Category: Abraham Lincoln

Introduction:

Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address, delivered on March 4, 1861, during a tumultuous period in American history, is a masterful example of persuasive rhetoric. With the nation on the brink of civil war, Lincoln’s speech aimed to unify the country and provide a vision for the future. This essay will conduct a rhetorical analysis of Lincoln’s inaugural address, examining the persuasive techniques he employed to address the challenges facing the nation and inspire hope and unity.

Body:

Appeals to Ethos:

Lincoln establishes his credibility and ethical appeal through his position as the newly elected president. He emphasizes the legitimacy of his authority by referencing the Constitution and the oath he has taken to uphold it. By presenting himself as a faithful steward of the nation’s founding principles, Lincoln seeks to establish trust and credibility with his audience.

Appeals to Pathos:

Recognizing the emotional climate of the time, Lincoln appeals to the emotions of his audience to create a sense of shared purpose and national unity. He uses inclusive language, repeatedly referring to “we” and “our” to emphasize the collective responsibility and common destiny of the American people. Through his words, Lincoln appeals to their sense of patriotism, shared history, and the emotional weight of preserving the Union.

Appeals to Logos:

In his inaugural address, Lincoln employs logical arguments to persuade his audience. He addresses the concerns of those in the South who feared that his election would threaten their way of life. Lincoln reassures them that he has no intention of interfering with slavery in the states where it already exists, emphasizing his commitment to preserving the Union and maintaining the status quo. By presenting a rational and measured approach, Lincoln appeals to the sense of reason and logic of his audience.

Parallelism and Repetition:

Lincoln skillfully utilizes rhetorical devices such as parallelism and repetition to reinforce key ideas and create a rhythmic flow in his speech. For instance, he employs the phrase “both parties deprecated war” to highlight the common desire for peace and to underline his commitment to peaceful resolution. This rhetorical technique enhances the memorable and impactful nature of his address.

Call to Action:

Throughout his inaugural address, Lincoln delivers a compelling call to action, urging his audience to embrace reason and avoid violence. He appeals to their better judgment and encourages them to seek peaceful solutions to the challenges facing the nation. By reminding them of their shared history and the ideals upon which the country was founded, Lincoln inspires a sense of duty and unity.

Conclusion:

Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address is a testament to his skill as an orator and his ability to use rhetoric to address a divided nation. Through appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos, he establishes his credibility, evokes emotional resonance, and presents logical arguments. By employing rhetorical devices such as parallelism and repetition, he enhances the persuasive impact of his address. Ultimately, Lincoln’s inaugural address serves as a call to action, urging Americans to unite and seek peaceful resolutions to the challenges facing the nation. It is through the effective use of rhetorical techniques that Lincoln’s address remains a powerful and enduring piece of American political discourse.

Introduction:

In ‘The Man behind the Myths: The Spiritual Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln,’ author Stephen B. Oates provides readers with a comprehensive examination of the life and character of one of America’s most revered figures, Abraham Lincoln. Oates delves beyond the popularized image of Lincoln and presents a nuanced and multi-dimensional portrait of the man behind the myths. In this summary essay, we will explore the key themes and insights discussed by Oates, shedding light on Lincoln’s personal struggles, political journey, and his enduring impact on American history.

Body:

Lincoln’s Early Life and Ambition:

Oates delves into Lincoln’s humble origins and his relentless ambition to rise above his circumstances. Born into poverty in Kentucky, Lincoln faced numerous hardships and setbacks in his early life. However, his thirst for knowledge and his innate drive propelled him towards pursuing a career in law and eventually entering the political arena.

Lincoln’s Moral Compass:

Oates explores the moral foundation that guided Lincoln’s actions throughout his life. He emphasizes Lincoln’s unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and the preservation of the Union. From his early opposition to slavery to his unwavering determination during the Civil War, Lincoln’s moral compass played a pivotal role in shaping his policies and decisions.

The Complexities of Lincoln’s Leadership:

Oates delves into the complexities of Lincoln’s leadership style, highlighting his ability to balance pragmatism with idealism. Lincoln possessed a keen understanding of the political landscape and demonstrated remarkable skill in navigating the challenges of his time. Despite criticism and opposition, he remained steadfast in his pursuit of emancipation and the preservation of the Union.

Lincoln’s Personal Struggles:

Oates reveals the personal struggles that Lincoln faced throughout his life, including bouts of depression and the weight of the immense responsibilities he carried as President during a tumultuous period in American history. Oates argues that Lincoln’s personal experiences and struggles contributed to his empathetic nature and his ability to connect with the American people.

Lincoln’s Enduring Legacy:

The author highlights the enduring legacy of Abraham Lincoln and his impact on American history. From the Emancipation Proclamation to his powerful speeches such as the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln’s words and actions continue to inspire generations. Oates contends that Lincoln’s legacy goes beyond his political achievements, encompassing his embodiment of the American spirit and his unwavering commitment to the principles of freedom and equality.

Conclusion:

In ‘The Man behind the Myths: The Spiritual Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln,’ Stephen B. Oates offers readers an insightful and comprehensive portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, delving into the complexities of his character and the enduring impact of his leadership. Through a careful examination of Lincoln’s personal struggles, political journey, and his unwavering commitment to justice, Oates presents a nuanced and multidimensional perspective of one of America’s most revered presidents. By uncovering the man behind the myths, Oates invites readers to appreciate the depth of Lincoln’s character, his moral compass, and his profound legacy that continues to shape the nation to this day.

The book The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln is a series of books called “ The Library of Political Assassinations.” This book was written by Deborah A. Marinelli. The book discusses many aspects of the lives of Lincoln and his wife. It also discusses the main concepts of his presidency. Finally, the book talks about details of the civil war. Throughout this book, the reader learns a sufficient amount of information about Lincoln, his death, and the details of the Civil War.

