceding presidents of the United States especially to former president Abraham Lincoln. They have many similarities. Obama and Lincoln are both seeking the consent and sides of all concerns. They do have the characteristic of being unbiased.
They love to pay attention to newborn thoughts and even if disapproval arises, they are still in control. They were both elected during the national crisis. According to Justin Raimondo (2009), the two compared presidents are both excellent in timing and they are geniuses, they are the one who are working out for their speeches. When it comes to the issue of freedom, for Lincoln, freedom must be implemented for it is a commandment and for Obama freedom is one of the natural rights of every creature. Their view about freedom falls under one meaning, it must be granted and the life of each of them is really dedicated to politics (Raimondo, 2009).
Lincoln had nothing but the power to lead, he made a very gratifying account in the world of politics. On the other hand, Obama is somewhat in Lincoln’s path. He settled himself in the world of politics. According to the writing of Justin Raimondo (2009), Obama voted in Chicago as senator during Bill Clinton’s presidency. Their dedication brought them to the path of leadership that made them as one of the great presidents of United States.
Obama is not just a great leader for his time; he is also a good follower of his antecedent. Previous presidents play a very vital part in Obama’s administration, they’ve been Obama’s role model particularly Lincoln. Earlier President Lincoln fought during the predicament of his era and Obama, as presently seen, is fighting the crisis for the Americans. Based on the study of Justin Raimondo (2009), Lincoln eradicated hard bread, brought in the greenback, as well as placed the skeleton of the semi nationalized banking system that is presently collapse. Lincoln also set up a tariff wall behind which the “trusts” were cozy, and that economic institutions developed and increased as widespread weed, pungent their economic and political contenders (Raimondo, 2009).
Notice the great Lincoln how he raised the community interests, industries was funded including railroads that were abundant with land grants. The inflation rate in the economy attained its peak, the fortitude of the citizens when in comes to enterprise posted a big success, machineries of the government that are very advanced were introduced during his period and the success of Lincoln in the fields of banking has a very huge resemblance with Obama (Raimondo, 2009).
Raimondo (2009) stated that Obama implements centralizing and outright nationalizing the banking system even before he was elected as the president of the United States. He even made a dialogue for the bank bailout, with John McCain; the federal government offered a blank check for them to do the demands of the said project to save the collapsing walls of the central-banking structure that was made during Lincoln’s period. In this manner, it is obvious that they are both into banking, they are both after in the interests of the common good (Raimondo, 2009).
Lincoln stands as the most excellent presidential symbol of settlement and unity on a national scale while Obama, who in almost every major address starting 2004, emphasizes this subject matter, clearly wants to follow in Lincoln’s ladder as an almost liberator in chief (New York Times, 2008). Same with Lincoln who required achieving a gauge of national redemption and racial reconciliation, Obama has sought, with the famous words of Lincoln, “to bind up the nation’s wounds”
Differences of Obama and Lincoln
They have a couple of similarity but still they have the so called individualism/differences. In leadership styles, they do have the uniqueness. Obama was a community organizer, he imposes his leadership without throwing threats to people, he poses a good example to those citizens in terms of problem solving, he collaborates with his citizens when doing problem solving that is why it is proven that he is known to be a democrat and he used to practice the simple style of leadership (New York Times, 2008).
On the other hand Lincoln is a republican, he is really firm and tough in implementing laws, he stopped the discriminations tossed to black Americans and as a matter of fact, he signed the emancipation proclamation that gives permit to free black slaves.
Obama and Lincoln are both lawyers but they differ in how they acquire they knowledge that they are using during their presidency and period. Obama had a formal education in law and attended Columbia and Harvard University. In contrast, Lincoln sustained his education from doing by his self; he had no practically official school for his education. Another set of differences; Lincoln canceled the writ of habeas corpus to remain the torn merger together while Obama wants to make a civilian paramilitary force to complete the national security objectives.
Lincoln served in the Illinois state legislature and the U.S. congress as a savior of the nation against crisis for two decades and two years before becoming President whereas Obama served as state senator for seven years and two years being a U.S. senator before running for President. They did a great job in politics but differ in what they are fighting for because they do have different job descriptions. Lincoln foresaw America as a country conceived in Liberty, and believed that all men were born equal while Obama wants all men to keep on being equal.
