Birth
The man who was to become one of the greatest Presidents in the entire history of the United States was born on February 12, 1809, in the state of Kentucky. Lincoln’s family was far from affluent, and young Abraham was definitely not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. A contemporary observer noted that Lincoln’s parents dwelled in “a hunters hut not fit to be called home” (NPS, 2017). The picture of this house, preserved until this day, allows assessing the truth of these words and demonstrates that living conditions were admittedly modest in Lincoln’s birthplace. As one can see, Lincoln had some of the humblest origins among the Presidents of the United States.
Upbringing
Lincoln’s upbringing was centered on hard manual labor and fierce self-education. Parents have instilled him with a rigorous work ethic, and young Abraham never shied away from work, no matter how taxing. On one occasion, he escorted a produce-laden boat from Kentucky to New Orleans and then walked home on foot (ABS, n.d.). One of his earliest nicknames, “rail-splitter,” referred to his impressive skills with an ax that allowed him to work with astounding efficiency multiplied with sheer determination (NPS, 2017). Lincoln received no formal education, but his mother taught him to read, and the future President spent most of his free time reading whatever he could get his hands on (NPS, 2017). This combination of work ethos and commitment to self-education was a hallmark of Lincoln’s upbringing.
Early achievements
Even though Lincoln’s greatest deeds belonged to the realm of politics, his early achievements are important to note as well because they illustrate the man’s qualities as a leader. In 1832, he served as a militia captain in the so-called Black Hawk War 1832. While the war was hardly a glorious conflict, Lincoln proved himself a competent, pragmatic, and level-headed leader as opposed to unnecessary violence (ABS, n.d.). In 1837, through sheer self-education, Lincoln learned enough about the law to be admitted to Illinois Bar (NPS, 2017). The lawyer’s practice allowed him to further hone his already impressive oratory skills (Burlingame, n.d.). These skills would come in handy many times during the man’s long and impressive political career.
Early political career
Lincoln’s first political success came in 1834 when he was elected to the Illinois State Legislation. Twelve years later, he moved to the federal level by becoming a Representative of his state affiliated with the then-prominent Whig Party (NPS, 2017). As a Representative, Lincoln criticized the Mexican-American War and made a name for himself as an eloquent speaker and a man of integrity. In 1856, Lincoln left the disorganized Whigs and joined the newly-formed Republican Party with its abolitionist platform (Burlingame, n.d.). One of the most famous episodes of his pre-Presidency political career was the debates of 1858 when Lincoln, a Republican, and Stephen Douglass, a prominent Democrat, competed to represent Illinois in the Senate (Davidson et al., 2018). The picture portrays both politicians at the time of the debates. Even though Lincoln did not win the Senate race against Douglass, he solidified his image as the nation’s greatest Republican spokesman.
Presidency
In 1860, Lincoln ran for the presidency as a candidate from the Republican Party. His anti-slavery stance annihilated any chances he might have had in the South but made it somewhat more likely that he would succeed in the North and the West. Fortunately for the Republicans, their Democratic opponents were divided over the expansion of slavery into the Western territories and did not field a single candidate to unite the proponents of the peculiar institution (ABS, n.d.). As a result, Lincoln carried most of the Northern states as well as California and Oregon and secured the majority of the electoral vote, even though he had barely 40 percent of the popular vote in total (NPS, 2017). Being elected as a Supreme Executive was definitely one of the heights of Lincoln’s career, but there were new challenges afoot.
Civil war
By 1860, sectional tension was at an all-time high in the United States, and Lincoln’s election on a clearly anti-slavery platform served to trigger the secession of some Southern States and started the Civil War. From the beginning of the conflict, Lincoln proved a competent commander in chief. Early on, he secured the Border States that could have given the Confederation a decisive advantage (Davidson et al., 2018). By 1862, understanding that the war will be long, he adopted a strategy of naval blockade and increasing economic pressure and suspended Habeas corpus rights to counter the enemy propaganda (Davidson et al., 2018). Later on, he introduced conscription to boost the Union numbers, issued Emancipation Proclamation to reframe the Northern cause in the war and appointed Grant, who was one of the Union’s most capable leaders, general-in-chief (Davidson et al., 2018). While Lincoln was determined to the point of ruthlessness and extended his powers to the extreme, he certainly proved a capable wartime President.
Emancipation proclamation
One of the higher points of Lincoln’s political career was the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. Admittedly, its intent was limited, as it only freed the slaves in the Southern states not controlled by the Union (NPS, 2017). Still, it was a significant blow to Southern economic capacity that largely relied on bonded labor. Moreover, it provided a legal justification for enlisting African Americans into the Armed Forces, which also helped to boost the Union numbers as the war was going on and casualties mounted (NPS, 2017). Finally, and, arguably, most importantly, the Proclamation reframed the Northern cause in ideological terms (NPS, 2017). What was a fight to preserve the Union became a fight for freedom and evidence of Lincoln’s political competence.
Decline
Due to his sudden and unexpected demise, Lincoln’s career did not have a gradual demise that is usually associated with the late stages of one’s political activity. However, the 1864 election was fairly challenging in its own right and outlined some of the most serious problems that threatened Lincoln’s authority. When the campaign began, Lincoln honestly viewed his re-election chances as small, as the population disenchanted with the war rallied behind the Democrat candidate (Davidson et al., 2018). He had to maneuver carefully between the radical Republicans, promising them an anti-slavery constitutional amendment, and pro-war Democrats, appeasing them by choosing moderate Johnson as his running mate (Davidson et al., 2018). While not exactly a demise – Lincoln won the election after all – it showcased how hard it was even for Lincoln to navigate America’s political landscape of the time.
Death
The 16th President’s life came to an abrupt end on April 14, 1865. A Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth, who viewed Lincoln as a tyrant, shot and seriously wounded him in the Ford Theater (ABS, n.d.). While the wound was not immediately lethal, Lincoln succumbed to it the next day, leaving the nation without the leader mere months after his re-election. The North has confidently won the Civil War by that time, and Lincoln had largely secured the passage of the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery before his death. However, his death left the country with no authoritative and respected leader that could have steered the Reconstruction in a manner that would reintegrate the former Confederate states, extinguish the possibility of reinstating slavery under other names, and balance the interests of the freedmen and the region’s white population.
Legacy
Lincoln’s legacy as a political leader is immense and undeniable. The very fact that the United States continues to exist until this day is a testimony to his competence, for it was by Lincoln’s effort that the Union did not dissolve in the Civil War. The circumstances of his death were also very important for the codification of his popular image in American culture and historical memory. By 1865, Lincoln was already a living legend and one of the most decisive and uncompromising leaders to ever assume the role of the First Executive. Yet his death made him more than that – apart from a strong and unflinching leader, he also became a martyr of liberty. Finally – and, arguably, most importantly – Lincoln’s work on the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment laid the groundwork for the gradual progress toward racial equality.
Sources
American Battlefield Trust (ABT). (N.d.). President Abraham Lincoln Biography.
Burlingame, M. (N.d.). Abraham Lincoln: Life before the presidency. Miller Center.
Davidson, J. W., Delay, B., Heyrman, C. L., Lytle, M, H., Stoff, M. B. (2018). U.S.: A Narrative History, vol. 1: to 1877 (8th ed.) McGraw-Hill Education.
National Park Service (NPS). (2017). Abraham Lincoln the Man.