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Abraham Lincoln, perhaps, unstacked the issues going on at the time of the Civil War.
Abraham Lincoln’s Start
Abraham Lincoln was born on February 2nd, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. He was born in a single room log cabin that is now a part of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. In 1830, his family moved to Illinois and he started working on a river flatboat hauling freight from the Mississippi River to New Orleans. There, Lincoln became involved in politics, becoming an advocate for the Whig Party, which lead him to be elected to the Illinois State Legislature in 1834. Lincoln voiced his opposition to slavery and followed in the steps of former Whig leaders, Henry Clay and Daniel Webster. Then, Abraham Lincoln became a lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, and he earned the nickname “Honest Abe.” Lincoln was elected to the House of Representatives in 1846 and was then elected as president after a long battle with Stephen Douglas, the republicans voted him President of the United States, in 1860.
Abraham Lincoln & The Civil War
As president, Abraham Lincoln had to focus a lot on winning the civil war. Since Abraham Lincoln was against slavery, his election made southerners unhappy. When Lincoln was inaugurated, seven states had seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. Abraham assisted with instructing the war. War generals could communicate and report to him using the new technology of the telegraph. More than anything, Abraham Lincoln impacted people with his famous speeches.
Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln’s most famous speech was the Gettysburg Address. The speech was just 273 words long, but is still one of the most influential speeches to this day. He spoke at the official dedication ceremony for the National Cemetery of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania in 1863. He spoke about the Declaration of Independence and what it says about equality and spoke about the Civil War. He talked to a crowd of about 15,000 people for less than a minute, he spoke strong, and few words. The day after his speech, newspapers across the nation printed his words, and the population’s reactions were mostly divided by their political parties. One famous line from the Gettysburg Address is, “‘ All men are created equal,’” which refers back to the Declaration of Independence, published 87 years prior to his speech, and touches on Lincoln’s political views. Another famous line from the Gettysburg Address is, “‘Government of the people, by the people, for the people,’” which is saying that the government should be run by the citizens. The speech is now considered one of the most quoted and memorized speeches in United States History.
Abraham Lincoln's Impact
Overall, Abraham Lincoln had a big impact on American history. He was president during one of the bloodiest times and major political crises. He spoke out on his beliefs about slavery, even after he lost his second Senate race because of it. He knew it was a topic that divided the nation, but he spoke up for what he believed in. He used his pedestal to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which didn’t free as many slaves as desired because of the rebellion, but stood as a symbol of the true fight for human freedom and equality. He spoke with pride and worked hard to keep the union together. He caught people’s eye because of his height and honesty, and worked hard to lead the country out of battle and united once again.
Citations
Editors, History.com. “Abraham Lincoln.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/abraham-lincoln.
Editors, History.com. “Civil War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 15 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/american-civil-war-history.
Editors, History.com. “Emancipation Proclamation.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/emancipation-proclamation.
Editors, History.com. “The Gettysburg Address.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 24 Aug. 2010, www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/gettysburg-address.