Conclusion
Every nation is eager to have a real leader that would have a heart in making their country more successful and freeing them from any frightening situations. Mostly, leader of a state should be a good follower and a role model. Obama and Lincoln are the best example, they do have the qualities that the nation needed and they are not just leaders but heroes to be idolized in leadership. We need to have spiritual guidance in every aspect of our lives and it is very amazing that Obama and Lincoln do not even forget the true essence of prayer. The writer cited an example. The priests of the Obama cult uttered their prayers and burn incense at his altar and the Remnant appears on, puzzled and not a little frightened, hope that he will not do too much harm (Raimondo, 2009).
Identification of Obama with Lincoln is all fixed up with the subject of race and the idea that the presidency of Obama is somehow the completion of the Lincolnian dream of a land where the offspring of slaves could attain the highest office in the land. Lincoln was perhaps the most literary president in both on paper and verbal word because of what he had done during his presidency that able to made him more successful and famous (Dallek, 2008).
Obama figures to line up in that field when he was voted as the president, his first memoir, Dreams From My Father, will become the most persuasive book written by the president in contemporary times. Obama repeatedly referred to him as his own best speechwriter indicating that like Lincoln, Obama recognizes the supremacy of presidential oratory.
Every individual has a right to choose. People became good because he chose to be good. Another person grew to be better because he chose to be better. Mostly, the individual happened to the best because he chose to be best. Bottom-line, excellence is a choice.
References
Preston, Thomas. The President and His Inner Circle: Leadership Style and the Advisory Process in Foreign Affairs. New York: Publication, 2001. Web.
New York Times. Transition gives peek at Obama Leadership style. 2009. Web.
It is my personal belief and opinion that any person, especially in an impressionable age should have a role model. To me a model is a person whose characteristics can be copied. I never believe that I will be like another person and will never try to do so. I have my own individuality which is unique as does every other person in the world. The model in my mind is a person who can indirectly or directly teach me about the values in life. It can be through his teachings, his character, his personality or any other attribute that can set an example. My parents have given me a lot of freedom coupled with firm foundations on the value of character and personality. They have always urged me when I was younger on the importance of having a role model whom you can look up to. I had been searching continuously for such a model for the past few years and have found many eminent personalities whom I could model myself on. It was two years ago that I read a book titled ‘Abraham Lincoln and men of war-time’ that I got to admire the person more. This led me to a process of knowing more and more about the man. I have come to the conclusion that Lincoln as a complete person with all his strengths and weaknesses has been the most influential person in my life.
I consider myself as an honest person. Injustice angers me even though I have not spoken up against it as much as I have wished. But I am determined that in future this will change. I will hold up my values and beliefs in any circumstance. I am quite a private person with regard to my thoughts and emotions. Even though I am willing to listen to others on matters of importance, my decisions are my own. Unlike Lincoln who had a pretty rough childhood (in terms of lack of money), I grew up fairly secure surroundings. But I would like to proceed with my life on my own. For the future, I would like to be called a self-made man. These are just the factors that made me connect with Lincoln, considered by many to be the greatest American President of all time.
Lincolns was a self-made man with little formal education. He taught himself law and became qualified to practice it. He was not afraid to fight with the town bully when challenged. He stood up his view and beliefs on slavery even though the United States witnessed a civil war that threatened to break the county in two. He was his own person when it came to decisions (just like me) even though he would listen to his aides and advisors. Once decided, he would be convinced beyond doubt that the decision is made based on his values and beliefs. (A. K. McClure and Rawley, p.75).
He was a devoted family man.
The resemblance can be seen in the basic characteristics though not the greatness (at least not yet). If such a man with such a personality can be famous and universally admired, they are worth imbibing. As mentioned earlier, I will never try to be like Abraham Lincoln. I have my own individuality and uniqueness. I will never try and make people say that I am trying to be like Lincoln. But I am definitely influenced by him. But I will learn all that I can from his character and the way he conducted his life. I am sure that I will be a better person in many was by doing so.
Works Cited
A. K. McClure., and Rawley, James A. Lincoln’s characteristics. Abraham Lincoln and Men of War-Times: Some Personal Recollections of War and Politics during the Lincoln Administration, 1997, 75.
