Abraham Lincoln

-Honest Abe-

Moise Alin-Stefan Class: a XII-a D

«He was what Beethoven was in music, Dante in poetry, Raphael in painting, the
Christ in the philosophy of life…»
Leo Tolstoy
 The Early Years

• Born February 12th, 1809 • Moved to Indiana at age 7

• In a log cabin near Hodgenville, • Mother dies in 1818 from milk
Kentucky sickness
• Son of Thomas and Nancy Hanks • Father remarries to Sarah Bush
Lincoln Johnston
• Lincoln loved to read
• Preferred reading to working in
the fields
• Led to difficult relationship with
his father
• Borrowed books from neighbors
• The Lincolns moved again in 1830 • Impressed residents with his
in Illinois character
• Lived in New Salem, Illinois until • Earned nickname “Honest Abe”
1837
• Worked odd jobs – store clerk,
surveying, and postmaster
 Henry Clay was
Kentucky's most
prominent nineteenth-
century politician. He was
Abraham Lincoln's
political idol.
 Lincoln and his family

• He met Mary Todd in Springfield, IL

in 1839
• Married her in 1842
• Next eleven years 4 children
• Robert, Edward, William (Willie),
and Thomas (Tad)
 Serving the State of Illinois

• 1832 – Lincoln unsuccessful in • He studied law in spare time,

run for Illinois legislature became lawyer in 1836
• 1834, 1836, 1838, 1840 – won • Member of the Whig party
these races for Illinois legislature (remained a Whig until 1856)
• “The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us
from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me.”

• Speech on the Sub-Treasury, IL House of Representatives 12-26-1839

 Congress

• 1846 – Lincoln elected to the House of Representatives

• Opposed the Mexican War
• Opposed slavery
• After his term was over, he returned to Illinois to practice law
 Washington Cont’d

• He made unsuccessful attempt for

seat in the Senate in 1854
• 1856 – received support for
Republican Vice-Presidential
nomination
• Opposed the Dred Scott decision
 The rise of Abraham Lincoln

• 1858 – Lincoln challenges

Stephen Douglas (Compromise of
1850) for Illinois US Senate seat
• He debated Slavery
 Issues and ideas
• Stephen Douglas • Abraham Lincoln
• “The Little Giant” • Little known lawyer
• 5’ 1” tall • Abolitionist
• Freeport Doctrine – slavery decided • 6’ 4” tall
by popular sovereignty
• Slavery was morally wrong
• Slavery was not morally wrong
 Issues

• 1. Expansion of slavery
2. Popular sovereignty
3. Dred Scott decision
4. Freeport Doctrine
5. African-American Citizenship
• “A house divided against itself cannot
stand. I believe this government cannot
endure permanently half-slave and half-
free. I do not expect the Union to be
dissolved – I do not expect the house to
fall – but I do expect it will cease to be
divided. It will become all the one thing or
all the other.”

• House Divided Speech in Springfield, IL

3-4-1858
 Election of 1860
• 4 Major Candidates (including
Lincoln)
• Abraham Lincoln, IL—turned out had strongest hand:
• Was former anti-slavery Whig in a party full of these
• Had reputation as a moderate
• Had opposed Know Nothings
• Had reputation for integrity and honesty
• Embodied ideology of upward mobility
• Came from crucial state
• Unique in American history because came down to two separate races: Lincoln vs.
Douglas in the North and Breckinridge vs. Bell in the South
• in 10 southern states, Lincoln did not even have a ticket and in 5 remaining slave
states received 4% of popular vote
• Lincoln won by carrying northern states plus OR and CA—purely sectional
victory with less than 40% of popular vote
Results of 1860 Election
Photograph showing March 4, 1861
inauguration of
Abraham Lincoln in front of U.S.
Capitol, which was
undergoing construction
 Conclusion
Although the true genius of Abraham Lincoln's leadership ability has often been overlooked, during his lifetime there were a few key people, mostly in his inner circle, who did grasp and appreciate
the depth of his skiffs. Secretary of State William H. Seward acknowledged his 'executive force and vigor,' while War Secretary Edwin M. Stanton realized that he would 'belong to the ages.'
Lincoln was extraordinarily self-confident and possessed great persuasive and political skills that were developed over his lifetime. When civil war broke out, as president of the United States, he
took charge and enhanced the governments executive function and responsibility. He did not intend to significantly change the office of the presidency, which, of course, is exactly what he did.
Rather, the transformation came about as a consequence of his leadership during the war, his aggressiveness in taking 'the bull by the horns' and in utilizing any means necessary to preserve the
nation, such as exploiting the emergency powers granted him under the Constitution of the United States. He cultivated passion and trust in all of his followers - delegating rather than trying to do it
all himself, coaching rather than dictating. Yet, at the same time, he immersed himself in the details of the war effort. He learned how to become a commander-in-chief. He mastered military tactics
and strategy. As a Washington outsider, he quickly grasped an understanding of the general organization of the United States Government and how to work within it. In short, Lincoln, by his own
design, actually grew into the job of the presidency.
Lincoln's grand mission, his 'common purpose,' was essentially the American experiment and the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence. He aimed at the 'elevation of men,' opposed
anything that tended to degrade them, and especially lashed out at the institution of slavery. And it was slavery that was at the heart of the South's attempted separation from the Union. He played
upon the degradation of slavery and its lack of human dignity.
It was Abraham Lincoln who, during the most difficult period in the nation's history, almost single-handedly preserved the American concept of government. Had he not been the leader that he was,
secession in 1860 could have led to further partitioning of the country into an infinite number of smaller, separate pieces, some retaining slavery, some not. He accomplished this task with a
naturalness and intuitiveness in leading people that was at least a century ahead of his time.
Lincoln knew that true leadership is often realized by exerting quiet and subtle influence on a day-to-day basis, by frequently seeing followers and other people face to face. He treated everyone
with the same courtesy and respect, whether they were kings or commoners. He lifted people out of their everyday selves and into a higher level of performance, achievement, and awareness. He
obtained extraordinary results from ordinary people by instilling purpose in their endeavors. He was open, civil, tolerant, and fair, and he maintained a respect for the dignity of all people at all
times. Lincoln's attitude and behavior as president of the United States essentially characterized the process that symbolizes acceptable and decent relations among human beings. Abraham Lincoln
was the essence of leadership.
Yet, while being a model of consistency, Lincoln was also uncommonly flexible. He was a leader who would not and did not limit himself. 'My policy is to have no policy,' he'd say. 'I shall not
surrender this game leaving any available card unplayed.' Lincoln would always leave 'an opportunity for a change of mind.'