FREE ESSAY ON HONEST ABE (ABE LINCOLN)

HONEST ABE (ABE LINCOLN)

INTRODUCTION 
Abraham Lincoln, Honest Abe, is one of the greatest American Presidents. He is known
today for his Presidency in which he fought the Confederacy during the Civil War and
abolished slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation and later the Thirteenth Amendment.
He was an intelligent, honest, and just leader who governed at a critical time in
American history.
PRE-PRESIDENCY
Lincoln was born on the twelfth of February 1809 in a cabin three miles outside of
Hodgenville, Kentucky. He was later forced to move to Indiana. As a child Lincoln worked
on his family's farm clearing fields and tending crops. He liked to read but
unfortunately received hardly any formal education. In fact, his entire schooling only
amounted to about one year of attendance. (Brit. 23) In 1830 Lincoln's family moved to
Illinois. Lincoln didn't want to be a farmer, so he tried other professions:
rail-splitter, flatboat man, storekeeper, postmaster, surveyor, an army man, and a
profession in Law.
In 1932 Lincoln, at twenty-three years old, decided to run for the Illinois State
legislature. Lincoln was to campaign for local improvements such as better roads and
canals. However, a war with the Indians broke out before Lincoln's campaign could get
going. In response, he joined the Army. After his short wartime, Lincoln returned to
politics and lost the race of Illinois Legislature. In 1834 he ran again and was elected-
second of thirteen. At the age of 25 Lincoln was a member of the Illinois Legislature. 
After his term in the legislature, Lincoln found he needed more money. So, he started
studying law on his own. He accepted a job in Springfield at John Todd Stuart's practice.

In the late 1830's Lincoln found the love of his life, Mary Ann Todd, the daughter of a
rich banker. She got engaged to Abe in 1840 and the two were married in 1842. They had
thee children together, Willie and Tad Lincoln.
In 1946 Lincoln won the Whig nomination for a seat in the House of Representatives for
Illinois and sat in Congress in 1847. The major issues of the time were the
Mexican-American war, which Lincoln opposed, and slavery. Lincoln was not an anti-slavery
crusader. However, he did vote in Congress to stop it from spreading. Morally, Lincoln
hated slavery and said slaver was "founded on both injustice and bad policy." He wanted
to abolish slavery over time because he thought dramatic actions to end slavery would
lead to violence. Lincoln felt that Congress should not interfere with slavery in states
in which it already existed. After his term in Congress, Lincoln left politics again for
a full time law practice.
In the early 1850's Senator Stephen Douglas opened the issue of slavery in the
territories of Kansas and Nebraska. In 1854, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska act,
allowing the issue of slavery in Kansas and Nebraska to be decided by popular
sovereignty. Lincoln was "thunderstruck and stunned." This act brought him back into
politics. He felt obligated to speak out against the Kansas-Nebraska act. So, after
Lincoln left law he traveled across Illinois campaigning for anti-slavery Whigs. In his
campaigning Lincoln called slavery a "cancer" and a "monstrous injustice." He said he
believed in the Declaration of Independence, which states "all men are created equal."
However, he wasn't sure of what to do with slavery in the states where it already existed
in. 
In 1856, Lincoln switched from the Whig Party to the Republican Party because the Whigs
were weak and could never unite against slavery. Lincoln felt that if he wanted to make a
point he would have to be with a strong party. 
In 1858, Lincoln won the Republican Nomination for the Illinois Senate seat. He wanted
the seat of his long time rival, Senator Stephen Douglas. In Lincoln's first speech for
his Senate campaign Lincoln said, "I believe this government cannot endure, permanently,
half slave and half free." Lincoln warned his opponents that the spread of slavery must
be stopped or else it would become "lawful in all the states; old as well as new- north
as well as south." 
In July of 1958, Lincoln challenged Senator Douglas to a series of seven three-hour,
public debates. Thousands of people showed up to watch the Little Giant (Douglas) vs.
Long Abe. Douglas fought for white supremacy. He believed the country could endure half
free and half slave. Douglas said whites made this country therefore they should run it.