Lincoln is a movie produced in the US in 2012 by Steven Spielberg, director, and Daniel Day-Lewis acting as President Abraham Lincoln. Sally Field is the president’s wife, Todd Lincoln. The movie is mainly concerned with the president’s last days when he was trying to push parliament to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment. While in his office, the head of state seems worried about the Emancipation Proclamation ratified in 1963 since slave states were expected to move to court to challenge the validity of the law. In the president’s view, the new law must be passed within the month to ensure the rights of the minorities and slaves are protected before the end of the war because chances of enslaving them would be minimal.
The type of government that is demonstrated in the movie is democratic since elections are held periodically to select the officials and each citizen is free to seek any position. This means individuals have voting rights as they are given the opportunity to choose leaders based on experience, manifestos, and their agendas for the country. Similarly, TEKS espouses the kind of governance structures illustrated in the movie since students are allowed to select the course units once they are in the higher levels of studies. In the movie, it is clear that an individual is allowed to select a leader of his or her choice once he or she attains a certain age. TEKS gives an individual a chance to decide what he or she desires in life as far as education is concerned. In the selection of leaders in TEKS, each student is given an opportunity to convince the panel that he or she is capable of delivering the institution’s objective and aim. This aspect is evident in the movie because citizens are allowed to vote freely for the bill or individual without much interference from the government. Unlike in other instructional plans and curriculums, TEKS allows an individual to go through various topics before moving on to the next level of study, something that allows knowledge accumulation and skill development. In the movie, citizens are provided with several ideas and their only responsibility is to select the best among the existing ones.
Government is a large organization charged with the responsibility of taking care of the wishes and the desires of all people in society. In other words, its main role is to provide an enabling environment that guarantees individual fulfillment. Based on this, it should have certain characteristics that allow it to function normally, one of them being the ability to communicate the agenda clearly. In the Movie, the president is in a position to communicate government programs undoubtedly through his representatives in the parliament. In the TEKS, the board always informs students of the expectations of each course unit, which proves the agenda is communicated openly. Another important feature of government is optimism meaning it should always be positive in what it does even though things might be heading in a bad direction. This would allow the citizens to adopt a similar approach leading to hard work and cooperation even in times of economic and political difficulties. In the Movie, the president is aware of the dangers of introducing the bill without waiting for the appropriate time, but he is optimistic about its passage and encourages members of his party to vote for it overwhelmingly.
The Objective
The activity on the study of the form of government will help the students develop critical skills that would be applied in leadership. This would play a role in ensuring the bad qualities of leadership that interfere with goal achievement are eliminated and only the best practices, as witnessed in the movie, are adopted. Students will be encouraged to familiarize themselves with the major themes related to democracy.
Introduction
First, students will learn that autocratic leadership does not allow consultations and the type of decisions made are usually of low quality. In many cases, autocratic leaders end up making defective policies that affect the quality of life and the standards of living in many societies. Students will understand that the movie and the TEKS standards are compatible in the sense that they both support openness, fairness, and impartiality in dealing with issues. In the movie, the president does not force his close policymakers to accept ideas without evaluating them carefully. After watching the movie, students will be expected to answer certain questions based on the tenets of democracy. Again, students will be instructed to form discussion groups in order to understand the themes clearly. Books will be provided to reinforce the student’s knowledge of democracy.
Main Lesson
TEKS supports the form of government illustrated in the movie because it allows students to apply the instructional plan together with other additional learning materials. While in the institution of learning, students should understand that they are allowed to consult with their teachers freely, something that enhances cooperation and understanding. Democracy is a system of governance that encourages people to do as they wish in order to achieve personal goals. For purposes of creativity, innovativeness, and innovation, TEKS do not prevent students from coming up with something new that would develop knowledge. Based on this, TEKS supports the concept of democracy.
Evaluation
Democracy simply means allowing people to carry out their activities without much interruption from the authorities. It encourages members to participate in elections, respect human rights, and be sensitive to gender and racial issues. In this regard, democracy as a government concept is critical because it allows members to fulfill their wishes. Students will be evaluated to determine whether they understand the concepts through a review form and instructional rubric. Evaluation of students is critical as far as understanding their level of comprehension is concerned. Based on this, several instruments should be applied to achieve the desired results.