Many people know Lincoln as one of the greatest presidents, but what they don’t know is that he was going through a great amount of stress. Lincoln’s wife’s name was Mary Todd. They had 4 children together, Robert, William, Tad and Edward. In the first term of Lincoln’s presidency Willie died from typhoid fever and Eddie died from thyroid cancer. Mary and Abe were greatly strained from this setback. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln had much in common. They both had lost their mother at a young age, suffered from depression, and had an intense interest in politics. In the text it states “Mary’s actions were unpredictable and were sometimes criticized as peculiar (11).” She did things such as holding seances in the White House in attempt to connect with her dead sons. Many people never really trusted Mary because her family lived in the south, during the Civil War, as she lived in the north.

Lincoln was a very smart and talented man. He was self taught and he had become a successful lawyer with only one year of formal education. Though Lincoln considered this a disadvantage, his love for studying and reading and his deep thought made up for the missed opportunity to attend normal classes. Lincoln shaped his ideas by some of the greatest writers such as Shakespeare and Socrates. Even though Lincoln had a great sense of humor, he suffered from depression throughout his life. He especially got these black moods when, as president, he received news of young soldiers who had died. The text states “Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States, is remembered as a martyr and hero who freed the slaves and ended the American Civil War (5).” Many men and women had idealized Lincoln. Lincoln spoke plainly and honestly, yet he didn’t have the social polish like the other men who served in the white house. Officials often felt superior to Lincoln because of this.

The Civil War was caused by the secession of the South. It began on April 12, 1861 when the Confederates fired at Fort Sumter. This set brother against brother and cousin against cousin. The Northern states were mostly industrial, and the Southern states were mostly agricultural. The Lincoln family suffered greatly throughout the war because Mary’s brothers were fighting for the Confederacy while Lincoln was the commander in chief for the Union forces. This put Lincoln in the position of having to support military campaigns and strategies that could potentially kill Mary’s family. On January first, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Stated in the text “…the American Civil War is primarily remembered as when President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 (7).” The Proclamation made all slaves, in the states of rebellion, free. It had freed more than 3 million slaves. After taking the lives of 600,000 men, the Confederates finally surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia on April 9, 1865.

Lincoln had just started his second term in the office on April 14, 1865. He was extremely exhausted and his personal life offered very little comfort. On Good Friday Mary’s mood was lighter than it had been in a long time. Abraham was unusually cheerfully as well.

On April 14,1865, the Lincolns and Major Henry Rathbone and his fiancée, we’re attending Ford’s Theatre to watch the stage Our American Cousin. The attendees had arrived a little late and we’re escorted to the president’s box, which is used to honor the theater’s important guests. Stated in the text “ An American President had never been assassinated before…there was no reason for him to fear foul play (13).” Lincoln’s bodyguard, thinking they were safely in the box, wondered downstairs to get a better view of the actors. During the third act, which had the play’s funniest lines, the audience’s attention was hooked on the stage. In this time, John Wilkes Booth approached the unguarded box and shot Lincoln in the head.

Before Boothe had come to the theater, he had a drink at a nearby tavern. His heart was surely racing as he quietly cracked open the door to the president’s box. Boothe had previously planned every move. When he got inside, he bolted the door shut. Then proceeded to aim at the president’s head and shoot. A wave of laughter had hidden the sound of the gun as Major Rathbone had understood what just happened and lunged toward the assassin. In the text it states “Boothe had slavishly slashed Rathbone’s arm. He dramatically leaped from the box waving his knife and shouting “Sic semper tyrannis (15).” Which is Latin for “thus always with tyrants.” Some members of the cast and audience also testified they heard him shout “Freedom! The South shall be free!” He had managed to escape from Ford’s Theatre, but the force of the twelve-foot drop had broken his right leg. The audience had become a mob scene once they had realized the president was shot. Everyone was hurrying to get to the exit.

When the first doctor reached the president, Dr. Charles A. Leale began to perform CPR to try and keep Abe alive. The doctor remembered she put two fingers of his right hand to press down the president’s tongue, others positioned his long arms to help his chest expand. The actress, Laura Keene, made her way to the balcony and gently held Lincoln’s head. “Dr. Leale announced to the others, “His wound is mortal. It is impossible for him to recover (17).” The president’s heartbeat had revived, but her and two other doctors (Charles Taft and Albert King), realized there was no chance that Lincoln would live. They’re family doctor had agreed that there nothing they could do except keep him comfortable. The sixteenth president of the United States had passed away the next morning on April 15 at 7:22 AM.

Throughout this book the readers are taught the important aspects in the life of Lincoln. It taught the readers about Lincoln’s personal life. It also teaches them about the assassination of president Lincoln and all the details leading up to it. Lastly, it talks about the Civil War and the timeline within it. This nonfiction book was very informative and interested me greatly, which is hard for its genre. It explained everything efficiently and gave many points and facts. I paid attention and learned something I wouldn’t of in class.

This is a book review of the book “Abraham Lincoln The Image of His Greatness” which is authored by Fred Reed forward by Dr. Thomas R. Turner. Abraham Lincoln was our sixteenth President of the United States. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, near Hodgenville in Hardin County, Kentucky. Thomas and Nancy (Hanks) Lincoln were the parents of Abraham Lincoln. Both of his parents were born in Virginia of undistinguished families. His mother died when he was ten on October 5, 1818. His father on Dec. 5, 1819. remarried Sarah Bush Johnston who was a widow herself with three children.

Abraham Lincoln’s paternal grandfather, also named Abraham, emigrated from Rockingham County, Virginia to Kentucky around 1781. He was killed a year or two later by Indians; where he was laboring to start a farm in the forest. Abraham Lincoln’s father, Thomas, was only six years old when his father was killed. Later on, in life, his father moved from Kentucky to what is now Spencer County, Indiana in December 1816, when Abraham was eight years old. Abraham Lincoln had a sister named Sarah who died in childbirth at the age of twenty when he was nineteen, and a younger brother named Thomas, who died in infancy.