Lincoln wanted equality. During one debate Lincoln said:
"There is no reason in the world why the Negro is not entitled to all the natural rights
enumerated in the Declaration of Independence, the right of life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness. I hold that he is as much entitled to these as the white man."
In the end, Douglas won the Senate election by a hair. However, Lincoln did not give up.
His debates with Douglas had made him famous across Illinois. Lincoln kept debating and
got a lot of Republican support. Lincoln got so much support that the Republicans felt he
could win the presidential election. So, they tried to get him nominated. 
The Lincoln-Douglas debates were incredibly crucial to Lincoln's future career. It was
this series of debates that made Lincoln well known throughout the country. In fact,
Lincoln probably would not have won the Presidential Election in 1860 if he hadn't
debated with Douglas. Douglas was far better known than Lincoln was throughout the
country and in Illinois. At the Lincoln-Douglas debates people from miles around would
come to watch the two men speak in the remote towns of Illinois. Reporters from around
the nation came and jotted down what the two men said. What was said at the debates could
be read in the newspapers of major cities the very next day. It was Lincoln-Douglas
debates that first gave Lincoln nation wide publicity. Lincoln probably would not have
ended up in the White House if it had not been for these debates.
PRESIDENCY PRE-CIVIL-WAR 
At the Illinois Republican Convention in May 1860 Lincoln was chosen as the Republican's
favorite Presidential Candidate. One week later at the National Republican Convention,
Lincoln was nominated on the third ballot. Lincoln was running against two Democrats
Stephen Douglas of Illinois, and John C. Breckenridge, a southern Democrat from
Kentucky.
On Election Day—November 6, 1860—Lincoln won the election with 1,866,000
votes. He carried every Northern State. Southerners hated this "black Republican" and his
name did not appear on any southern ballots. Douglas got 1,377,000 votes and Breckenridge
received 850,000. If the Democratic Party had not split Lincoln would not have been
elected. Douglas and Breckenridge's votes combined were more than the total number of
votes for Lincoln. So, if Breckenridge hadn't run, almost all Democratic votes would have
gone to Douglas. 
I also believe, that if Douglas were elected, a civil war would not have broken out.
Douglas believed the nation could endure half-free half slave. He did not feel strongly
about slavery. Unlike Lincoln, Douglas did not care if slavery spread through America. If
it weren't for Lincoln slavery could have spread into new states and territories. It was
Lincoln's boldness against slavery that created nation wide freedom in America.
As soon as Lincoln was elected some southern states threatened to secede from the Union.
The South hated Lincoln. An Atlanta newspaper said, "Let the consequences be what they
may… the south will never submit such humiliation and degradation as the
inauguration of Abraham Lincoln." And so, sure enough, in December, the slave state South
Carolina seceded from the Union. During the next three months before Lincoln's
inauguration, seven more slave states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate
States of America with their capital in Richmond, Virginia. In February, Senator
Jefferson Davis of Mississippi became the president of the Confederacy. On the 4th of
March 1861, Lincoln was sworn into office. In his inaugural address Lincoln told the
people he would not tamper with slavery in the states where it already existed. 
"I have no purpose, directly or indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery
in the states where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no
inclination to do so."
Little did the people know what Lincoln was going to do. He later said in his address "In
your [the American people] hands, my dissatisfied countrymen, and not mine is the
momentous issue of civil war." Lincoln went on to say he would do everything he could to
"preserve, protect, and defend" the Union.
THE CIVIL WAR
Lincoln believed the Union could be saved without any blood. However, On April 14, 1861
Fort Sumter, at the entrance to the Charleston Harbor in South Carolina, was taken over
by the Confederacy. The long Civil War had begun.
The Union had claimed the loyalty of 23 states, 22 million people. It was had an
industrial economy which could produce rifles, cannons, shoes and everything else an army
might need quickly. One thing, however, which the factories could not produce was good
generals. Throughout most of the Civil War this would be a constant problem. 
The Confederacy had 11 states, 9 million people of which almost four million were slaves.
