...Jared Varley Dr. Morgan HST 390 24 September 2012 Abraham Lincoln’s Political and Moral Slavery Dilemma The sixteenth President of the United States of America, the Great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln casts quite a historical shadow over any other competing figure. Lincoln was brought into the world on February 12th, 1809 to an incredibly modest upbringing in which he would mold himself into a successful lawyer and later a politician. Abraham received little formal education during his childhood, eventually acquainting himself with the law through the apprenticeship system. After rising through the Illinois legislature structure, Lincoln went on to serve in the House of Representatives on behalf of the state of Illinois before gaining widespread recognition from his debates with competing Senate candidate Stephen A. Douglas in 1858.The expansion of slavery into the United States new territories was the hotly contested issue of these debates, Lincoln’s stance would eventually propel him into the national spotlight and later the Presidency. Abraham Lincoln’s views on slavery were split between his political obligations and his moral beliefs, his political actions were influenced by his desire to preserve the Union, and his moral stance on the issue largely stemmed from his deep-seeded belief in the power of the Constitution, not the political or social equality of another race. Abraham Lincoln’s view on slavery was segregated in itself, between how he perceived the issue...
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...President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation speech was one of the greatest political movements in history. Even though many of Lincoln’s advisors did not support the proclamation it actually took Abraham two times to get the bill passed. After the battle of Antietam and the Union had won then Lincoln decided that that victory was enough standing ground to issue the Emancipation that took place five days later on September 22nd 1862 that only affected the rebellion states. The Emancipation was one of the greatest political movements because it changed the focus of one of the biggest wars in United States history. It changed the aim from being the conservation of the “Union” to the slaves becoming the main aim for the war after that...
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...The Leadership of Abraham Lincoln Phillip Bullington High Performance Leadership Term Paper 2/12/15 Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Leader 4 Power & Influence 4 Ethics & Values 6 Attributes 6 Behavior 8 Followers 9 Motivation 9 Satisfaction & Performance 9 Groups 10 The Rocket Model 10 Situation 11 Situational Levels 11 Emancipation Proclamation 12 Death 13 Conclusion 13 References 14 Introduction Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States of America. Abraham was born on February 12, 1809 to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks. He grew up in both Kentucky and Indiana as the son of a farmer who preferred him to work on the farm rather than read books. Lincoln had an intellectual ambition however and was in constant pursuit of knowledge through his readings. Abraham set out for Illinois in 1831 and studied to become a lawyer which he eventually did in 1836 after passing the bar examination. He was then elected to the Illinois State Legislature in 1836, 1838, and 1840. After his retirement from legislature in 1841, Lincoln went on to marry Mary Todd Lincoln in 1842. He then began devoting the majority of his time to law practice until 1847 when he was elected and served in Congress (McPherson, 2000). Lincoln would continue to move in and out of politics for the next 14 years as was continually defeated in bids and elections for office. It wasn’t until 1861, after losing...
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...Abraham Lincoln Through the course of American history there are names that stand out, names that represent more than just a person, but represent an era in American history. The list of important and influential figures in American history is too long and numerous to list. Yet there is always one name, one man who stands above all the rest. Abraham Lincoln has come to define the American experience. His beginnings as a poor farmer in Kentucky to his rise in politics to his Presidency, his story fascinates everyone who reads and studies it. Abraham Lincoln is the epitome of what America is. He is Americas most cherished and beloved President and he may be the most well-known American President in the world. Despite all the praise bestowed upon Abraham Lincoln there are those who do not buy into the ‘official’ Lincoln legacy. A small, but growing group of Lincoln detractors claim that Lincoln was not the father of freedom and liberty, the great emancipator and the savior of the union; they see Lincoln as a diabolical dictator. A man who took advantage of America in its darkest hour, a man who had no respect for the Constitution, he instead sought to destroy and undermine it every chance he got. Abraham Lincoln was President during America’s darkest hour; he saved the union and kept the country together. Lincoln was justified in the actions he took, despite attempts to paint Lincoln as a tyrannical dictator there is no question that Lincoln’s status as America’s greatest President...
