The Great Emancipator
Time never stops for anyone, but those who have used their time for something bigger than themselves have earned their place till the end of time. Time might make us forget such individuals; however, time can never erase them. In today’s modern world, there is only selfishness at play; with never-ending wars, disputes, and tragedy. At these desperate moments, a hero is needed. Just like him, who we have almost forgotten, the 16th President of the United States of America, Sir Abraham Lincoln. Do you think people have forgotten President Lincoln? Yes, we have. The 2018 Siena poll results did not include Abraham Lincoln among the top five American Presidents. Also, Abraham Lincoln was not included in the 2021 Gallup Poll. He was also not among the top three most memorable Presidents in an online survey conducted in 2014 by Henry L. Roediger and K. Andrew DeSoto.
It was the year 1809, United States was facing many challenges and changes, especially in the subject of politics. The 10th Congress passed the Non-Intercourse Act replacing the Embargo Act of 1807, Sir Thomas Jefferson’s last days of presidency, Sir James Madison swears allegiance to develop and protect the country as he became the 4th President of the United States, Mary Kies graced as she becomes the first American female to be awarded a Patent and Robert Fulton Patent’s the steamboat. In times of such uncertainty and disturbance, America needed a ray of hope, which came to the world as the second child of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, little Abraham Lincoln, on the 12th of February 1809. Thomas Lincoln was of English Descent and could trace back his ancestry to the Country of Norfolk, East Anglia. Even though there is not much information about Nancy Hanks, she was thought to have been raised by her maternal grandparents Joseph and Ann Hanks, who lived in Hampshire country, Virginia. Together they had three children. Their only daughter Sarah and sons Abraham and Thomas (who died in infancy).
From that Spring of 1809, Sinking Spring Farm of Kentucky bloomed in laughter and childish plays of little Abraham and his sister Sarah for 8 long years, until they packed up their treasures and set off to Southwest Indiana in search of a new life together with their parents because Thomas Lincoln in 1816 faced a lawsuit challenging his entitlement to the farm. The first days in Indiana were tough; settling in on public land and a shelter of logs and boughs. However, Thomas Lincoln was soon successful in setting up a proper cabin and went on to buy the land on which it stood. Even though Abraham was not fond of farming and fishing, he tried his best to aid his father; sometimes by clearing the fields, tending to the crops, or planting new seeds. The Lincoln family was just getting familiar with Indiana when tragedy struck them again, leaving Thomas Lincoln a widow and young Sarah and Abraham motherless. The Winter which came forth was the unhappiest time of Abraham’s life. He first lost his brother Thomas and Now his mother at the tender age of 9. Change, however, is the only truth of life, hence as Winter rolled and Summer came, Thomas Lincoln re-married Sarah Johnston, who came from Kentucky to Indiana for the sake of the Lincoln family. She had two daughters and a son of her own but loved Sarah and Abraham equally. Sarah Johnston became a source of solace for young Abe Lincoln and encouraged his ambitions.
When Abraham came of age, he could read, write, and cypher to the rule of three, which stunned many as his parents were almost illiterate and Abraham himself never received a proper formal education. Despite these obstacles, Abraham flourished in the little knowledge he could gain and kept up an honest dedication towards education. In 1830, Abraham Lincoln and his family relocated again to Illinois, just as he reached 21. Abe Lincoln was well known for his prowess with the axe, friendly social nature, and honesty. At Illinois, Abraham tried his hand at a range of different jobs. He worked as a rail-splitter, flatboat-man, storekeeper, surveyor, and postmaster. Young Abe did not know that his voyages down the Mississippi River would one day result in an invention to buoy and lift boats over shoals, which was issued a Patent under No. 6,469. Back in 1832, as the Black Hawk War broke out, Abraham voluntarily enlisted and was appointed captain of his party. He did not have to encounter firsthand battle but was witness to great bloodshed and terror.
After the war, Abraham stepped towards the study of law, clearing his bar examination in 1836. The following year, Abraham moved from New Salem to Springfield, Illinois in search of further opportunities in Law. Abraham had quite a lot of partners over the years, but his best partnership was with William H. Herndon. Herndon was well-taught and emotionally driven. He was younger than Abraham but made the best of mates. Abraham Lincoln fought many cases before the beginning of his political career. Some of his cases included; People ex rel. Stevenson v. Higgins, 15iii. 110 (1853), Sprague v. Illinois River Railroad Co., 19iii. 174 (1857), Lewis v. Lewis, 48 U.S. 776 (1849), and Williamson v. Barrett, 54 U.S. 101 (1851).
