VP: Hannibal Hamlin (1861 - 1865) & Andrew Johnson (1865)
Known for signing the Emancipation Proclamation and his legendary Gettysburg Address, the representative of Illinois was able to set many precedents in his presidency and put a final end to the issue of slavery in the United States. Although he was never able to see the final outcome of the war, due to his assassination early on in his second term, his presidency was the birth of a new era that many people never thought would come.
Political Offices Held
Illinois House of Representatives (1834-1842)
US House of Representatives - Illinois (1847-1849)
Main Points of Inaugural Speeches
March 4, 1861 (Link)
Lincoln makes it clear that the issue of what he might do as president is not something to worry too much about. This is because the south think that their property and peace and personal security are at risk, but they are not.
Lincoln states to gave no purpose directly or indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery in the sates where it exits. He believes he has no lawful right to do so, and is not inclined to do so
Resolved that the maintenance inviolate of the rights of the States, and especially the right of each state to order and control its own institutions according to its own judgement.
Perpetuity of Union is mentioned, and it is implied in the fundamental law of all national government. The fact that the Confederacy is happening shows that they are rising an insurrection. He warns that there might be bloodshed or violence, but there shall be none unless it be forced upon the national authority
He tells the people to think long and hard about their position about leaving the Union, keeping slavery around, and what it might do the foundation of many important aspects of the nation. This includes travel, trade, commerce, and other issues
Nothing valuable can be lost by taking time.
March 4, 1865 (Link)
This speech was shorter than the previous one, which followed traditions of other presidents reelected.
Lincoln had transitioned into a God-fearing man. He mentions how if American slavery is one of the offenses which God wants to come to an end, he hopes that the Civil War will quickly pass and its troubles with it.
Lincoln makes it clear that his signing of the Emancipation Proclamation was due to his devotion to saving the Union without War. It was the insurgent agents that were seeking to destroy. The only option after this long of a debate on one topic was doomed to end in war.
He himself says that “The slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war” which ended the notion that the Civil War was not about slaves.
Main Conflicts
The Civil War
Emancipation Proclamation
Start of Reconstruction
Implementation of the 13th Amendment
Native Americans & Dakota Uprising
Media
CrashCourse video about the events leading up to the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, and the election of 1860. (Youtube. 2013).
Presidential Commentary
Revered as one of the greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln set many precedents never seen before. president Lincoln was a experienced lawyer and politician that helped paved the new Republican Party as well as the president of what to do during a war where the issue may seem impossible to settle.
One of the strengths of Abraham Lincoln was his ability to be flexible. this ability was imperative to the outcome of the civil war. Beginning his presidency, he was a moderate that had no intentions to end slavery in the states that already held it in their constitution. He even warns the people to think long and hard as “nothing valuable can be lost by taking time” (Avalon). This mindset showed important when he eventually signed the Emancipation Proclamation which freed the slaves and ended slavery in the United States. By being willing to change his stance and seeing what it meant to keep slavery in the nation that had wished it to be over, he was able to preserve the Union or at least tie it back together. Although many lives were lost and changed, the end to the issue of slavery served good in many ways. This included the Industrial Revolution, the growth of transportation, and rights for the freed slaves (Miller Center). Learning from this flexibility, future presidents can use the history of this time to make future decisions. Learning from the message in his inaugural, anyone can use it to reflect on the decisions that they make.
One of the weaknesses of Lincoln’s presidency was his finding of the right generals to fight the war (Miller Center). His impatience cost him many battles and the impossible nature of knowing the future outcome could make any president anxious with decisions. Eventually, the General Ulysses S. Grant was chosen and with his background, the Civil War was won by the Union Army. Although Lincoln turned out lucky with his finding of this general, that is not always the case. It should be noted that the tactic shown by Lincoln during this war was not one that many people choose and should not be chosen as a precaution. It is not ideal to switch up the reigning general of your army often, but it turned out to work for the Civil War.
After the Civil War concluded, Lincoln gave his final speeches and helped to start the process of the 13thamendment as well as Reconstruction. Many were tired from the war and still angry. The defeat left anger in the heart of John Wilkes Booth; the assassin charged with the murder of Abraham Lincoln. Even his death left a rippling impact on the nation. In fact, his funeral and death arrangements left a precedent of a proper funeral which has stuck around and was the reason why the price of funerals increased. It is clear that in both life and death, President Lincoln serves to be an icon to the people. It should be remembered that although he did end the war with the Emancipation Proclamation, it was not his intention to end slavery but as he swore to do, he did what he had to do to preserve, protect, and defend the people and the nation.