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...in American history. The list of important and influential figures in American history is too long and numerous to list. Yet there is always one name, one man who stands above all the rest. Abraham Lincoln has come to define the American experience. His beginnings as a poor farmer in Kentucky to his rise in politics to his Presidency, his story fascinates everyone who reads and studies it. Abraham Lincoln is the epitome of what America is. He is Americas most cherished and beloved President and he may be the most well known American President in the world. Despite all the praise bestowed upon Abraham Lincoln there are those who do not buy into the ‘official’ Lincoln legacy. A small, but growing group of Lincoln detractors claim that Lincoln was not the father of freedom and liberty, the great emancipator and the savior of the union; they see Lincoln as a diabolical dictator. A man who took advantage of America in its darkest hour, a man who had no respect for the Constitution, he instead sought to destroy and undermine it every chance he got. Abraham Lincoln was President during America’s darkest hour; he saved the union and kept the country together. Lincoln was justified in the actions he took, despite attempts to paint Lincoln as a tyrannical dictator there is no question that Lincoln’s status as America’s greatest President is deserved and true. During his Presidency Lincoln met fierce opposition. This is not uncommon among Presidents; they are commonly held in higher regard...
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...Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation is one of the most revered documents in United States history. In its time, the document effectively freed the slaves but also marked the first step in creating an America with racial equality. Therefore, because of its significance in shaping the ideals of the United States, many people assume that future leaders of the nation would view the Emancipation Proclamation in the same way. However, in looking at speeches made by Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Barack Obama during some of the most notable time periods in United States history, it becomes evident that presidents did not approach Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in the same way. Instead, circumstances surrounding each particular administration...
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...Emancipation Proclamation “When the American Civil War (1861-65) began, President Abraham Lincoln carefully framed the conflict as concerning the preservation of the Union rather than the abolition of slavery” (“Emancipation Proclamation”). President Abraham Lincoln declared the Emancipation Proclamation and took effect on January 1st, 1863 in order to create a strategic military standpoint (“Emancipation Proclamation”). This document was one of Abraham Lincoln’s most important decisions in office. The Emancipation Proclamation was effective during the Civil War because African Americans could now join the Union military, it boosted Union military morale, and persuaded Britain and France to stay out of the war. Firstly, “The U.S. Army had never accepted black soldiers. The U.S. Navy, on the other hand, was more progressive: There, African-Americans had been serving as shipboard firemen, stewards, coal heavers and even boat pilots since 1861” (“Black Civil War Soldiers”). Abolitionist stated that, African Americans could join the Union military and help win the war along with...
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...The emancipation proclamation was the “turning point” of the civil war and one of the strong defining factors of the wars identity. “The act signaled an important shift in the Union’s Civil War aims,expanding the goal of the war from reunification to include the eradication of slavery”.()It became apparent that “the war was no longer just about preserving the Union— it was also about freeing the slaves.”() As people became more aware of the change, movements were created as a rebuttal, and terrorist groups were popping up everywhere. Even foreign countries were bothered by this change. This caused the evacuation of a lot of America's foreign support toward the war. In September 1862, following the Union victory at the Battle of Antietam in Maryland, a preliminary proclamation was issued. “The proclamation freed all slaves in states that were still in rebellion on January 1, 1863”(). Although, the proclamation was almost never took place because Lincoln’s advisors did not share his strong beliefs. Thankfully, Lincoln's dedication and whole hearted support for justice payed off, and the idea was allowed; allowing only...
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...among itself cannot stand” - Abraham Lincoln. A country divided among itself will not survive. A government divided among itself will not function. The Civil War divided our country into what was perceived as right and wrong. However, both sides were caught together, stuck in an endless spiral downward. When Lincoln was assassinated restoring the nation was left to Johnson. A difficult task even for a strong man like Lincoln, but when Johnson, inexperienced in politics takes over the task become more or less impossible. Lincoln's assassination had a negative impact on the country after the Civil War because the South would have been better off with Lincoln's plan and Johnson accomplished nothing during his presidency. Lincoln's plan for governmental Reconstruction was flawless, until Johnson came along and ruined it. Lincoln's plan for Reconstruction was fair and peaceful; consequently he released the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction in 1863. He believed the proclamation would muster northern support for the war and meanwhile persuade tiring Confederate soldiers to give up (Coyne and Bolotin). The proclamation permitted full pardons to all Southerners - except high-ranking...
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...“Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of September 22,1862, which declared slaves “forever free”, is the supreme moral moment of American history” (Wicker Pg. 1) Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was both a strategically smart move and a massive ethical victory to every slave in the U.S. Another effect was that it turned the war into a Northern crusade against slavery, and made the South seem like villains in comparison. It freed the slaves from their servitude, and gave the union a moral high ground to fight from. The Union would later win the war, but what would have happened if Lincoln had never given his groundbreaking speech? Although Lincoln did not believe in equality between the races, he would give the speech that...