Even though Abraham Lincoln was born and lived on the frontier he lived a remarkable life. Young Abe and Sarah briefly attended schools in Kentucky, but he was self-educated. He liked to lay under a shade tree to read and study when he was younger. Even though he did not have much schooling he taught himself how to read, write, and cipher to the Rule of Three. He did farm work till he was twenty-two. As a rail-splitter, he helped his father clear land and put up a fence on his father’s new farm. Abraham was not really into farming, so he moved to New Salem, Illinois. There he worked as a storekeeper and a surveyor. He, also, worked at the post office and was elected postmaster on May 7, 1833.He was elected Captain when he volunteered for the Black Hawk War. He said, “A success which gave me more pleasure than any I have had since”. He lived in New Salem for six years.

He joined the campaign trail and ran for Legislature in 1832. He was beaten by the people, but this was the only time. The following year and the next three after that he was elected to the Legislature. During this time he studied law and moved to and practiced in Springfield, Illinois. He continued to study law from 1849 to 1854 becoming a well-experienced lawyer and statesman. In 1846 he was elected to the Lower House of Congress but was not a candidate for re-election.

Abraham Lincoln was a very tall man. His height was six feet four inches and he weighed one-hundred and eighty pounds. He had a dark complexion, with coarse black hair, and very grey eyes. Once when he was a store clerk there was a wrestling match between Lincoln and the town bully, Jack Armstrong. Lincoln was enraged when he heard of the foul tactics just lifted Jack Armstrong by the throat and shook him like a rag. This earned him the respect and admiration of everyone, even the town bully.

He had a love affair with Ann Rutledge several years before he was married. She died on August 25, 1835. This was one of the saddest times in his life. Then, he was engaged to Mary Owens, a year after Ann Rutledge’s death. She felt that he wouldn’t be able to make her happy and refused his proposal. Then, he met Mary Todd. She was from an influential family from Kentucky. She was born on Dec 13, 1818. They were married on Nov. 4, 1842. He was not in love with her but saw that his marriage to her would help his political fortunes. They had four sons. Their names were Robert Todd, Edward Baker, Willie and Thomas “Tad”.

So, as his political career took off he was described as “a prince of good fellows and an old-line Whig”. He owed a great deal to the tradition of Henry Clay. Lincoln favored the interests of the central government, promoted centralized banking, and favored economic control and development.

From August 21 till October 15, 1858, Lincoln had political debates with Stephen Douglas for the senatorial seat. They faced-off against each other seven times about their views on the issues and slavery. The Republicans were ahead of the Democrats in the popular vote. Senators were chosen by the legislature not by popular vote.

On February 27, 1860, after posing for a portrait he gave a speech to his party. The speech was so good that he was seen as a man to be reckoned with. In that speech he said, “Let us have faith the RIGHT makes MIGHT, and in that faith let us, to the end, dare to do our duty, as we understand it.” His speech was about Stephen Douglas’s doctrine of popular sovereignty allowing the spread of slavery. Lincoln was against slavery after once seeing the horrors of human slavery.

On May 18, 1860, he was told that he had been chosen as the Republican presidential candidate. As legend has it, he may have been playing townball at that time and told the delegation chairman, “Tell the gentlemen they will have to wait a few minutes until I get my turn at bat.” Then, the next day he was formally notified of his nomination at his home. His running mate from Maine was Hannibal Hamlin. He was introduced to people as the frontier candidate, Honest Abe Lincoln, of Illinois, for President.

Abraham Lincoln was elected sixteenth President of the United States on November 6, 1860. His inauguration was held on the east portico of the U.S. Capital building, which the U.S. Capital dome was incomplete at the time. A year later on March 6, 1862, Lincoln urged Congress for a resolution to compensate all States for the abolition of slavery to ensure public safety and as a war measure. Both houses passed the resolution and President Abraham Lincoln signed it. He had to draft an executive order to free the slaves in rebellious districts when the states failed to act.

On July 22, 1862, President Lincoln read a draft of the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet members at the White House. It stated that all people held as slaves in rebellious states as of January 1 “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” He rewrote the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, after the Northern victory at Antietam during the Civil War. It was an ultimatum for rebels to throw down their arms.

Then, in November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln gave his finest speech yet. He was at the dedication of the Soldier’s National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The speech consisted of two-hundred and seventy-one words and lasted for only two minutes on the podium. His speech became known as the Gettysburg Address.

President Lincoln was nominated to run a second term on June 7, 1864. Andrew Johnson was chosen to be his running mate. In August he told his cabinet members that he did not look to be reelected President of the United States on November 8, 1864. He had fifty-five percent of the popular vote and ninety percent of the electoral vote. His second term began the following March.

On the evening of Good Friday, April 14, 1865, Abraham Lincoln, his wife, and his guest went to the Ford Theatre. They were watching our American Cousin from the balcony. John Wilkes Booth appeared off to the side of Lincoln, and assassinated him, shooting him in the head. President Abraham Lincoln died at 7:22 a.m. the next day at a boarding house across from the Ford Theatre.

Did you know that in 1953 Lincoln, Illinois “ the only city in the United States named for Abraham Lincoln before he became famous” celebrated its centennial with a series of wooden nickels? Also, Lincoln was the first president to appear on Federal paper money issued in this country.

In conclusion, I found the book very interesting. It is a must read if you want to learn a lot about our sixteenth President. The book tells about his childhood into his adult life. He went from being a rail splitter, to Honest Abe and our President of the United States.

Early Life and Struggles

Abraham Lincoln the greatest and most popular president of America. One of the most respected presidents of world history. A true statesman politician, a great leader, The abolisher of the slavery trade. Abraham Lincoln the savior of America during the devastating civil war and 16th percent of America. After 200years later if we talk about American President’s first name came to our mind is Mr. Abraham Lincoln.