Its economy was agricultural. Unlike the Union, the Confederacy "held a monopoly of
military talent." (LPB 73) Soldiers also knew the land on which the war was fought and
had acquired military skills from hunting. 
Lincoln decided he needed to keep other countries from helping the confederacy. So, he
set up naval blockades in Confederate ports. Then, Lincoln launched three major
offensives: One into Virginia, another into Tennessee, and a third to take control of the
Mississippi River. He gave General George B. McClellan control of eastern armies.
McClellan trained his men very carefully but took a long time doing it. 
Lincoln found relief from the pressures of the war in his home life with his wife Mary
and his two boys: Willie and Tad. However, in February of 1862 both boys became ill. Tad
recovered. Willie, on the other hand, was not as fortunate. On February 20, 1862 William
Wallace Lincoln died. This devastated the Lincoln family. Mary was so disturbed that she
could not attend his funeral. 
By the spring of '62, the north had captured New Orleans and was gaining control of the
Mississippi. Around June, McClellan led his troops to Richmond. He brought his troops
there slowly and thus, the Confederates found out and had time to muster their defenses.
While McClellan's troops were waiting outside of Richmond, Lee launched a
counter-offensive driving McClellan all the way back to the James River. More than 23,000
men were killed, wounded, or missing. McClellan's long anticipated attack on Richmond had
failed.
On the eastern front the Union had not won a battle yet and he could not find a competent
commander. So, he made himself the Commander in Chief of all armies. McClellan remained
supreme commander. Lincoln tried General Henry W. Halleck at the top military position.
He was a failure. Halleck gave good advice but was a flake when it came to being decisive
in military action. 
Initially, Lincoln stated that he would leave slavery alone where it existed. However,
abolitionists were urging Lincoln to "teach rebels and traitors that the price they are
to pay for the attempt to abolish this country must be the abolition of slavery." On the
other hand, there were also Northerners who supported the Union but not emancipation.
Lincoln worried about the support of these states and the loyal slave states: Kentucky,
Missouri, Maryland, and Delaware. 
Lincoln wanted to start emancipation in the loyal states and sweep the rebel states with
it as they were conquered, giving money to slave owners as their slaves were freed. He
suggested this plan to the loyal slave states' congressmen. However, they didn't like it.
"Emancipation in the cotton states is simply an absurdity," said a Kentucky congressman.
So, Lincoln changed his plan. He realized that slavery was crucial to the South's success
in the war. If he could get rid of slavery the south would be crippled and would lose any
support from Britain. Britain was willing to help the south because they supplied cotton
to them. Without slaves the South could not produce nearly as much cotton. There was too
much antislavery sentiment in Britain for them to support a country's fight for the
preservation of slaves. Besides, the Union also needed troops and slaves were eager to
get out of their chains and fight for the North. Without emancipation the Civil War
wouldn't mean enough. The reason for the Southern States' secession in the first place
was slavery. Lincoln thought that even if the Union was reunited there would be another
war over slavery. However, he questioned his own authority to abolish slavery. 
When Lincoln was inaugurated he said he did not have the right to emancipate. However, as
a wartime measure he felt he did have the power to do so. So, Lincoln devised a plan to
crush slavery in the rebel states but preserve the loyalty of the Union slave states. His
plan was called the Emancipation Proclamation.
The Emancipation Proclamation said all slaves were "then, thenceforward, and forever
free" on the first of January 1863. Lincoln then planned to gradually emancipate slavery
in the loyal states. However, the Union had not had a victory in a long time. Lincoln
felt that if the proclamation were released then it would seem like an act of
desperation. So, he awaited a decisive military victory by the North. 
In July the Union was whipped once again at the second battle of Bull Run. However, at
the Battle of Antietam McClellan tried to repel Lee in Maryland while he was advancing to
Philadelphia. He was successful and on September 17, 1862 Lee retreated back to Virginia.
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest battle yet in the Civil War. It was the victory
Lincoln had been waiting for. Five days later, on the twenty-third of September, Lincoln
released the Emancipation Proclamation to the press. This proclamation changed the
Union's war effort. Before the Emancipation Proclamation the North was fighting for the
preservation of the Union. Now, the Union was fighting to free slaves as well. The
Emancipation Proclamation also let black men serve in the army. By the end of the war
more than 180,000 blacks would enlist in the Union army and would serve in every theater
of war. 
