American Studies

January, 2022 Instructor: Mr.Tran Quang Nam

ABRAHAM LINCOLN
One Of The Greatest Presidents Of The U.S.A
Written by : Le Thi Phuong

“How To Win and Influence

people” or “Dac Nhan Tam” in
Vietnamese by Dale Carnegie
is one of the most popular self-
help books among young
people in Vietnam. I had the
opportunity to read that book
and one of the stories that
impressed me the most was
Abraham Lincoln's Story of
Criticism. That's why I did a
little research to express my
fondness for this president and
his admiration for his great
personality.

LINCOLN'S LIFE STORY

“Government of the people, by the people, for the people”, are among
the most recognizable words of any US Politician. They belong to
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America.
Lincoln's remarkable leadership during the Civil War led him to become
one of the greatest presidents in American history. His role in freeing
the slaves won him the recognition as The Great Emancipator and paved
the way to forever abolish slavery in the United States. His dramatic and
untimely death left Americans in shock,leaving behind a presidential
legacy that will never be forgotten.
 American Studies

January, 2022 Instructor: Mr.Tran Quang Nam

LINCOLN'S CHILDHOOD

A braham Lincoln was born on

Sinking Springs Farm near
Hodgenville, Kentucky, on
February 12, 1809.

When Abraham was two, the family

moved to nearby Knob Creek Farm. Five
years later, the family moved again, to
the wilderness on Little Pigeon Creek in
Indiana.

On October 5, 1818, his mother died. His

father remarried a year later to Sarah
Bush Johnston. Fortunately, Sarah did not
favor her own children or her husband's
children. All five children are equally
cared for by her.

S
arah took education very
seriously and strongly
advocated learning.

She encouraged Lincoln to read

books she brought with her or
whatever books Lincoln could
find. She soon recognized
Lincoln's special qualities and
supported his son's pursuit of
knowledge.

At that time, books were difficult

to find, but Lincoln was willing to
walk dozens of kilometers to
borrow and read books. Lincoln
attended school for less than a
year, but by reading books, he
improved his knowledge and
vocabulary.
 American Studies

January, 2022 Instructor: Mr.Tran Quang Nam

LINCOLN'S YOUTH

A
s a young man in the
Pigeon Creek Valley of
Indiana, he not only
criticized but he wrote

letters and poems ridiculing people

and dropped these letters on the
country roads where they were
sure to be found. One of these
letters aroused resentments that
In the autumn of 1842 he
burned for a lifetime.
ridiculed a vain, pugnacious
politician by the name of James
Even after Lincoln had become a
Shields. Lincoln lamned him
practicing lawyer in Springfield,
through an anonymous letter
Illinois, he still kept his habit
published in Springfield Journal.
which is to criticize other people
He found out who wrote the
openly. But something happened
letter, and challenged him to
in 1842 that became
fight a duel. Lincoln didn’t want
unforgettable and changed
to fight. He was opposed to
Lincoln’s attitude.
dueling, but he couldn't get out of
it and save his honor. He was
given the choice of weapons. He
chose cavalry broadswords and
took lessons in sword fighting
from a West Point graduate; and,
on the appointed day, he and
Shields met on a sandbar in the
Mississippi River, prepared to
fight to the death; but, at the last
minute, their seconds interrupted
and stopped the duel. That was
the most lurid personal incident
in Lincoln's life. It taught him an
invaluable lesson in the art of
dealing with people. Never again
did he write an insulting letter.
Never again did he ridicule
anyone. And from that time on,
he almost never criticized
anybody for anything.

January, 2022
LINCOLN AS A PRESIDENT
“Government
of the people,
by the
people, for
the people”
The election of Abraham
Lincoln in November 1860
was perhaps the most
important in American
history. It brought Lincoln
to power at a time of great
national crisis, when the
country was falling apart
over the issue of
enslavement.
American Studies
Instructor: Mr.Tran Quang Nam
I
n May of 1860,
Republicans chose Lincoln
as their presidential
candidate, so he set aside
his law practice and started
focusing on his campaign.
That November at the
presidential election,
Lincoln once again faced
Douglas, but with support
from the northern states,
he was able to win the
White House and become
the 16th president of the
United States.
It was a difficult time in
the US and Lincoln was
facing a divided nation. It
was 1861, and the
American Civil War had
started. Lincoln was off to
a bad start. The country
was in crisis, but Lincoln
was determined to keep the
country together.
 American Studies

January, 2022 Instructor: Mr.Tran Quang Nam

LINCOLN AS A PRESIDENT
The Civil War & The Emancipation Proclamation

T he battle of Antietam in 1862, the bloodiest single-day battle in

American history is one of the key turning points of the Civil War.

The Union’s victory gave Lincoln the perfect time to announce the

Emancipation Proclamation, which declared freedom for all slaves in the

rebellious states. This victory led Lincoln to deliver The Gettysburg Address.

The speech, though

brief but effective,

expressed the war’s

purpose and the pursuit

of human equality. The

Gettysburg Address

became Lincoln’s most

famous speech and one

of the most quoted

speeches in history.

S ince Abraham Lincoln’s

Emancipation Proclamation

freed only those slaves held in

the Confederate States,

Lincoln submitted a proposed

amendment to the Constitution that

would abolish slavery for the entire

United States. That amendment became

the 13th amendment and was passed in

January, 1865. Finally, after 4 years of

continuous fighting, confederate

General Robert E. Lee surrendered to

Union General Ulysses S. Grant at the

Appomattox Court House in Virginia

on April 9, 1865, and the American Civil

War finally ended that year.

 American Studies

January, 2022 Instructor: Mr.Tran Quang Nam

LINCOLN AS A PRESIDENT
Lincoln's death

A A couple nights later, Lincoln and his wife were watching a play at

the Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C., where a tragic fate

awaited him. During the play, actor and confederate sympathizer,

John Wilkes Booth, slipped into the president’s box and shot

Lincoln straight in the back of his head. Abraham Lincoln died a

few hours later, on the morning of April 15, 1865.

Lincoln’s incredible impact

on the nation left the US with

an enduring legacy. Lincoln’s

face is featured on pennies

and five dollar bills. He’s had

many important memorials

built in his honor, including

the famous Mount Rushmore

in South Dakota and Lincoln

Memorial in Washington,

DC.Abraham Lincoln's

inspiring and effective

leadership throughout the

Civil War and as the 16th

President of the United States

forever earned him a place in

history.
 American Studies

January, 2022 Instructor: Mr.Tran Quang Nam

THE VALUE OF LINCOLN'S STORY

As President, Abraham Lincoln was

honored as the Great Liberator, succeeding
in his efforts to lead the United States
through the darkest period in its history.
From hired guy to lawyer, legislator, and
powerful president, he has rebuilt the
country after divides. Throughout his life
narrative, there are excellent
characteristics from which I may learn,
increase my knowledge, and beautify my
soul: a studious spirit, a strong will, and,
most importantly, a tolerant heart.
 American Studies

January, 2022 Instructor: Mr.Tran Quang Nam

REFERENCES
Lives, A. (2020, October 28). Abraham Lincoln: The Civil War President

(Complete Bio). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=nLzCfpDql_A&feature=youtu.be

Carnegie, D. (2022). How to win Friends & Influence People (100th

Printing ed.). SIMON & SCHUSTER.

Abraham Lincoln — Facts, Information and History on the Life of the

16th U.S. President. (n.d.). HistoryNet.

https://www.historynet.com/abraham-lincoln

The ENd