Abraham Lincoln - The Leader

Abraham Lincoln
The Leader

            On the fourth of July when I was about ten years old, I memorized the Gettysburg Address and recited it for a local nursing home to help spread the joys of the great day. Even today, I still remember the first few famous lines of Lincoln’s great speech at Gettysburg. It’s ironic to notice that even though Lincoln didn’t believe his words would last over a hundred years, they still ring with the same great meaning as they did when he first read them in memory of the battle at Gettysburg. His great leadership when our nation was taking on the difficult times of the Civil War will always be remembered. Through his experience before presidency, his leadership, and actions as president of the United States, he is still thought of as one of the greatest presidents ever.

            Abraham Lincoln’s road to presidency is one thing that makes him such a memorable character of our nation’s history. Although he never had the financial advantage that his opponents often had he still worked hard and became a great leader. The famous stories of his life in the one-room log cabin tell of his humble beginnings. His humble attitude towards society made it easy for him relate with the public. In future years this humble attitude likely also gave him his views about the equality that black men should have. Some other qualities Abraham Lincoln had was his great ability to communicate and debate. Part of the reason he was able to do so well against opposing democrats like Stephen Douglas was because of his quick thinking and smooth debating abilities. He knew that his work in the Whitehouse wouldn’t be easy, but still he promised the American people that upon his election he would do everything he could for the good of the nation. Looking back at his presidency its clear he did just that.

            Abraham Lincoln is also thought of today as a great leader. When he was first elected president of the United States, the nation fell apart. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas all seceded from the union and this is what Lincoln had to start with. It takes great leadership to lead a country in the first place, but even greater leadership to lead a broken nation back together. He originally did his best to compromise and solve problems offering southern states the promise of only going against the expansion of slavery not the slave states themselves. However as time went on, it became clear that something had to be done. Instead of denying the terrible situation the country was in, Lincoln accepted the facts and started the Civil War. This war was another important test to Lincoln’s leadership quality. Many important decisions were in his hands and he used his best abilities as well as resources from many other wise leaders to get the country back on its feet again. It proves how great a leader Lincoln really was when you notice that when he was first elected president the nation was broken, states were seceding from the union, and millions of blacks were enslaved, however by the end of his first term, enough people had the faith in Lincoln to elect him again for a second term. Lincoln’s leadership was an absolute necessary quality for our broken nation to get up and headed back in the right direction.

            In conclusion, it’s clear why Abraham Lincoln is remembered for his great work as president and as a great role model. The things he did could never be considered selfish or even favoring himself in the least. The battles he faced, and the states he attempted to lead together were all in attempt to build the United States as a whole. Had famous selfless people like Abraham Lincoln been more self-centered, the whole of society couldn’t have built together as strongly as it has over the years. Through Lincoln’s humble leadership our nation was able to make it through the Civil War as one union and unite under one government to this day.