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Michael Daughtry
Professor Sorensen
American History I
10 November 2017
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States, popular opinion the greatest president of the United States. Famously known for the emancipation of the slaves and savior of the Union. Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809 to Thomas and Nancy Lincoln in a little log cabin in Kentucky, and Lincoln was unfortunately assonated April 14, 1865. Sadly, the Lincolns had to move from their hometown of Kentucky to Louisiana because of land settlement issues. Lincolns humble beginnings led him to a legacy of which he created in the United States of America. Lincoln later in life was a self-educated lawyer and was always heavily involved in politics putting himself in the Whig party. Lincoln served one single term for the U.S. House of Representatives from 1847-1849 shortly after that he was elected 16th president of the United States from 1861-1865. Throughout Lincolns life he accomplished many things such as having accepting views on African American slaves, giving one the most important speeches at the Gettysburg address, evoked the declaration of independence, and also reunified the Union.
Lincoln was a member of the 1854 Illinois legislature. This political understanding led him to formulate his views on slavery. In 1854, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which repealed the Missouri Compromise. This act allowed individual states and territories to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery or oppose it. The law provoked violent
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opposition in Kansas and Illinois, and it gave rise to the Republican Party. This awoke Abraham Lincolns views on slavery prompting him to join the Republican Party to hopefully oppose their views on slavery. In 1857, the Supreme Court issued a controversial decision Scott v. Sanford, declaring African Americans were not citizens and had no inherent rights. This act angered Abraham Lincoln. Though Abraham Lincoln felt African Americans were not equal to whites, he believed America's founders intended that all men were created with certain inalienable rights. Lincoln decided to challenge sitting U.S. Senator Stephen Douglas for his seat. Losing to Senator Douglas challenged Lincoln to become president to declare justice for slaves.
November 1863 Abraham was invited to deliver his remarks which is recalled as the Gettysburg address. Lincoln arrived at one of the deadliest battles National Cemetery to deliver his 273-word speech which was an outstanding speech to all. This speech is remembered as one of the most important speeches of the United States of America. In Lincolns speech, he talked
about human equality and the desire for “a new birth freedom”. Lincoln saw an opportunity to make his speech heard by all. He wanted to deliver a speech to the American people about the
significance of the war. Lincoln rose to the podium in front of 15,000 people and gave a two-minute speech. Lincoln expressed his statement that the Civil War was the ultimate test of whether the Union created in 1776 would survive, or whether it would “perish from the earth.” Lincoln in his July 1861 message to Congress, had referred to the United States as a democracy. He said a government of the people, by the same people. This comment lead of Lincolns assertion of the Declaration of Independence.
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Lincoln addressed the Declaration of Independence during the Gettysburg address. Some might remember Lincolns famous words “four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are equal.” Mr. Lincoln put a new view on both founding documents. Historian Richard N. Current wrote, "Lincoln passionately believed in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United of the United States. To him, these documents were not merely historical relics; they embodied fundamental ideals, ideals in the process of realization, ideals that formed the basis for his political thinking." Lincoln had thought the Declaration of Independence had lost its meaning and importance when a generation only associated the Declaration with fireworks and celebration. Lincoln told a crowd at Lewiston, Illinois, "Now, my countrymen, if you have been taught doctrines conflict with the great landmarks of the Declaration of Independence; if you have listened to suggestions which would take away from its grandeur and mutilate the fair symmetry of its proportions; if you have been inclined to believe that all men are not created equal in those inalienable rights enumerated in our charter of liberty, let me entreat you to come back. Return to the fountain whose waters spring close by the blood
of the revolution. Think nothing of me — take no thought for the political fate of any man whomsoever — but come back to the truths that are in the Declaration of Independence. You may do anything with me you choose, if you will but heed these sacred principles." Lincoln had a clear understanding of politics and their purpose.
December 1863, Lincoln announces a way to start reunifying the Union. This plan was called the 10 Percent Plan. He wanted to reconstruct confederate states already under Union
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control. He said he would excuse those confederates who take an oath to support the Union. Lincoln stated “When ten percent of a state's citizens eligible to vote in 1860 swear an oath of allegiance and a state has abolished slavery, he promises to readmit the state to the Union.” By the end of the war, Lincoln promised limited black suffrage in the South. In July of 1864 many congressional republicans thought the 10 percent plan was weak and lenient. They thought since it would not end economic and political power of the plantar class or protect ex-slaves. They also thought Lincoln had way overstepped his authority. They felt this way because he did not consult congress before doing so. Congressional Republicans came up with their plan called The Wade-Davis Bill. The bill required each state to abolish slavery, repudiate their acts of secession, and refuse to honor wartime debts. Also says that a majority, rather than 10 percent, of voters in 1860 take an oath of allegiance before a state can be reorganized. Finally, it specifies that anyone who wants to vote in a constitutional convention in a former Confederate state must swear that he never voluntarily supported the Confederacy. Lincoln refused this bill immediately because he didn’t want to be committed to any reconstruction plan. Next the Freedman’s Bureau came into play in 1865. To protect ex-slaves and provide them with medical care and education they
created the Freedman’s Bureau. Unfortunately, a few months after the Freedman’s Bureau was discussed Abraham Lincoln was assented by John Wilkes Booth on April 4, 1865.
Who was John Wilkes Booth? John Wilkes Booth was born May 10, 1838, near Bel Air, Maryland. At age 17, he started his acting career. His political affiliation was the Know-Nothing Party. This party aimed to limit immigration into the United States. In 1859, he showed his support for slavery by joining a Virginia militia that helped in the capture and execution of John
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Brown, following his raid on Harpers Ferry. Throughout the Civil War, John Wilkes Booth served as a secret agent for the Confederacy, putting him rivals against president Lincoln. Booth prior to actually assonating Lincoln tried to kidnap him and that plan quickly failed. Booth then finally got his wish on April 14, 1865 and assonated Lincoln at the Ford Theatre while Lincoln was watching a play. Directly after the shooting, Booth leaped onto the stage and yelled, "Sic semper tyrannis! The South is avenged!” Booth next jumped off the stage, broke his leg, but managed to make it to his getaway horse before anyone in the shocked upset crowd could stop him. Lincoln died April 15, 1865, he was only assonated on the 14 of April but his soul remained till April 15, 1865. After Wilkes got away to Virginia, investigators were following his tracks. Once they got to where Booth was he refused to surrender so they shot him and aimed for the arm, but ended up shooting him in the neck. This shot paralyzed him, and he laid on the porch of where he was hiding for three hours till he perished.
Lincoln accomplished many things throughout his astonishing life. Lincoln having accepting views on African American slaves, giving one the most important speeches at the Gettysburg address, evoking the declaration of independence, and also reunifying the Union made him one of the greatest presidents we have ever had in United States. Some people might have thought differently and still think differently about Abraham Lincoln but popular belief he was one of the greatest presidents. Although Lincolns life was ended short he made a lasting impact and accomplished a lot during his lifetime and presidency. To this day people wonder what the United States would have been like if President Lincoln was not assonated and continued his presidency. He passed when the country needed him the most and that is
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unfortunate to the citizens and supporters of Lincoln. With great respect this nation honors President Lincoln in many ways.