Born: Abraham Lincoln born 12 February 1809 in a small wooden house of Hodgenville at Kentaki state in America. He starts life in a very poor farmer family. His father’s name is Thomas Lincoln. His mother’s name is Nancy Hanks Lincoln who was a housewife. His parents are from England.

Abraham Lincoln was the second child of his parents. he has an elder sister name Sarah Lincoln, who is two years older than him and a little brother too who died in her childhood. His family was so poor that his father can’t afford to send him school.

Journey Towards Education and Independence

Abraham Lincoln Childhood: His family leaves Hodgenville for land disputes and went to13th kilometer north side. Their family came to North Creek Farm in 1811. They start farming there. Sometime later they face land disputes again. Abraham Lincoln’s family leave North Creek Farm went to Indiana, start farming again but this time they start farming inside a deep forest.

At the age of six, Abraham Lincoln start his schooling. He asks others for there used books to study them. For living Abraham Lincoln start laboring work from his early childhood. So he forced to leave the study. But when he gets the time he keeps studying. His life was full of struggle and tragedy first sad news came to his life on 5th October 1818 at the age of nine he lost his mother Nancy Lincoln.

After the death of his mother, Sara took over the responsibility of the house.

Abraham Lincoln On His Young Age: After seeing the condition of the house for one year his father decide o marry again. On 2nd December 1819, his father married for the second time. His stepmother’s name was Sarah Sally Bush Johnston a widow, who has three children from her first husband. she is from Elizabethtown Kentucky. Abraham Lincoln refused to accept her as a mother, sometime later he gets close to her. His stepmom loves him so much that he did not feel again that he has no mother. His mother helps him in his study.

Lincoln’s father behaves so rudely with him and didn’t want Abraham to continue his studies. Abraham Lincoln made wooden boats to drive his costs and also, work on the farm.

Sometime later he got a job in a shop, where he also got some time to study. At the time of 20th January 1828, his sister died during the birth of her child at 21years age.

Abraham Lincoln Became Independent: Abraham Lincon’s was six feet four-inch-tall. His thinking was that if he wants to do something he needs to left her house and live alone. He left his house and shifted to New Shalam and stray there for six-year. He is master at ax maneuvering and throwing. He has cut marks on her face it happened when he was fighting with a criminal. New Slam life was not as easy some hooligan start disturb him. One day he was invited for a wrestling match to stop all of this he accepted the challenge of hooligan leader. Although Abraham Lincoln lost the wrestling match the fright was legendary. Hooligan is become so impressed to see the determination of Lincoln. His face was so popular there as an honest man. They wrote a poem over him.

Abraham Lincoln and his study of law: When he does his job in a shop where he starts his study of Law. During study one day he has known that a retired Judge lives opposite side of the riverbank. He decided to meet and request him for studying his collection. On a winter day, he went out to meet the Judge with his boart. In the meed river, his boat comes into a collision with a flowing ice chase. Abraham Lincoln’s boat gets sunk he started swimming in the river. After showing his strong desire Judge agree to share his collection for studies with one condition that he will do all the work of his until the servant come back from his leave. He agrees to do the work. His remuneration for his work was only to study the law book collection.

Abraham Lincoln Carrier as a Post Master: sometime later Lincoln get a job in a post office as a postmaster in a village. People from the village start knowing him they start respecting him.

Political Aspirations and Early Career

Abraham Lincoln Early Political Carrier: Showing the problem of the local people in 1834, he decided to leave his job of postmaster to take entry in politics, join the Whig party. Abraham Lincoln has feelings for the slave and wants to abolish the slave trade, with this moto he takes part in the election and starts his election campaign for Legis Lative Member (MLA). Everything was going against Abraham Lincoln at that time he lost his election in so bad way. Linkon facing a financial crisis because he resigned from his job for election.

At the age of 24 Abraham Lincoln, the greatest president of American history very deeply fall in love with the shop owner girl named Rutledge. She was died because of typhoid disease. He gets so depressed He goes to Rutledge grave sit and cry for days. His friends took away all knife, blade, and scissors from him, they think Linkoln may be committed suicide in depreciation but he replied: ‘ I don’s creat history yet, I am not going to die’. His friend Boling Green busts his moral and help him to participate in the election. This time he wins the MLA election and his name into those youngest MLA.

He gets the attraction of the young man. He became a good lecturer in the assembly. Other members of the assembly carefully listen to his lecture. He said in the assembly Springfield became the capital of the state Govt. accept as a dam the proposal. During this time he completes his Law study, get a license and became a lawyer.

Abraham lincoln carrier as a lawyer: He meets a famous lawyer named Stuard and starts working together. After working for some time Stuard leaves the work. He became unsuccessful here too because he doesn’t charge a single penny from the poor. All of his life he didn’t fright for any criminal. Although he is unsuccessful as a lawyer he works as a lawyer for twenty years. After doing this work he fills mental peace.

Some important story of Abraham Lincoln was one day Lincoln and his assistant fraught a case in court for a mental patient. He wins the case in just 15 minutes. His assistant takes full Freese from the patient brother and the are happy with the decision. Lincoln said I am not happy. you take Freese from a patient to take the money I would lick to die in hunger. If you want you can take your’s but give back them mine.

Triumphs and Tribulations in Personal Life

Abraham Lincon Married life: Abraham Lincon meets Mary Toddin’s at a party. She belongs to a rich family. Their relation breaks three times before marriage. Finally, he got married on 4th November 1842 with Mary Todd. He became the father of a boy child in 1843. He became the father of more three boys. Mary gave birth to three more boy children. We all know that Abraham Lincoln life was full of tragedy out of his four children three of his child was dead in childhood. Only Robert Lincoln who born in 1843 survived.

