The Greatest Man In US Histr Essay

The Greatest Man In U.S. Histr Essay, Research Paper

The Greatest Man in U.S. History

Abraham Lincoln, the greatest man in U.S. history, had many great accomplishments for this nation throughout his presidency. The most significant of these accomplishments was the abolishment of slavery. His love for America motivated him to do what he knew to be just. Lincoln had a meaningful, but shortened life, but he still accomplished more things than most other people in their lifetimes. Abraham Lincoln, the greatest man in U.S. history, had a childhood, education, and achievements that are exceptionally commendable.

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. (Donald 22; Neely 347) Abe liked to work outdoors, and was raised to do farm work. (Sandburg 14; Neely 347) When Abe was seven, his family moved to Indiana. (Donald 23) Partly on account of slavery, Abraham recalled, but chiefly on account of difficulty in land titles in Kentucky. (Neely 347) His formal education he received in an Indiana Blab School, using only the spelling book. (Angle 23) He loved to read, especially the Bible, Aesop s Fables, and Robinson Crusoe, to name a few. (Angle 23-24) In 1817, his grandparents Tom and Betsey Sparrow died of milk sick . Abe s mother also died from this on October 15, 1818. (Sandburg 11)

Lincoln reached his full height, 6 4 , before he was 20. Abe was thin, awkward, big-boned, and strong in the arms. (Baritt 313) Abe was interested in politics, and would walk 30 miles to a courthouse to hear lawyers speak and to see how they argued. Abe also heard political speakers and mimicked them. In 1830, he made his first political speech, on improving the Sangamoon River for better navigation. (Sandburg 15, 21)

On March 1, 1830, he left for Illinois to the town of New Salem, looking for a career to pursue. (Sandburg 20) In 1831, however, he was still unsure of his career. (Donald 38) In April of 1831, he went to New Orleans on a job and saw many advertisements for slaves. That same year, he cast his first ballot for Henry Clay of the Whig Party for his seat in Congress. (Sandburg 23) Abe joined the New Salem Debating Society, and started studying legal books and documents. On March 9, 1832, he wrote a paper telling the public he was stepping into politics as a candidate for the legislature of the State of Illinois. (Sandburg 26-27) Unfortunately, he ran unsuccessfully, but this pointed him in the direction of his career. (Neely 348)

Abe ran again in 1834, and was elected. (Sandburg 40) Between 1832 and 1834, he had served in the Black Hawk War briefly as a captain. (Sandburg 29) He gained leadership and strategy skills that later helped him in his presidency when commanding the army. In 1836, he received his lawyer s license, but did not enter on the roll of attorneys until March of 1837. (Barritt 314) In April of 1837, he left the town of New Salem, and headed to Springfield, Illinois. (Angle 62) He wanted to practice in the Supreme Court of the State and in federal courts. (Angle 89) He became the junior partner of the law firm Stuart and Lincoln, but the partnership ended in 1841. (Baritt 314) During this time, he became the leader of the Whigs in the state legislature, and began his opposition of slavery. (Donald 78; Neely 348) In 1838, he was nominated to the Speaker of the House.

Lincoln thought of his legal career as an adjunct to his political aspirations. (Donald 74) He argued in the famous Supreme Court case Bailey vs. Cromwell. (Sandburg 79) In 1845, he was elected into Congress, in which he served one term, from 1847-1849, as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He then returned to Springfield, and to law. Lincoln kept in law, but in 1854, he began to lose interest in politics with the Kansas-Nebraska act of 1854, due to slavery. But in 1856, he joined the newly formed Republican Party, returning to politics. (Sandburg 81; Neely 348-349).

In 1858, Lincoln campaigned against Stephan A. Douglas for the Senate. Lincoln acquired fame by asking Douglas to appear in debates with him. Douglas agreed to seven debates. By winning the debates, Lincoln received his first national fame, but unfortunately, he did not win the Senate spot. In 1860, Abe made his first major political appearance in the Northeast at Cooper Union. At this point in time, Lincoln was a well-known presidential candidate. Lincoln s competition for the presidency was William H. Seward, the leading candidate, but Seward had some qualities that made him undesirable in critical states. (Neely 349) Throughout the campaign, rallies and political meetings were held nightly in Springfield. The presidential election was held on November 6, 1860. (Angle 290-291) Lincoln won the presidential election! (Neely 349) On November 20 the Republicans of Illinois celebrated their victory in the election. (Angle 296)

Lincoln became the first Republican president. (Baritt 310) On February 11, he left Springfield for Washington. Donald 275) His wife, Mary Todd, whom he had married on November 4, 1842, came along, as well as his four sons: Robert Todd, William Wallace, Edward Baker, and Thomas Tad . (Neely 348) Unfortunately, Will died at the age of 11, and Tad at the age of 18. Robert would later attend Harvard, and would stay there until February 1865, when he was appointed to captain of General Grant s staff. (Baritt 323)