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...The most important event we studied this year was Abraham Lincoln’s announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation was a military decree that declared all slaves in rebelling territories were free. Lincoln was able to pass the Emancipation Proclamation because it was a military action against an enemy so as Commander in Chief Lincoln did not need Congress to pass the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation following the Union victory at Antietam. This was because Lincoln wanted to declare it on a high note and not while they were losing battles. One of the reasons the Emancipation Proclamation was so effective and important is that it changed the war to a war about morality over...
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...“Abraham Lincoln And His Contribution Freedom In the U.S” Throughout history America has gone through many changes, through the minds of many leaders and bloody wars. One of the founders of what makes up our country today was Abraham Lincoln. He was born on February, 12, 1809 in Hardin County, Kentucky. About 20 years later, Lincoln moved and settled in the town of New Salem, Illinois. He was a self-taught lawyer and legislator. Soon he became engaged in local politics. He worked as a supporter of the “Whig Party” and won the election to the Illinois State legislator in 1834. Lincoln was a staunch advocate of internal improvements, a national banking system, and frontier settlement. During his presidency, he continued to support these causes, and implemented policies to further them. He opposed to the idea of spreading slavery to the territories. His vision was to expand the united states with a focus on commerce and cities; rather than agriculture. An unsuccessful bill to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia later became law during his first term as president. So, generally, with reguard to domestic policy, Lincoln's presidency was of a piece with his previous political activity. The main difference between Lincoln the legislator and Lincoln the president lies in his attitude toward the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. As a Member of Congress, Lincoln had been extremely critical of President Polk's sweeping...
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...Was Abraham Lincoln America’s greatest president? It is a question many people are asking. As of today, there have been forty four presidents of the United States that have taken the stand. But of those forty four, which one is the best? Abraham Lincoln has proved that he is the answer to that question. After succeeding in uniting the country, Lincoln outshines the others. “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” This is the oath that the president has to take on the day he steps into office. On that day, and every day after, each president has one goal in mind; to defend and to protect the constitution and the rights of every American citizen. Abraham Lincoln did everything he could to achieve that goal and to uphold the oath, which is what makes him the greatest president America has ever had. He ended slavery, an issue that has been tearing apart the nation for hundreds of years, and he united a nation that seemed almost impossible to bring together. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1849 as the second child of Thomas and Nancy Lincoln. He was born in a one-room log cabin in Kentucky. He had a normal childhood, only moving once across the Ohio River in order to acquire free territory in Indiana. He became a leader early on, always being the one his siblings looked up to. In 1840, he went on to marry Mary Todd...
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...September of 1862, following the Union's defeat at Antietam, Lincoln issued a opening decree stating that, unless the rebellious states returned to the Union by January 1, freedom would be approved to slaves within those states. The decree also gave opportunity for a plan of compensated emancipation. No Confederate states took the offer, and on January 1 Lincoln offered the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation stated, "all persons held as slaves within any States, or designated part of the State, the people whereof shall be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free." The Emancipation Proclamation did not free all slaves in the United States. Instead, it stated free only those slaves living in states not under Union control. William Seward commented, "We show our sympathy with slavery by emancipating slaves where we cannot reach them and holding them in bondage where we can set them free." Lincoln was fully aware of the irony, but he did not want to antagonize the slave states loyal to the Union by setting their slaves free. The proclamation permitted black soldiers to fight for the Union. The impact that the cotton Gin had is that cotton gins still function with the same vital idea that it had when it was first invented. More services have been included to the original design though. Gins can desiccate the cotton, humidify it, arrange it, clean it and bale it into bundles. The cotton is ready to be sold when all this is done...
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...The Election of 1860 and Southern Secession were large causes associated with Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was the Republican candidate. The Democratic Party split up, and Southern Democrats supported John C. Breckinridge as he sought to maintain slavery. In the end, Abraham Lincoln won all free states and Breckinridge won all slave states except four. The South was not pleased with this as they disagreed with many policies proposed by Abraham Lincoln. As a result, the Civil War was soon to begin as the South decided secession was in their best interest. Actions of President Lincoln such as enacting the Emancipation Proclamation which freed all slaves residing within the Confederacy would only reaffirm their beliefs. Thus, Abraham Lincoln was an immense contribution to the Civil War. Lastly, the Southern Secession would also contribute exponentially to the Civil War. The South was certain the North was out to destroy their way of life by trying to outlaw slavery. Viewing actions by the North regarding slavery as a threat, the South determined that their way of life could only be preserved by seceding. Therefore, the South seceded and the Civil...
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