Abraham Lincon and Mery Todd are mentally different from each other. They quarl with each other most of the time. In the American civil war, his own family members and relatives are fighting in the army. Abraham Lincoln told his only alive son to fright in the army. After all of this if you think Mary Todd was a bad wife then you are wrong. She was an ideal woman and wife. She respects the decision of Mr. Lincoln and stands with him at the last of her life. She also provides support to him in his bad times.

Abraham Lincoln’s Political Carrier: He was chosen as a member of the lower house (the house of representative) for single terms. During his political campaign Stifen E. Drugless, his party leader who always forces Lincoln to speak with the crowd was with him, someone creating the problem in the crowd he got angry Abraham Lincoln went there put him up by his nack and throw him on the floor. the crowd goes silent.

As the house of Representatives, he openly said the slave trade should be abolished. America said New Texas was our territory, Mexico said it’s our territory and the Mexican war was broke out. America won the war. Abraham Lincoln said in the lower house it was wrong what America does.

In the year 1854 Republican party was established Abraham Lincoln join the Republican party. He contests for the Senate and vice-president candidate. He loses his both election in 1956 and 1858.

Missouri Compromise: One parallel line 36 degree 30 minute it divided America in two-part. Upperside of the line ware Noth States, the slave trade was illegal here. The lower side of the line ware South States, the slave state the slave trade was legal here. Except for Missouri, it belongs to the north but the slave trade was legal here. The slave trade adopts here in 1820 by President James Munro. This is called the Missouri Compromise.

California Compromise: animal’s life ware far better than slave life, their owner beating them badly some time kill them. Slave ware runaway from South State to Noth State to free them from slavery. To stop this California Compromised was happened. California’s compromise came in present in 1850. There were five provisions they are:

1. California became a free state slave trade will be banned there.
2. Some parts of Texas belong to South State and the remaining part belongs to Mexico.
3. The severity of the state was decided by white people.
4. Slave Trading was banned in Washington DC.
5. The fifth amendment was the dangerous Fugitive Law.

Fugitive Law: Because of torture of there owner slave start runaway from South State to North State and Fugitive Law said to catch the slave beating mercilessly that they don’t even think to run away to North state. This was California Compromised.

Provision three and provision five are the reason for the raising of Abraham Lincoln.

Presidential Journey and the Fight Against Slavery

Abraham Lincon As A President: 1854 Republican Party has established Abraham Lincoln to join the Republican party and start the campaign against the slave trade. Republican Party promotes Abraham Lincoln as there Presidential candidate. Southern states members understand that if Lincoln will win he definitely abolish slavery trade they start planing to defeat him. They start organizing a series of debates between Steven A Douglas candidate of Democrats and Abraham Lincoln Republican candidate. They organized seven debates between them. Abraham Lincon defeats Steven A Douglas and became President of America with 39.6 % votes on 6th November 1860. He was the 16th President of America.

Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil war: No one wants to abolish slavery accept Republican so opposition goes with there plan what they decided before election. As Lincoln win seven southern states leave the American Union and made CSA (Confederate State of America)Jefarson David was there leader. Later in 1861, four more states join CSA. Cotto goes to Britain so CSA requests help from Britisher. Britain decided to stand neutral. Abraham Lincoln take control of the navy, he used his union power imposed tariffs of those ships which ware coming from Britain. CSA refused to accept tariffs. CSA attack Fort Sumter in South Carolina on12 April 1861 and capture it. North send his army and the devastating Civil War began. After that, there was a series of the battle between the USA and CSA. Fort Henry battle 1862 USA win, Battle of Hampton 1862 was drawn. Abraham Lincoln give his emancipation proclamation in1863 he announces we will abolish the slave trade southern states refuse the proposal and some of his party members also conflict his decision, later they understand what he wants to do. Batel of Galesburg was fraught o July 1863 USA win the battel and Mr. President gives the historical Galesburg speech 2:30minute.

Abrahan Lincoln abolish Habish Corpasl. General Ulisses S Grant was so dangerous General when the enemy saw him they ran away from the battlefield because he was merciless and killed enemy without reason. He also became President of America. He starts his final campaign Atlanta to Savana around 300 miles he kills all of those who came in front of his army. He kills lakhs of people in this campaign. CSA General Lee and his force surrendered and the devastating civil war came to an end with the death of seven lacks people on 9th April 1865.

Abraham Lincoln introduced a constipation law if needed one of your family members joined the army for the fight.

The 13th amendment Act was introduced and the slave trade became illegal in the USA.

A great movie in 2012 by Steven Milburg ‘Lincoln’ is about the 13th amendment you can it. You will understand what problem Lincoln faces to pass the 13th amendment.

The 14th amendment in 1868 slave gets their citizenship. But they had not gated there voting rights The 15th amendment gave them voting rights.

Legacy and Assassination

Abraham Lincoln Dead: 9th April 1865 American Civil war came to an end. Many white Americans can’t accept the abolishing of the slave trade. One of them was the famous actor John Wilkes Booth. On 14th April 1865, Mr. Precident and his wife came to the Ford Theater to see a play. Here John Wilkes fired a shot in his back head. The next day 15th April 1865, the greatest president of Americal history was dead.

Legacy of Abraham Lincoln: The legacy of Abraham Lincoln is so great some of them are

1. Every politician in America wants to be like Abraham Lincoln.

2. An airport is also in his name Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport.

3. A university also in her name the University of Lincoln.

4. A museum was also in her name Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

5. His Hodgenville wooden cabin is now a historical and tourist place in America.

6. Abraham Lincoln’s historical Galesburg speech Of the people, by the people, for the people is the motto of the People Republic of India’s Institution (The Biggest Democracy in the earth).