During a New Years day reception Lincoln and his cabinet left the party and went into
Lincoln's office. There, Lincoln read them the final draft of the Emancipation
Proclamation. "If my name ever goes into history it will be for this act," he said. 
Although many rejoiced over the Emancipation Proclamation, there were some Northern
Democrats who didn't care about the abolition of slavery and were angered by the
Emancipation Proclamation. Northern Democrats had supported the war to save the Union
with slavery intact. They did not want to fight for the freedom of slaves. The
proclamation brought out a lot of anti-Lincoln feelings. Northern Democrats accused
Lincoln of being a dictator and a tyrant. However, Lincoln held his ground. When he was
asked to change the Emancipation Proclamation Lincoln said, "I am a slow walker, but I
never walk backwards."
In order to deal with the anti war northerners Lincoln suspended the right of habeas
corpus in some areas of America. Habeas corpus is the right to a fair trial in front of a
judge. When an area is put under martial law the people of that area lose their rights to
a trial along with some other individual rights. Lincoln felt it was necessary to declare
martial law because southern sympathizers in the North hurt the Union war effort.
Suspending the right of habeas corpus was legal because it was a measure of war to get
rid of the "enemy in the rear." 
By 1863, the Union was hard pressed for soldiers. In fact, they needed soldiers so much
that on March 3, 1863 Congress passed the first Conscription Act. The Conscription Act
allowed Lincoln to draft men between the ages of 20 and 45. Only was a man allowed to get
out of the draft if he could hire another man for $300 to take his place in the army.
Between martial law and the new draft law there were a lot of anti-war feelings
throughout the country. In 1863, Northern Democrats organized a peace movement to end the
whole war. These Peace Democrats protested against Lincoln, the draft, the Emancipation
Proclamation, Martial Law, and blacks in military. Lincoln reminded his people that there
were thousands of black soldiers fighting and dying for the Union cause:
"You say you will not fight to free Negroes. Some of them seem willing to fight for
you…. Why should they do anything for us if we will do nothing for them? If they
stake their lives for us, they must be prompted by the strongest motive—even the
promise of freedom. And the promise being made, must be kept."
Lincoln's fellow Republican's fought against the anti-war Democrats as well. The pro-war
Republicans called the Peace Democrats "Copperheads." The Republicans said Peace
Democrats were hurting the war effort and helping the rebels. Lincoln fought against the
Copperheads with martial law. He told army officers to arrest anyone who obstructed the
draft or helped the rebels in any way. 
Draft riots broke out across the country. In New York City on July 13, 1863 mobs went
through the city attacking houses, shops, and people for days. In total, 128 people were
killed; most of which were black.
Lincoln was still having trouble finding good commanders. At Antietam McClellan defeated
Lee but failed to pursue him when he retreated. "McClellan has got the slows," said
Lincoln. In November 1862, Lincoln fired the cautious McClellan. Then, Lincoln tried
Generals Burnside and Hooker, both of which failed. 
After General Hooker, Lincoln tried General George Meade, who rushed to Pennsylvania to
stop Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. There, 170,000 troops clashed. The
Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle of the war. By, July 4, with 50,000
casualties on both sides Lee's troops began to retreat. When Lincoln learned of this he
told Meade to go after Lee and destroy his army. Meade, however, hesitated-- letting
Lee's men escape. "We had them in our grasp," said Lincoln. "We only had to stretch forth
our hands and they were ours."
Four months after the Battle of Gettysburg a ceremony was held to "dedicate a portion of
it [the Gettysburg battle field] as the final resting place of those who here gave their
lives." (Gettysburg Address) Edward Everett was the main speaker and spoke for about two
hours. After Everett was through, Lincoln said the few words that America now knows so
well, the Gettysburg Address. At the time Lincoln and most of the people who heard him
speak at Gettysburg were disappointed. Little did they know how famous those words would
become. 