Relationship between TEKS and the Movie
In TEKS, the instructional plan encourages all students to concentrate on their studies since they will achieve their interests through hard work and cooperation with teachers. Through the movie, it is noted that the authorities should be willing to listen to the pleas of affected individuals. An authority that is indifferent to the sufferings of the majority usually loses popularity and chances of it losing power and authority are high. In the movie, Lincoln’s government is always responsive to the desires of many meaning it prioritized dialogue and consultation whereby the views of various individuals are always taken into consideration. In the TEKS, listening is a valued aspect given the fact students are encouraged to present their challenges regarding the instructional plan since it would help the policymakers in planning and initiating changes
It should be mentioned that for an organization to achieve its goals and objectives they need to have proper plans on how to effectively produce, manage the human resource, penetrate the market, handle uncertainties and competition, manage financial resources and last but not least, keep pace with changes in technology. In regards to the case of Lincoln Electric Company’s popularity in the world market during the last years, the following question arises, what are the main secrets of the strength of the company?
High quality and low price are the main factors that guarantee success in a world market. The main aim of the company is to produce products of a high-quality for low prices. That is why the main strategy of the company is to concentrate on reducing costs and passing the savings through to the customer by continuously lowing prices. As the result, market share and primary demand are increasing. Lincoln’s strategy has remained unchanged for decades and it continues to bring success to the company. More than that, there are a lot of incentive bonuses which inspire the workers to work better and do all the best to increase the quality of the products. Employees are rewarded for their productivity, high quality, individual contributions to the company and cost reduction ideas. As the result, some workers have an opportunity to earn $45.000 in a single year. It is considered to be one of the main ways of employees’ motivation. If the employees are satisfied with the payment for their work, they do their work better and the work atmosphere allows producing goods of high quality. Lincoln’s philosophy is an individual attitude to every employee. Competition and adequate incentives allow realizing the whole potential of every worker. Compensation policies are considered to be the key point of Lincoln’s “incentive management”. The success of the company depends on the work of every employee. Lincoln takes into account the needs and demands of his employees and tries to satisfy them as far as discontent is disastrous for every company. The working atmosphere is a very important factor for the production of qualified products. One of main Lincoln’s points of view is equality between management and workers in the company which assists frank communication between them. It should be noted that Lincoln’s plant is quite unusual as far as there are few workers and too much equipment. The quality of the products also depends on the work of this equipment. Lincoln’s company do not save money on equipment. Lincoln’s company was the first that used computers in their work. Computerizing the company saved money and increased the degree of control.
Generally speaking, the secret of the success of Lincoln’s company is Lincoln’s philosophy and strategy. The philosophy based on the individual attitude to every employee and satisfaction of his needs and demands helps to create a good working atmosphere and guarantee high productivity. The strategy of the company aims at increasing the quality of the products on the one hand and reducing the costs which give the possibility to sell the products for lower prices on the other hand.
Abraham Lincoln: The Vampire Hunter is a 2012 fantastic horror movie that provides an unconventional interpretation of the political and social life of the 16th President of the United States. The plot focuses on the sinister plan of the vampire world to take of the control over the Untied States and, therefore, Lincoln decides to liberate Americans from the vampire’s dominance and eliminate their influence.
Beyond the complex relationships between the world of humans and underground world of vampires, the movie still leaves the historical background of early nineteenth century. Depiction of slavery, poor living and working conditions, and negligence of human rights have been presented throughout the film as an important social and historical foundation.
There are a great number of historic events that touch on the modern understanding of American history. Through a complex narrative of the picture, as well as sophisticated elements of the plot, it is possible to discover the moral development of young hero who gradually discovers that a supernatural creature kills his mother.
As soon as he learns the truth, he starts his fight against vampire residing in the Southern part of the country and proliferating slavery and inequality among the population. According to Hogan “Slavery provides the creatures with an ample supply of blood from a captive population with no means of resistance” (Hogan 67).
The political leaders of the Southern par are frightened by the emerged threat and, some of them cede their political power for the vampire lobby. The hero realizes that his duty is to cease the political invasion and eradicate their influence on the civil population.
In the movie, the director depicts vampires as being responsible for many abhorrent and disturbing episodes from American history, including disappearance of Roanoke settlers, confrontation between Europeans and Native Americans, as well as massive outbreaks of such pandemics as typhoid fever and cholera. All these crimes against humanity are represented as signs of vampire’s activity.
Thus, the movie represents political and social constraints as the result of vampire’s dominance over humanity. In short, the movie generalizes on the confrontation between the good and the evil. The presence of supernatural creatures in political powers, introducing Confederate ranks leads to massive destructions and countless attacks at Union.