To most of us, Abraham Lincoln was one of the greatest presidents of US history. However, at the time he served, he was also one of the most controversial men to ever hold the office. Lincoln was a popular Republican who worked to eliminate slavery and keep the Union together during the Civil War. These efforts made many southerners angry and eventually led to his assassination on April 14, 1865. On this night, Lincoln was in Washington D.C watching the play Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre. John Wilkes Booth, a prominent actor, and Confederate sympathizer shot the President during the play. Lincoln’s assassination shook the nation and the world and Lincoln was mourned for many years after.

John Wilkes Booth strongly disliked Lincoln and opposed giving freedom and liberties to Black people in the United States. He saw Lincoln as a tyrant, taking away the South’s rights to secede and create a slavery-based society. Booth was even reported saying that he wished the President and government would go to hell. Booth initially recruited George Atzerodt, Michael O’Laughlen, Lewis Powell, David Harold, Mary Surratt, John Surratt, and Samuel Arnold to help him kidnap and ransom Lincoln for the release of Confederate prisoners of war. Subsequently, he decided to kill the President along with Secretary of State William H. Seward and Vice President Andrew Johnson. The conspiracy failed and the only successful part of the plot was Lincoln’s assassination. Booth’s motive for the assassination is disputed, but the main belief is that the conspirators wanted to revive Confederate efforts to fight and “avenge the South.”

On the night of April 14, 1865; John Wilkes Booth arrived at Ford’s Theatre. He entered the vestibule of the Presidential Box and waited for actor Harry Hawk to deliver the play’s funniest line. As the laughter from Lincoln and the audience erupted, Booth opened the door of the Box and fired a single shot into the back of Lincoln’s head. Lincoln immediately passed out, and Major Henry Rathbone stepped forward to try to stop Booth. Booth wounded Rathbone’s arm with a dagger and jumped onstage, breaking his leg. Brandishing the bloody dagger, he yelled “Sic Semper Tyrannis!” and “The South is avenged!” The audience thought that Booth was part of the play, and many didn’t realize the actuality of the situation. Doctors Charles Leale and Charles Sabin Taft from the audience examined Lincoln and declared that the bullet passed through his brain, fractured both orbital plates and that he would die that night.

Soldiers carried Lincoln’s body into the nearby house of William Petersen and laid him in the first-floor bedroom as they waited for more doctors to arrive. They all agreed that he could not survive, and Lincoln died the following morning. Meanwhile, Booth managed to escape and jump onto a horse outside of the theatre. In his diary, he states that “Our country owed all her troubles to him, and God simply made me the instrument of his punishment.” He also said that he did not care what became of him and did not repent the murder. He fled through Maryland but was shot and killed by the 16th New York Cavalry while hiding in a tobacco farmer’s barn. The remaining conspirators were arrested and tried. Some were hanged or otherwise executed, while others were released and pardoned.

Booth may have succeeded in killing the President, but he failed to achieve his other goals. His conspiracy failed to eliminate the other targets, and he did not aid the south in their cause. The Civil War had ended, the slaves were freed, and he did not destroy Lincoln’s legacy. Today Lincoln is remembered and revered as an American hero, while Booth is remembered as nothing more than a villain.

Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809 to uneducated farming parents, in his young ages he was respected and prosperous inhabitant of Kentucky. His family worshipped in the Baptist church, which opposed slavery practices in the region. However, Lincoln never belonged to the church and he showed no interest in any religion. At her young ages, he had encountered the side effects of slavery practices and poor tenure systems/ policies when his family was forced to move out of Kentucky and inhabit Spencer County.

In 1830 after settling in Indiana, they encountered even more problems related to financial and land ownership as the tenure system was not well defined. This forced them to be settled at the government land as his father could not obtain title deed for their land and they had encountered financial hardships. Many believe that these problems made Lincoln to study law in college so that he could assist his community as well as his family. At one time, he encountered a slave public sale while in New Orleans, though he could have came across the same rather this time it was brutal and seem unfair.

Slavery was prevalent in United States between 1619 to 1865 as slaves were considered as private property and law legally recognized it. Most of the slave issues were dealt with in court where many of these slaves were Africans, people with African origin and few American natives. Slave trade was prevalent in southern settlements than the north areas, as one family out of four owned a slave. By 19th century, the economy growth was influenced by presence of these slaves, as they were never paid despite their hard work in cotton plantations. In 1810 almost I million slaves were sold to Kentucky and Tennessee, but afterwards many were moved to other states where they were highly demanded.

However, starting 1750 there were campaigns to abolish slave trade as it was considered a social evil. These movements were started by northern states, which declared that all people are equal and free. In addition, insisted on special rank for the freed men. However, this faced great resistance from the south states, which highly profited from these practice. This is because many of them had large cotton plantations and they appreciated the free slave labor.

Lincoln became actively involved with politics at the age of 23 in 1823, where he was campaigning in Illinois as state representative bur he lost. Then he started being involved business across the Sangamon River where he owned a steamboat and became familiar with slave trade practices. Similarly, he became well known as a businessperson but later employed as a community postmaster and surveyor. As businessperson, Lincoln came face to face with how the slaves are treated by their masters during an auction. While he was concentrating on a business to improve the navigation of the Sangamon River, he could not understand how a human being could treat another as a property. All through Lincoln was focused towards improving the standard of living of the poor.

In 1834, he became a lawyer with state administration where he had a chance to practice law. Due to his experience in cross-examining his challenger and his argumentative remarks in court, he became successive and famous. This gave him a good view of the oppression and suffering that the slaves undergo, as they have no one to fight for their rights and justice. Despite being taken as properties by their owners. More so, many would listen to his arguments against the slavery as he was perceived as intelligent and learned.

He later served as a representative in the Sangamon County for four consecutive terms and became a leader of Illinois Whig party. It is while a leader of the party he made her first moves to fight slavery in the Illinois house where he argued that slavery was a social evil and ought to be dealt away with. He then started to write unsigned articles in the Sangamon magazine scorning the state auditor who was also a outstanding leader of democrats. When this leader learnt that, Lincoln was behind writing the articles, he invited him to a duel where he requested the longest sword giving him advantage over his opponent. This earned him more respect as many perceived to be well- informed on legal and justice matters, because the auditor felt threatened by his writings.

