Essay on Abraham Lincoln

Submitted By yobany
Words: 947
Pages: 4
Open Document
Jovany Morales
January 23, 2012
Period 2
Kalayjian

Historical Research Essay:
Abraham Lincoln- Emancipation Proclamation

As the glowing sun set over the bloody fields of Antietam, the Civil War became a different War. Five days after the battle at Antietam was won, armed with pen and paper, Abraham Lincoln changed the war when he issued, one of the most important and controversial documents in America history, the Emancipation Proclamation. Congress and the northern states were urging emancipation. Escaped slaves were fleeing to the Union army as it advanced in the South, complicating military operations. Issued on September 22, 1862, Lincoln's preliminary proclamation declared that on New Year's, 1863, “all persons held as slaves within any State… then… in rebellion against the United States shall be then, henceforward, and forever free"(Basler). The final Emancipation Proclamation, issued January 1, 1863, authorized the recruitment of blacks into the Union Army, which abolitionist leaders such as Frederick Douglass had been urging since the beginning of armed conflict. By the end of the war, almost 200,000 black soldiers and sailors had fought for the Union and freedom. Human slavery was the focus of political conflict in the United States from the 1830s to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate for presidency in 1860, personally abhorred slavery and was pledged to prevent it from spreading to western territories. At the same time he believed that the Constitution did not allow federal government to prohibit slavery in states where it already existed. The election of Lincoln led to the secession of eleven slave-holding states and the beginning of the civil war. The states feared Lincoln would restrict their right to do as they chose about the question of black and white, so they created the Confederate South. Four slave-holding states remained in the Union however; Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland and Delaware. The Confederate South glowers at Abraham Lincoln because the states thought that he will take their God given rights over African- Americans. They believe that the slaves are not people but property; they also believe that the white race must take care of the inferior blacks and in return the blacks must work. The separation of the South ended in the debacle of the United States and the people. During the first part of the war, abolitionists and some military leaders urged Lincoln to issue a proclamation freeing the slaves. They argued that such a policy would benefit the North because slaves were contributing greatly to the Confederate war effort. By doing most of the South's farming and factory work, callow slaves made whites available for the Confederate army. But still Lincoln feared that he freeing the slaves would divide the North, he believed that the four slave-holding states would secede if he adopted such a policy, and he saw them as vital to the survival of the Union By 1862 large numbers of slaves were escaping and seeking refuge with Union armies. Lincoln recognized that the extraordinary pressure of the war was gradually destroying the institution of slavery, even without legal emancipation. “In July 1862 or the first part of the month of August, this cabinet meeting took place” (Carpenter, Francis). Lincoln read a draft of the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet. One of his ministers suggested that the President wait to issue it until after the Union victory, so that it would not sound like the last desperate act of a losing government. Lincoln agreed and waited for his generals to win the war. The battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862, was the bloodiest single
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln Dbq

past presidential actions. During the year of 1861, Abraham Lincoln ran for presidency and became the sixteenth president up until the end of his presidential role in the year 1865. Lincoln is commonly known as “honest Abe,” and so was known to never tell a lie. Since the day Abraham Lincoln became president, he was one “for the people” and was one to fight for the rights and liberties to those who faced segregation. Since Abraham Lincoln was able to take responsibility for the country, and manage…

Words 1640 - Pages 7

Abraham Lincoln Impact

Howard 1 Abraham Lincoln and his impact There are seven known world wonders, but America has sculpted itself into the eighth wonder of the world. America has been the symbol of prosperity and hope to people all over the world. Even though America has endured many leaders, wars, and many trials and tribulations, it rose to the challenge. During the creation of America and its upbringing to become a great nation, many important figures paved the way to make it all possible. One man stands out before…

Words 2253 - Pages 10

Abraham Lincoln Hardships

The Hardships of Abraham Lincoln By Damon Stewart “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.”said John Quincy Adams. Abraham Lincoln went through hardships and he persevered through them. One of them is the death of his love and some of his family, a second is that he suffered through inferiority, and third he was the president during the worst war in American history. First, he lost his love and some of his family. His mom died when…

Words 440 - Pages 2

Abraham Lincoln Essay

Today he is known as one of the greatest American presidents, but at the time of his election no one would have predicted Lincoln's success. On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected as the sixteenth president of the United States. The outcome of the election directly led to the secession of seven states and ultimately, the Civil War. During his presidency he dealt with the cohesiveness of the Union and slavery. As a political leader, Lincoln's views about slavery changed as he had to worry…

Words 516 - Pages 3

Abraham Lincoln Essay

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth president of the United States. He presided during the Civil War, issued the Emancipation Proclamation, initiated Reconstruction, and was assassinated shortly after beginning his second term as president. Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. In 1830, Lincoln’s family moved to Mason County, Illinois where he got a job as working on a river flatboat moving freight down the Mississippi river to New Orleans. He also worked…

Words 455 - Pages 2

Essay Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln Lincoln Herbst 4/22/2015 Mrs.Tupmann English8 Many people have made conversation over Lincoln’s death disputing on if Booth and his followers had plotted to commit the horrendous crime or if Booth acted alone. Many historians believe that Booth was not alone however, due to the notes that were found on his dead body and just the plain hate of the remaining confederate sympathizers that assisted Booth throughout his entire plan. I personally believe…

Words 1214 - Pages 5

Abraham Lincoln Thesis

Implied and Outline Thesis Statements. The strengths and weaknesses of a former U.S. president (Argumentative Essay) 1. Despite his unpopularity with the public, Abraham Lincoln proved his many strengths as a president. 2. Abraham Lincoln was a revolutionary president because he abolished slavery, stood by his morals, and avoided corruption. The four stages of culture shock (Process) 1. It is extremely important to understand the four stages that occur when experiencing a new culture. 2. The…

Words 127 - Pages 1

Abraham Lincoln Roles

Adult Roles & Responsibility 6, November 2015 Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was the 16th president of the United States. He was well known as a hero for abolishing slavery in the United States during the civil war (1861-1865). Abraham was born and lived in an old log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky with his father (Thomas Lincoln), and his mother (Nancy Lincoln). Abe's father was a pioneer who was well respected by the community. Abraham had two siblings who died in their infancy,…

Words 517 - Pages 3

Abraham Lincoln Accomplishments

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a small log cabin in Hodgenville, Kentucky. Even though he lost the presidential election five times before actually becoming president, he was very successful in office Abraham Lincoln had a very successful law career, even though he did not get a college or law degree. He was a great president and a great lawyer, and won many cases, like the McLean County tax case for the railroad. Abraham Lincoln also had many famous speeches and letters like the…

Words 254 - Pages 2

Abraham Lincoln Essay

Abraham Lincoln is often hailed as the greatest president of all times, he was a strong leader during one of the worst crisis in American history. Abraham Lincoln never liked to talk much about his early life. He was born on February 12, 1809 in Hardin County, Kentucky in a log cabin with one window, one door, a chimney, and a hard packed dirty floor. His parents were Thomas and Nancy Lincoln; they named Abraham after his pioneer grandfather who was shot dead by hostile Indians in 1786, while planting…

Words 394 - Pages 2