Abraham Lincoln Changed the United States

On the far right of Mount Rushmore there is a man. A man that changed The United States forever. His name was Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of The United States. He served from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He changed the Republican Party, led The United States through the American Civil War, and strengthened the federal government. Just some examples of the great honest Abe changing The United States for the better. We can better understand the presidency of Abraham Lincoln by looking at his early life, major decisions, and legacy that impacts the U.

S even today.

As any educated American citizen, we know Abraham Lincoln really was the expression rags to riches. Looking back at Lincoln's early life, one of the most respected presidents actually taught himself. Abraham Lincoln's father, Thomas Lincoln needed help so Lincoln was always supporting his family. Lincoln's formal schooling was then limited to three short periods in a near by school. According to The History Channel "Abraham Lincoln, a self-taught lawyer, legislator and vocal opponent of slavery, was elected 16th president of the United States in November 1860, shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. This is an example that he actually never went to college and had to studied law by himself. This is important because this shows his strength of mind and how much stamina he had. His strength of mind definitely came into play when he was in office. Another example is how Abraham Lincoln struggled with the death of his mother. As stated by The Abraham Lincoln Historical Society "His aunt and uncle, Elizabeth and Thomas Sparrow, died first followed by his mother, Nancy, who died on October 5, 1818. This became a difficult period for the Lincoln family. His sister Sarah was 11 years old and was left with the responsibility of the maintenance of the household. Abraham was 9. This is to show that even at a young age Lincoln rises to the occasion. When something had to be done on slavery, Lincoln made the lawful decision to act upon it. Additionally the death of his son Willie was life altering. Willie died in 1862 due to typhoid fever. In Abraham Lincoln online it states " John Hay, another White House secretary, wrote that the president "was profoundly moved by his death, though he gave no outward sign of his trouble, but kept about his work the same as ever. His bereaved heart seemed afterwards to pour out its fulness on his youngest child." On the day President Lincoln was assassinated, he told Mary, "We must both be more cheerful in the future. Between the war and the loss of our darling Willie we have been very miserable. This shows the extraordinary strength Lincoln had. It also shows how his life before office effected how he was the president.

Secondly, we can understand his presidency by his major decisions. He begins running for senate infuriating the southern states. According to the History Channel "On October 16, 1854, Lincoln went before a large crowd in Peoria to debate the merits of the Kansas-Nebraska Act with Douglas, denouncing slavery and its extension and calling the institution a violation of the most basic tenets of the Declaration of Independence.. This shows in the beginning of his political career Lincoln decides not to hold back on his feelings. Doing this therefore makes Lincoln create a new Republican Party that is against having slaves. Once again the History Channel mentions " After years of sectional tensions, the election of an antislavery northerner as the 16th president of the United States drove many southerners over the brink. This shows that Abraham Lincolns decision to be vocal and stand up for what was right changed the United States and his presidency. Not to mention The Abraham Lincoln Research Site states "he was faced with the greatest threat to federal authority in the history of the country. He felt his job was to protect the Union from disintegrating. This is a huge major decision Lincoln had.What other president had the United States turning against each other while in office ?

Abraham Lincoln's Legacy still impacts The United States to this day. If it didn't, why would students learn about him in school even till this day. First of all without Lincoln there would be no Thirteenth Amendment. Stated by The University Of Virginia "With Lincoln's influence, the House of Representatives approves the Thirteenth Amendment, which calls for the emancipation of all slaves and no compensation to their owners. The amendment was passed by the Senate in 1864 but failed to receive the necessary votes in the House. By December of 1865, enough states ratify the amendment to make it constitutionally binding. Along with the Thirteenth Amendment, he influenced American literature. For example with his short three paragraphed speech in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania called the Gettysburg Address changed the idea of a speech forever."Fourscore 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 created equal. This sentence changes the aspect of the war and even today American people are talking about it. Also Lincoln signed a bill that changed the western part forever. The National Park Services added "President Lincoln signed worked hand-in-hand with the Homestead Act to forever change the landscape of the West. On May 15, 1862, just five days before approving the Homestead Act, he signed a bill creating the United States Department of Agriculture, calling it "the people's department, in which they feel more directly concerned than any other." Once again without Abraham Lincoln , The United States would be very different.

In conclusion, I personally believe Abraham Lincoln is one of our greatest presidents. He had such strength and was so courageous. Not to mention he is on the penny and five dollar bill. Just some examples of the great honest Abe changing The United States for the better. We can better understand the presidency of Abraham Lincoln by looking at his early life, major decisions, and legacy that impacts the U.S even today.

Works Cited

"Abraham Lincoln." Abraham Lincoln Research Site, rogerjnorton.com/Lincoln87.html. Accessed 24 Oct. 2018.

"The Dealth of Willie Lincoln." Abraham Lincoln Online, Copyright © 2018 Abraham Lincoln Online. All rights reserved, www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/education/williedeath.htm. Accessed 26 Oct. 2018.

"The Death of Lincoln's Mother." Abraham Lincoln Historical Society, www.abraham-lincoln-history.org/early-life/. Accessed 25 Oct. 2018.

"The Gettysburg Address." University of Virginia, millercenter.org/president/abraham-lincoln/key-events.

Lincoln, Abraham. "The Gettysburg Address." Gettysburg, 19 Nov. 1863, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Address.

"U.S Presidents." History Channel, 2018 A&E Television Networks. Accessed 22 Oct. 2018.

"What Is President Lincoln's Greatest Legacy." National Parl Service, www.nps.gov/home/learn/news/licolns-legacy.htm. Accessed Oct. 2017.

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