In family matters, Lincoln was married to Mary Todd, who came from well-known slave-owning family. This also contributed to his knowledge about the slaves. He became aware of the hatred the white had against the blacks and the adverse effects of the slave trade. He later broke up with Mary, but they later reconciled with the Lincoln efforts. His in-laws were southerners where many favored slavery, as they would get big profits from the practice. Most of them were slave traders and depended on it as a source of livelihood hence they resented the abolishment of the slave trade. However, Lincoln got support from the area due to the influence of his in-laws. Similarly, this contributed much to dealing with issues of slavery, as many perceived him to be neutral in terms of slave abolition and saw him as lawyer practicing law and trying to advocate for fairness in legal matters.

While promoting his political career, Lincoln faced great opposition from his opponents and the citizens due to his open comments about slavery, which he tried to link with religion. This forced him to leave politics for sometime. Not until 1854, when responding Kansas-Nebraska act that he re-joined politics. In his speech, he protested against the injustice of slavery and considered it as civil war against the innocent. He opposed the democrats’ proposal of slavery, who advocated that slavery issues should be dealt with depending on the majority rule.

However, Lincoln argued that all people are equal and free. This earned him respect and prosperity in Republican Party and elected as a senator. When giving the speech about slave abolition he quoted a bible verse to enhance a good relationship with Christianity, as his earlier comment had caused him to leave politics due to their resentment against him when he said that God had left his own people referring to slaves.

Due to his consistent arguments to formulate a constitution that recognized all people equal and free, he was nominated as the candidate to run presidency with Republican Party in 1960. In addition, his positive feelings towards the blacks earned much respect and led to prosperity in his political career as many saw him as a just and fair leader. More so, the republicans used his poor background when he was growing up to campaign for him for presidency. His encounter with slavery practices and land ownership problems due to poor land tenure policies earned him much prosperity as many perceived as the savior who understood Americas hardships.

When Lincoln won the presidency, he had only been elected in two states in the southern region.In his inauguration, the Lincoln advocated for unity in United States and use of the constitution to legally-bind all the citizens. This was due to the southern states threat to leave the union and form their own confederation. They threatened to fight against abolishment of slave trade in their states. The confederates’ states had decided to secede from the union as they benefited from the slavery.

In the wake of secession, Lincoln leaned on his political and personal values to stop the civil war that emerged after he won his presidential election. In his inauguration speech, he declared to use the constitution to legally-bind all the states and people to promote unity and fight against slavery. More so, he advocated for various amendments to the United States constitution so stop slavery in all states. He knew that major constitutional changes had to be made, in order to stop slavery completely but making compromises would not assist in anyway. At the same time, he believed in the unity of all states and peace for all. Hence, he was committed to making the union work, despite the resistance from the affected states. This value he gained when practicing law, as he knew that constitution is binding to all and failure to obey leads to confiscation.

Due to problems he encountered in his younger years, he offered millions of acres of government owned land to be bought at lower affordable price. This could be traced from the problems he faced when they had to migrate from one state to another, when they could not afford their own land. He further recommended for grants and low interest loans to all agricultural universities in order to promote agriculture in all states. He knew that agriculture was the backbone of the American and a source of livelihood to many.

Similarly, he knew that there is need to improve the infrastructural facilities of the all states. Therefore, his government offered support to the construction of the pacific railway that saw the building of the first transatlantic railway in the United States. When acting as a businessperson, he was committed to opening up of sparsely inhabited land by he decided to provide a steamboat to improve the navigation of the area for development, hence he carried his values to the end.

In his efforts, to eradicate poverty he reduced the amount of the income tax imposed on all the citizens to encourage people invest especially in buying the land available.

Consequently, he increased tariffs to protect the local and new industries from international competition through dumping of cheap products. Similarly, this value of developments can be traced from his business aspirations when at one time he had decided to buy land from his small income. In addition, he encouraged the promotion of the financial system through establishments of national banks meant to assist the poor by providing low-interest rates to empower them. All this developments, he attempted to put them into place through constitutional amendments and he focused in those areas that he had familiarized himself with, before becoming the president.

Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever, is a nonfiction historical narrative and recount of Abraham Lincoln’s murder in 1865. This book was written and published by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. It has a total of 336 pages. The author describes the events leading up to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and the hunt and capture of John Wilkes Booth, including his partners in crime. The purpose of this book is to give the person reading, insight, and information about Lincoln’s death. Killing Lincoln, I think can be comprehended by anyone as young as a middle schooler, but I think it would be the most suitable for high school students. This book would be considered “new” because it is still relevant, and was written this decade. As an enthusiast of Lincoln, O’Reilly holds in politics and religion common conservative views. Born and raised in New York, O’Reilly got a master’s degree in radio journalism from Boston University and received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Marist College. The book is also written by the best-selling author Martin Dugard, whose book Into Africa: Stanley and Livingstone’s Epic Adventures has been adapted into a special History Channel. Killing Lincoln is a continuous series of the pair, including Killing Kennedy and Killing Jesus. These two authors have an extended knowledge and background on the history and know what they were doing in writing this book, but the only sources I saw were at the front of the book, and it named where they got the pictures from, not the information. This book is divided into four sections. The many themes that are included in this book are Patriotism, allegiance, envy, crime, and punishment. It is divided into four parts.