On the western front things were looking bright. Ulysses S. Grant had been winning
decisive victories. The day after the battle of Gettysburg, Grant had taken control of
the last important Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi, Vicksburg. Early in 1864,
Lincoln appointed Grant as the commander in chief of all Union armies.
Together, Lincoln and Grant came up with a master plan to finally beat the Rebels. They
planned to launch coordinate offensives against the Confederacy from all directions. In
the East, Grant would attack Lee in Virginia, driving towards the rebel capital,
Richmond. In the west General Sherman would go from Tennessee into Georgia, capturing
Atlanta which was, at the time, a crucial railway center for the rebels. From there,
Sherman would go towards Virginia, squeezing the Confederacy and eventually taking over
their capital. Lincoln was hopeful. "Grant is the first general I have had. You know how
it has been with all the rest. They wanted me to be the general. I am glad to find a man
who can go ahead without me."
In May 1864 the offensive began. Grant marched down to Virginia but was met my Lee's
newly rebuilt army in a densely wooded area call the Wilderness. Grant fought three major
battles near Richmond but still could not take the city. During Grant's Wilderness
campaign roughly 54,000 Union soldiers were killed or wounded. Things were better for
Sherman. After a long siege at Atlanta the city fell and was evacuated. Sherman's men
then went into the city and destroyed everything that could be used by the South for war.
Sherman then marched through Georgia ruining everything in his path: crops, houses,
livestock etc. Meanwhile, Grant was slowly taking hold of Richmond. By November the end
of the war was in sight for the Union. 
In the election of 1864 recent Union victories gave Lincoln much support and sure enough,
Lincoln was reelected on November 8, 1865. He had won by almost half a million votes out
of some four million cast. Lincoln felt he should now, after winning the election, push
for a Constitutional Amendment permanently outlawing slavery everywhere in the United
States. Lincoln pressured anti-abolition Congressmen who apposed the amendment in the
winter of '64. Finally, on January 31, 1865 Congress passed the 13th Amendment to the
Constitution outlawing slavery "within the United States, or any place subject to their
jurisdiction." 
On March 4, 1865 Lincoln was sworn into office. In his address he denigrated slavery,
calling it a hateful and evil practice. He said that now that slavery had been abolished
it was time for healing. However, Lincoln said he did not feel "malice" towards
Southerners.
Even as Lincoln spoke, the Union victory machine was in action. Sherman marched up the
coast capturing the city of Savannah. Then, he moved up towards Virginia and on his way
captured Charleston, South Carolina. Then on April 2, after a long siege, the Confederate
capital, Richmond, was evacuated and the Confederate government was moved to their new
capital in Danville, Virginia. The next day Union troops moved in to officially take
control of the city.
Then, on April 9, 1865 Lee and Grant met with their armies at Appomattox Courthouse,
Virginia. There, Grant accepted Lee's surrender. Lee's men then lay down their weapons,
thus, ending the long Civil War. 
The Civil War had lasted almost four years. More than 600,000 United States men had died.
That's more than the total number of lives lost from every war the U.S has fought in
combined. Neither side had expected the war to last as long as it did or for the war to
put an end to slavery. 
After the Civil War, many friends of President Lincoln were worried about the safety of
his life. He had been receiving threats of assassination in the mail and everyone knew
how much hate there was towards Lincoln, especially from the ex-Confederates. So,
bodyguards, cavalry escorts, and even troops camping out on the White House lawn
protected Lincoln as best they could. However, all the precautions failed. On, the night
of April 14, 1865 Lincoln and his wife attended the theater. Then, in the third act John
Wilkes Booth came into the President's box and shot Lincoln in the head. Doctors rushed
to try and save the wounded President. However, on the morning of April 15, 1865 Abraham
Lincoln died in his bed at the age of 56.
Lincoln's funeral was held in the East Room of the White House on April 19, 1865. After
his funeral a long procession carried the President to the Capital Building. On the 21st
a funeral train brought Lincoln to his final resting-place in Springfield, Illinois. 