The president Lincoln acknowledges that the Rebel army composed of fearless and bloodthirsty vampires is invincible (Abraham Lincoln: The Vampire Hunter). Vampire contempt for human life makes Lincoln think over new strategies that would exterminate these species.
The president signs the Emancipation Proclamation as an act of military necessity to weaken vampire’s powers by taking Southern slaves away. Despite the fact that the tactics leads to the defeat of the Confederacy controlled by Vampires, Lincoln is not afraid of sacrificing his life for saving the others.
The movie is set at the beginning of the nineteenth century, but Lincoln reminds use of a contemporary hero fighting for the good. He struggle against the supernatural forces that pose threats to the Nation and his suppresses vampires by rescuing slaves. Such a plot is quite unusual, but certain aspects of the movie are congruent with the modern patterns of display the fight between real and surreal world (Brown 194).
The message of the movie is confined to the conspiring forces that pose threat to humanity; yet, these forces are always overcome by human intelligence and persistence.
There is close resemblance between the movie Lincoln and that described in autobiographical writings. Both figures strived to liberate humanity from inequality, slavery, and injustice and introduce a free society with equal opportunities for all people irrespective of race and ethnicity.
Therefore, the political activities and Lincoln radical reforms against slavery are closely intertwined with his attempt to eradicate vampires and free state. On the other hand, the movie does not expose anything historically important in regards to slavery or the Civil war.
In this respect, Ebert notes, “what [movie] achieves is a surprisingly good job of doing justice to its title, and treating Lincoln with as much gravity as we can expect, under the circumstances” (2).
Therefore, the criticism focuses on significant deviation from portrayal of the genuine Lincoln (Grahame-Smith 17). In fact, an alternative performance has right to existence because history itself could be presented as a subjective retelling of various historians.
Unconventional drama combines vampire fiction and historical background and depicts segregation imagery through the scenes of racial discrimination. African Americans are represented as a source of power and energy for vampires who strive to conquer the American nation.
In this respect, the historic account on the fate of black immigrants is allegorically conveyed through the fight between Lincoln and the evil creatures. Nevertheless, the hero discovers the weapon against these creatures and liberates enslaved people by exterminating all the vampires. The undead Confederate is also metaphorically reflected through the vampire dominance.
Indeed, the film imagery allows the viewers to see another Lincoln, a fearless fighter against the supernatural. Most of his character traits could be associated with the historical portrait of Lincoln in terms of his persistence, power of speech, and rigid fight for freedom and liberation.
The description of Lincoln of Anti-Slaver Fighter stands at the core of the movie, which contributes to the good vs. evil scenario. Slavery as a phenomenon is of evil nature as well because it contradicts of the original truth of the human being free from their birth. Morality of the film is also transparent because there are no transitional characters, except for the vampire Henry Sturgess who helps Lincoln to become an experienced hunter.
In the pursuit of eternal power, vampire strives to conquer African Americans and suppress them, being a powerful source of control over the Union. Certainly, the plot does not relate explicitly to the Confederate opposition, but the hero focuses on this political force as the root of the evil.
In conclusion, the movie represents a sophisticated interaction of conflicts, fights, and encounters in the fights for freedom and justice. The main hero, Abraham Lincoln is considered a fearless and experienced hunter who strives to exterminate all the vampires, the source of the evil. At this point, vampires personify the Southern political parties who expected to enslave the African Americans, an unlimited source of labor force.
They do not consider it important to adhere to the principle of freedom and equality for all humans. Therefore, although the movie does not premise on historical events, it still renders a metaphorical description of vampires as a politically corrupted force. Finally, representing the 16th president of the United States as a modern hero can attract viewers and those who are fond of American history.
Works Cited
Abraham Lincoln: The Vampire Hunter. Ex. Prod. Timur Beckmambetov. USA: Caleb Deschanel. 2012. DVD.
Brown, Thomas. Remixing the Civil War: Meditations on Sesquicentennial. US: JHU Press, 2010. Print.
Ebert, Roger. Roger Ebert’s Movie Yearbook 2013: 25th Anniversary Edition. US: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2012. Print.
Grahame-Smith, Seth. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. US: Grand Central Publishing. 2012. Print.
Hogan, Jackie. Lincoln Inc.: Selling the Sixteenth President in Contemporary America. US: Rowman & Littlefield, 2011. Print.
