Abraham Lincoln History
We would like to
think all of - our presidents of the United States were truly great men and to be
sure, just handling the awesome responsibility of the presidency takes a
special kind of - individual. One of the
unique and great things about the system of - government in America is the
concept of citizen leadership.
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| Abraham Lincoln History |
This is
the idea of an ordinary citizen rising up and becoming president for a while
and then returning to private life. But of
the handful of - men who have held that office, a few have stood out for their
great achievements and leadership in a time that changed the country for
ever. And one of - these truly great
presidents was Abraham Lincoln.
Probably
more than any other president, Lincoln had to handle an internal civil war that
was far more than shouting and name calling.
This was a dispute that could have torn the country in half and starting
a rupturing that could have resulted in dozens of - small weak independent states
instead of the powerful nation we know as America today.
It was Lincoln’s leadership, his commitment
to values and his strong moral fiber that made it possible for America to find
its way through that war and then to begin the healing process that would
eventually lead the nation back to unity once again. Lincoln’s term of - service from 1860 until his
death was one of considerable challenge.
If he only had the problem of dealing with the attempt by the south to
succeed from the union and his ability to keep those states as part of the
American national territory, he would be lauded as a great American indeed.
One of the little known leadership styles
that Lincoln used to his advantage in the organization of - his presidency was
his appointment of talented national figures from opposing political parties to
be part of - his cabinet. Lincoln felt
that he needed to have close advisors from the opposing viewpoint to keep from
having his presidency become insulated from the American people and one
sided.
By gathering members of the
“loyal opposition” into his trusted inner circle, Lincoln was always aware of
both sides of - every issue which made him a stronger leader. But that is not even his greatest
accomplishment or the one that we remember him for the most.
His bold and unchanging opposition to slavery
is without any doubt his greatest contribution to the history of - America and
indeed to world history as well. When he
was willing to put everything on the line to stop this barbaric social sin,
Lincoln made a stand, against the popular opinion of - the time in many cases that
he would be the figure to bring slavery to an end.
It
was not a stand that came without cost.
The civil war was one of the bloodiest and costliest in the nation’s
history if for no other reason than all casualties; on both sides were
casualties of - America. It would take
many decades for the ravages of that horrible war to be repaired. The schism between north and south continued
for decades and is still a part of - our national personality in this country.
But the end result was what Lincoln wanted
to be his legacy. By issuing the
Emancipation Proclamation to make the end of slavery permanent, Lincoln
followed that up with the passing of the 13th, 14th and
15th amendments which made permanent the freedoms that were hard
fought and won in the Civil War.
The
freedom that was won for so many black Americans in that war permanently
enshrined the memory of - Abraham Lincoln as one of - our greatest presidents in
the hearts and minds of all Americans.
Small wonder the monument honoring him on Washington’s national mall is
one of - the most revered spots in the nation and one that thousands flock to
each year to give respect for this great president that made liberty and
freedom a reality for all Americans, not just a few.
And his face on Mount Rushmore is well deserved
so the very mountain itself shouts out, this is one of the greatest leaders in
the history of - this great country.
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