A GREAT COMMANDER WHO 
HANDLED SLAVERY WELL
In the Civil War, Lincoln was a great commander. For most of the war he had trouble
finding a good commander to run a campaign in the East. So, Lincoln was forced to almost
single handedly head the Union campaign in the East. Early in the war, Lincoln could rely
on the good strategic advice of his general in chief, Winfield Scott. Scott had proposed
the "Anaconda Plan." In his plan, Scott wanted to blockade the Southern coast and take
control of the Mississippi squeezing the Confederacy and isolating them completely.
Lincoln agreed with his plan but wanted to go further. He wanted the Union to take more
of an offensive. So, he tightened the blockade and called for more troops. In this sense
Lincoln was ruthless. Later, towards the end of the war, Lincoln, with the help of
General Grant devised the plan that crushed the rebellion. Today, when we think of
Lincoln, the fact that he was a good commander doesn't stand out in our minds. However,
after carefully looking over his bold, decisive actions in the Civil War I realized that
he was indeed a great commander.
Lincoln handled slavery very well. Even though he was morally against slavery he was
careful in dealing with it. His handling of slavery suits Roosevelt's saying, "Walk
softly and carry a big stick." 
In the election of 1860 Lincoln knew he had to have minimal enemies. So, as to not anger
any pro-slavery voters Lincoln said he would not tamper with slavery in states in which
it already existed. When Lincoln was inaugurated he said the same thing. He did this to
try and keep America out of a Civil War. However, many slave states felt they needed to
expand slavery. In order to do so they needed to get out of Lincoln's domain. Once slave
states started seceding Lincoln knew he had to crush the rebellion, but keep the border
slave states loyal. So, Lincoln, once again, promised he would not take away their
slavery. By doing this he kept a lot of Union support. 
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation raised a lot of anti-war feelings. Before announcing
his plan he consulted politicians from the loyal slave states to make sure they approved.
In his original plan Lincoln was going to start emancipation in loyal states. However,
after listening to the views of a Kentucky Congressman Lincoln found that the border
slave states would be infuriated if they became free states. At that point, when Lincoln
was writing the Emancipation Proclamation, the Union was being beaten right and left and
could not afford to lose the loyalty of the border states. 
Throughout the war Lincoln had the support of Republicans. However, after the
Emancipation Proclamation was released many neutral and pro-war people became critical of
Lincoln and the war. To control these Copperheads Lincoln declared martial law in certain
parts of the country. In this sense he carried "a big stick." 
After Lincoln won the election of 1864 he decided it was time to push forward with
emancipation. If his actions had been too strong before the election he would have lost a
lot of votes. So, that winter Lincoln started strongly pressing for the 13th Amendment,
outlawing slavery permanently. Lincoln's timing for the amendment was impeccable. Also,
to ensure two-thirds vote in the house, Lincoln asked an Ohio congressman to get three
doubtful Democratic votes for the 13th Amendment by bribing the doubtful voters with
certain positions in office and other areas that Lincoln had influence over. 
The greatest thing Lincoln ever did was handle slavery so well. He appeased the border
states by not taking away slavery in their states and in that sense he walked "softly."
He had to deal with the Copperheads with an iron fist and in that sense Lincoln carried
"a big stick." In general Lincoln is an American hero but he is most famed and rightfully
famed for the freeing of slaves.
IN CONCLUSION
Lincoln was one of the best Presidents, if not the best, in American history. In his era,
Lincoln was viewed by some as dictator and a tyrant. However, over time the American
people have come to recognize and appreciate what Lincoln has done more and more to the
extent of the Lincoln Memorial and his face on Mount Rushmore. He governed the country at
possibly the most critical time in the United States' history, a time when the very
existence of America was at stake. We were lucky to have Lincoln in office during that
time. He has affected the world today more than any other man in that century. He handled
slavery extremely well and was a great commander. His speaking ability engrossed
audiences throughout his career. He died because of what he believed in and he will never
be forgotten. I personally, believe that Abraham Lincoln was the finest President this
country has ever had. 
Final word count: 4,791 words
Bibliography
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln: a photobiography
MAcropedia, britannica