Throughout the years as a lawyer, Abraham was acquainted with Mary Todd, who would soon become his wife. Mary Todd was a cheerful and high-spirited soul. She hailed from a distinguished family in Kentucky and belonged to the social aristocracy of Springfield, Illinois. Mary and Abraham’s relationship was numerously tested, but on the fateful day of November 4th, 1842, they were happily married. Together they had four sons; Edward, William, Thomas, and Robert. Unfortunately, Robert was their only son to survive till adulthood. Abraham led a happy life with his wife and children; laughing, playing, and getting engaged in silly quarrels.
By the time Abe Lincoln ended his legal career and joined politics, he was one of the most renowned lawyers in Illinois. He was appreciated not only due to his wit, common sense, and knowledge, but also due to his strive for justice, fairness, and honesty. Consequently, Abraham Lincoln was addressed in honour as “Honest Abe.”
Abraham Lincoln began his career in politics during the presidency of Sir Andrew Jackson. He, however, was not in line with the views of Jackson and admired politicians like Clay and Webster, who encouraged national development in transportation and resources. This admiration foreshadows his choice of Whig, as his future political party. Abe Lincoln worked as a Whig member of the Illinois State Legislature from 1834 to 1840 with pure dedication. He has always been seen to oppose slavery in the mildest ways possible, which foreshadows his Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. Abraham served a single term in Congress from 1847 to 1849, where he gave almost no attention to legislative matters. After receiving no proper recognition for his efforts in the election of Zachary Taylor, Abe Lincoln was quite depressed and took a step away from the political field.
In 1854, Stephen Douglas put forth the view that the entire Louisiana Purchase should be re-opened to slavery. This and the Kansas-Nebraska Act fuelled great opposition in the states of the Northwest, resulting in the rise of the Republican Party and the downfall of the Whig Party. This ensured the re-entry of Abraham into politics, and he joined the Republican Party as did countless others. He was now determined to be the Republican leader of his state and area. Lincoln thus challenged Douglas for the Senate Seat in 1858, and they engaged in a series of debates which was of the highest order and discipline. Douglas and Lincoln were stark opposites. Douglas, was smooth-skinned, round-faced and well-bred, while Abraham was tall, rough, and confident. Abe Lincoln repeatedly insisted that the freedom of all U.S. citizens was at stake. He said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Unfortunately, Abraham Lincoln lost the election to Douglas, but gained widespread recognition, driving towards his nomination to presidency in 1860.
After sound preparations, Abraham Lincoln was nominated at the 1860 Republican National Convention as the Republican candidate running for president, while Senator Hannibal Hamlin was chosen to represent the Republican Party as vice president. Abe Lincoln devoted his time solely to the success of the campaign, taking time off from his legal career. With all Republicans united, Abraham won a significant majority, including some of the most popular votes in the election. Even before Lincoln’s move to the White House, Southern states were in withdrawal from the Union; causing a rift within the country. Consequently, as Lincoln was in office, there came word of the attack on Fort Sumter. Thus, began the U.S. Civil War, as Abe Lincoln strived to preserve the union.
President Lincoln took charge of the war personally and was Commander-in-chief. He engaged in first-hand conversations and gave directions to the generals throughout the war. However, the army lacked proper command and Abe Lincoln was continuously on the hunt for a proper Army Commander. This hunt, finally, ended with the appointment of Ulysses S. Grant, who was later promoted to Lieutenant General. President Lincoln was successful in merging the army’s direction and statecraft admirably, and his devotion towards the idea of personal freedom was unmistakable. In 1863, Lincoln understood the requirement of the situation and took a different approach by issuing his final Emancipation Proclamation on the 1st of January as a war aim. This Proclamation freed over 200,00 enslaved individuals. The Emancipation Proclamation was further strengthened with the Thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution, through the sincere efforts of President Lincoln; whose name was brought to fame as “The Great Emancipator.” Even in such odd circumstances post the Civil War, Lincoln was once again the victor in the 1864 elections. Unfortunately, on April 14, 1865, John Wikes Booth who belonged to a distinguished theatrical family, shot President Lincoln at the Ford Theatre, Washington. The next morning, U. S. A. lost a golden man and a kind soul.
By: Sanduni Jayawardena
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