Abraham Lincoln is one of the most acclaimed presidents of the United States of America. He is commemorated for his determination and perseverance in leading the nation. The main accomplishment of his Presidency was the civil war that took place in 1861-1865.
During the war, eleven nations withdrew from the union, and Lincoln strongly believed in not only conquering the Confederation but also reuniting Northern and southern America. He controlled all civil liberties and put off the “writ of habeas corpus” (Henretta, Edwards & Self, 2011).
He went through extraordinary difficulties during the war such as having generals who were not willing to fight, power struggles among his members of cabinet, mass killings, and severe opposition from the Copperhead association. Despite all this pressures, Lincoln remained brave and strong. He did not admit defeat and kept fighting until he conquered the Confederacy.
In 1862, Lincoln implemented an act known as Emancipation proclamation, which set all the slaves in the southern part of America free. It should be noted that the act did not instantaneously free all the slaves in the nation since it only applied to regions not under Lincoln’s rule.
The real fact is that legal sovereignty for all slaves in America came after the implementation of the Thirteenth Amendment, which was strongly supported by Lincoln (Herndon& Weik, 1909).
Lincoln’s domestic principles made him to be considered one of the greatest Presidents in America. He strongly supported the “homestead Act” which allowed the poverty-stricken communities in the Eastern America to acquire land in the west. He put into law the Morrill Act, which helped in the creation of institutions in agriculture and mechanics.
He also implemented an act on National Banking, which led to the establishment of a common currency in the nation and allowed for the development of a union of all the banks in the nation. He further signed a bill on tariffs and this provided protection to the industries in the America. His foreign principle was geared towards the control of foreign intrusion especially in the civil war (Lincoln & Prentice, 2001).
Gettysburg Address is one of the most illustrious speeches by Lincoln. In the speech, he stated, “America was fighting the Civil War to see if she would survive as a country” (Lincoln & Prentice, 2001).According to him, it was right for America to dedicate part of the Gettysburg battlefield as a commemoration of all the people who had passed away during the battle.
Lincoln adopted a benevolent leadership criterion in that whenever a disagreement occurred between him and his advisors, he always narrated a story that clearly demonstrated his point of view. The leadership style worked and this made the citizens to admire and appreciate him. He was kind, wise, and compassionate hence the nickname “Father Abraham” (McPherson, 2009).
Lincoln’s decision to preserve the American Union is termed as the most significant presidential action. The decision eventually made America to unite into one nation rather than dividing into two. His contribution in the field of liberty for the slaves is tremendously significant. Research shows that Lincoln “got the ball rolling with the Emancipation Proclamation Act” (Henretta, Edwards & Self, 2011).
From the above, I agree with Lincoln’s high ranking as an American President. He is honored for his struggle in preserving the American Union and initiating the process of liberty for slaves.
He, therefore, definitely gets a praiseworthy mention in the list of influential heads of state in America. Lincoln has had an impact on the modern Society since America looks back on his presidential actions and he is thus a role model for upcoming generations.
References
Henretta, A., Edwards, R., & Self, O. (2011). America’s History. New York: Bedford Martins.
Herndon, H., & Weik, W. (1909). Abraham Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life. New York: Appleton and company.
Lincoln, A., & Prentice, R. (2001). Abraham Lincoln: his speeches. New York: Oxford University Press.
McPherson, M. (2009). Abraham Lincoln. New York: Oxford University Press.