In the film, Lincoln, the final four months of President Abraham Lincoln’s life are depicted, along with the end of the Civil War and the abolishment of slavery. The story, which follows Lincoln’s scheme to outlaw slavery by passing the 13th Amendment, starts in January 1865 (YouTube Movies, 2013). Notwithstanding his genuine humility and unwavering devotion to his cause, President Lincoln possessed several qualities that made him a competent and efficient leader for his followers. Although many individuals were not enthralled by his political vocation, he transformed that into a point of agreement (Vishakh T.V., 2015). Therefore, this review illustrates how the character establishes themselves as the leader and the theories, techniques, or components of leadership communication they utilize. It also examines how characters benefit from and establish themselves as leaders through communication theories, skills, and components.
How Lincoln’s Character Demonstrates Him as a Leader
Steven Spielberg was the director of the 2012 film Lincoln. Lincoln has been the subject of numerous books and movies. His character, life, and presidency are enduring references to leadership, discernment, and tenacity, and Spielberg’s film vividly evokes all of it (YouTube Movies, 2013). He cares deeply about his family and struggles to showcase the challenges of slavery and black constitutional protections to American citizens in a manner that avoids unwarranted controversy. President Lincoln had excellent communication skills, as evidenced by the film Lincoln. Delivering the message clearly and paying attention to what others say are essential components of an effective communicator. Lincoln frequently uses anecdotes to illustrate his points while conversing with others. He was speaking to the soldiers in the opening scene of the film. He attempted to converse with them while hearing what they had to say. Although he had experienced numerous setbacks, he was emotionally stable and prepared to lead the nation. For instance, consider a scene from the film where President Lincoln and his son Robert argue about how he could not permit the son to enlist in the army during the Civil War despite being a father and a husband. Lincoln claims that the same speech has been said before “… I don’t need your damn permission, you miserable old goat, I’m gonna enlist anyhow… (Pennyworth, 2018)” However, after realizing this, he permitted his son to enlist. Because he had a long-term perspective, President Lincoln was a successful leader. According to the Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon (2012), clip, it is clear from the movie when he claims that the 13th Amendment is for many more millions of citizens who have not yet been born, in addition to the millions who are alive today.
He was passionate in that he had faith in both himself and those around him. Although the 13th Amendment had previously been rejected, he had faith in his abilities and turned the suggested idea into an Amendment. He was also a good leader because he was people-oriented (Pennyworth, 2018). He had excellent communication skills and was highly focused on relationships in addition to tasks and schedules (YouTube Movies, 2013). For example, when asked what he would think about Elizabeth and her people if a bill for the 13th Amendment passed the house of representatives, he was told straight out that he had no idea who she was but would get used to it.
Lincoln’s Leadership Communication Theories, Skills, and Components
Generally, a leader will invoke human ideals and convictions when speaking to the public to appeal to the nobility of the people (YouTube Movies, 2013). The movie shows how Lincoln was conscious of social issues at all times. He was persuasive and could exert influence through cooperative behavior and careful consideration. He was also a people person, which boosted his capacity for effective leadership. He focused on interactions, responsibilities, and deadlines and had excellent communication skills. If a bill for the 13th Amendment passed the House of Representatives, he was asked what he would think of Elizabeth and her citizens. He was told flatly that he did not know who she was but would get used to it.
How Lincoln’s Communication Made Him a Leader
President Lincoln was a skilled communicator, so he used humor and stories to persuade people to support or oppose his political views in the film Lincoln. He uses anecdotes and humor that may be related to the discussions or disagreements at the table right now (Vishakh T.V., 2015). Instead of being direct, he used subtle humor and storytelling to help the audience comprehend his position. Lincoln’s communication ideas and techniques have many effects from a leadership perspective, such as helping to establish trust. It makes sense that people struggle with trust in their natural state (YouTube Movies, 2013). However, it is crucial to establish trust between two factions through storytelling that both the speaker and audience can relate to.
Conclusion
Leadership is a crucial feature of our time, and over the past few decades, people’s desire for competent leadership has grown significantly. Several films and books provide illustrations of successful leadership. Lincoln was a good illustration of a leadership style that greatly benefited American society. The qualities of a true leader, like intelligence, tenacity, self-assurance, integrity, and social connection, were all present in the movie “Lincoln.” The Thirteenth Amendment was accepted because of Lincoln’s political will, impetus, and intensity. And hence, the historical icon Abraham Lincoln’s exceptional leadership, communication, and character traits were successfully conveyed in the film Lincoln.