President Abraham Lincoln example essay topic

Abraham Lincoln was assuredly one of the greatest presidents in American history. This is demonstrated by his persistence and determination, his effective administration during the Civil War, the creation of policies that benefited everyone in the United States, and the efforts that kept the United States from splintering during the Civil War and from its aftermath. The life of Abraham Lincoln illustrates what great character and leadership can do for a country. Lincoln refused to let the poverty and hardships of his childhood deprive him of a successful life. Even though he had less than one year of formal schooling, he gave himself an education, which more than prepared him for the nations highest position, the Presidency. And since this ambitious young lawyer had a very strong desire to make a difference, he entered politics and finished eighth out of thirteen in a race for the Illinois House of Representatives in August 1832.

Abraham believed the government should be a positive force with the purpose of serving the people. He thought in order for him to have a significant influence on the government, and to have the most impact, he must achieve a high position in the government. And that included the position of the president of the United States, which, eventually, became his burning desire. In 1834, while practicing law in the law firm that he established with various partners, he ran for and won a seat in the Illinois Legislature and served a four-year term. And very quickly he gained and developed a reputation for being a capable and honest politician. Over the next decade, he experienced numerous business and political setbacks.

But, unlike most people, he didn't let any of these challenges discourage him from going after his aspirations. In 1836, Lincoln won election to Congress. Abraham took the next five years off politics and focused on his law practice. Again, he encountered numerous business setbacks and challenges, but he persisted. In 1854, he came back to the political arena. One of the first things he did was to oppose the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which threatened to extend slavery to other states.

In 1855, he ran for the Senate but was defeated. The next year, he ran for the vice presidency position and was also defeated. And in 1860, Lincoln's years of persistence, effort and hard work, finally, paid off when he was elected as the sixteenth President of the United States. But at this time, the states were no longer united. The South depended on slavery for its prosperity. So when the North opposed the extension of slavery into the new western states, the southern states broke away and formed their own union.

However, the newly elected President Lincoln decided that the original Union must be saved at all costs, even if it meant civil war. And in 1861, the war broke out. Lincoln made excellent decisions in the Civil War. He guided his nation from being torn apart by conflict.

He reacted quickly when the War was suddenly sprung upon him. His blockade of the southern ports weakened the south by stopping its income from trade and his immediate expansion of the Union Army gave the north a powerful battalion to combat the Confederacy. Some of his actions were controversial, such as suspension of habeas corpus (the right to protest unlawful imprisonment of a person and take it to court) for certain Confederate supporters who were too loud in their support, but it prevented unrest when unity was needed to fight the Confederacy. Lincoln appointed generals that, though not always successful, were competent, including the famed Ulysses S. Grant. Lincoln kept national unity, moderating his own views of slavery to keep the Border States of Kentucky, Missouri, Delaware and Maryland. He managed to stop and European nations from interfering with his foreign diplomacy and his speeches, such as the famed Gettysburg address, held the people's support to him and the Union.

During the Civil War, all was not concentrated on the battle on the field. Life did go on, however nervously, and out of this period arose several beneficial policies of Lincoln's. These policies aided towards the peaceful and prosperous nation in the United States today. Economically, the policies Lincoln created were ideal. The first federally controlled paper money was issued in 1861, establishing a secure standard of money, one not threatened by failure in any way.

To the settlers were granted 65 hectares of public land by the Homestead Act, free of charge, beginning in 1862, enhancing the growth of the United States and bringing more people to create a thriving population. President Lincoln's policies also promoted national unity and communication. The transcontinental telegraph, first of its kind, was completed in 1861. It connected all of eastern United States with California and allowed a speedy way of communicating across a country. Free mail delivery in the cities of the United States was allowed in 1863, promoting communication between the people.

Finally, there was the Emancipation Proclamation on the first day of the year 1863. It released all the slaves in the states that were still in rebellion. Though it did not have much real effect at the time, it pointed a way to a brighter future. President Abraham Lincoln handled the end of the war admirably. He put the nation back together and did not punish the south as wanted by some. His plan of reconstruction was accepted and the slaves were all freed, showing the rest of the world a virtuous country.

He admitted that his reconstruction was not perfect, but convinced his people to accept it and work on it over letting their sister states leave and banishing the hope of a unified nation forever. Even his assassination did some good, for it brought the nation even closer. Lincoln's critics praised him and the people had their ideals matched to "Father Abe'. The Americans were sorrowful of the death of their great president and in them arose a devotion to the United States envisioned by Abraham Lincoln. President Abraham Lincoln was truly one of the greatest US Presidents ever to live. His skill in leading his nation earned him a worthy reputation as a man of integrity and virtue.

He sacrificed his sleep, peace of mind and much of his happiness to see the United States through. His humble background only made him more of a representation of the possibilities of the United States and increased his popularity with the people of the Unites States, driving toward a greater nation. I believe president Abraham Lincoln led the United States through one of the most difficult times in United States history, and not only bringing survival to the nation but created an even better place, improving the Constitution and starting the United States on its road to greatness. His determination and persistence in the cause of his nation earned him a place in the heart of Americans, as on of the greatest presidents of the United States.