The first section of the book deals with the Civil War and the bloody truth of warfare. It addresses the fight to obtain the upper hand in the four-year-long Civil War between general Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate general Robert E. Lee. The Union forces are far higher up in numbers and morale, and Lincoln wanted the war to be done with so he could begin the difficult task of uniting everyone. He faces a discouraged country, including a North that doubts the reason for the war and a South that hates him for violating their liberty. Lincoln wants nothing more than to renew patriotism by winning the war and then make the nation better by reunification. On the other hand, Lee has been outsmarting Grant with his band of soldiers. The South’s forces are deprived of food, and constantly on the run, but believed in their causes of states’ rights and pro-slavery. They won’t take surrendering to the North. The first part of the narrative focuses on the strategic decisions made by each person and puts key battles altogether, including the horrible things that happened in warfare that led up to Lee’s succumbing at Appomattox Court House.

The second part of the book called, “The Ides of Death” talks about the early actions against Lincoln and how that changed into John Wilkes Booth’s plot to kill him instead of kidnapping him. A Confederate sympathizer and foreign agent for the South, Booth was getting paid to engage in acts of espionage, but he isn’t allowed to join in what is known as black flag warfare or murder someone. After the South’s loss to Lincoln, Booth knows that has no one to show or tell him the rights and wrongs of the rules of war. He thinks that killing is immoral but not during battle. He then decides and thinks of ways to kill Lincoln to preserve the old ways of the South, adding his own rules to it. Booth recruits co-conspirators Lewis Powell, George Atzerodt, and David Herold to help with the murder.

The third section of the book called, “The Long Good Friday” focuses on Lincoln’s murder and how it happened. It talks about Lincoln’s murder at Ford’s Theatre, and Booth’s flight into the Maryland Countryside, while the final part of the lengthy book talks about, “The Chase.” This is Booth and Herold’s effort to run to Kentucky and then run to Mexico while being chased by authorities. The outcome also talks about the fate of everyone who plotted against Lincoln. Punishments are harsh and include execution by hanging and imprisonment for others. What history is left with is a lot of conspiracy theories enclosing the actions leading up to Lincoln’s murder, some say that the author’s advances will not be unraveled. Although Lincoln’s murders are eventually taken to justice, the narration makes it easy to understand that Lincoln’s murder forever changed the United States, and sent it in a different direction than the one intended with tolerance and union that Lincoln wanted while alive.

Introduction

Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama are two influential figures who served as presidents of the United States in different eras. This essay aims to compare and contrast their leadership styles, policies, and legacies. While Lincoln is renowned for his role in preserving the Union and abolishing slavery, Obama made history as the first African American president and implemented significant reforms during his tenure.

Thesis Statement

Despite their differences in historical context and political challenges, both Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama left a lasting impact on the nation, each addressing critical issues of their time.

Leadership Styles

Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama exhibited distinct leadership styles. Lincoln was known for his calm and steady demeanor, strategic thinking, and ability to unite a divided nation during the Civil War. His leadership was marked by humility and a commitment to democratic principles. In contrast, Obama was characterized by his charismatic and eloquent speaking style, his emphasis on collaboration and diplomacy, and his ability to inspire and mobilize diverse communities.

Policies and Achievements

Abraham Lincoln’s presidency was defined by the immense challenge of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. He signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared slaves in Confederate territory to be free, and worked tirelessly to pass the Thirteenth Amendment, permanently abolishing slavery in the United States. In comparison, Barack Obama’s presidency focused on issues such as healthcare reform, climate change, and economic recovery. He signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law, aimed at expanding access to healthcare, and implemented measures to address the economic recession.

Approach to Civil Rights

Both Lincoln and Obama made significant contributions to civil rights, albeit in different contexts. Lincoln’s presidency witnessed the emancipation of slaves and laid the foundation for the civil rights movement that would follow. His commitment to equality and justice helped shape the nation’s understanding of civil rights. Obama, on the other hand, faced the challenges of the modern civil rights movement, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, working towards immigration reform, and promoting equal opportunities for all Americans.

Legacy and Impact

The legacies of Lincoln and Obama continue to resonate today. Lincoln’s presidency is revered for his leadership during a critical period in American history, his dedication to preserving the Union, and his pivotal role in ending slavery. His words and actions continue to inspire generations and his legacy as the “Great Emancipator” remains etched in history. Obama’s presidency, as the first African American president, represented a significant milestone in the ongoing struggle for racial equality. His policies and initiatives, such as the ACA and the Paris Agreement on climate change, left a lasting impact on domestic and international fronts.

Conclusion

Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama, separated by time and circumstances, left indelible marks on the United States through their leadership, policies, and legacies. Lincoln’s presidency addressed the crucial issue of slavery and the preservation of the Union, while Obama’s presidency tackled contemporary challenges such as healthcare, climate change, and civil rights. By comparing and contrasting these two presidents, we gain a deeper appreciation for the diverse leadership styles and approaches to addressing the pressing issues of their respective times. Both Lincoln and Obama will be remembered as influential leaders who shaped the nation’s trajectory and contributed to the ongoing pursuit of equality and justice.

Despite his historical greatness, Lincoln’s life was characterized by depression. It is also thought that both his parents also suffered from the same. He publicly disclosed his sufferings even to his close friends. This is because he sometimes thought of suicide and described the world as hard and grim. According to Shenk (2005), some of the symptoms of major depressive episodes include a change in appetite, feelings, fatigue, and suicidal thoughts. However, despite the challenges, Lincoln successfully overcame the depression and maintained a healthy attitude. This is evident from a letter Lincoln wrote to his friend, “let it be observed, is a misfortune, not a fault” (Shenk, 2005) According to Shenk, Lincoln’s depressive experience may have enhanced his rise into the presidency and became sympathetic and approachable.

Having read and internalized Shenk’s assessment of Lincoln’s life experiences, it would be appropriate to assert that success is mainly not measured by the achievements or position one holds today, but by the challenges one had to overcome to attain success. It is because of the depressive episodes that Lincoln informs why he was characterized as humorous, and joyous, and had humility and faith in the public. This also informs why he had a good relationship with his subordinates. Therefore, our experiences in life are meant to mold us into better people. Never should we give in or get demoralized by the challenges we encounter in our daily life