One of the most influential persons in American history is the one that kept America one nation: Abraham Lincoln. Truly, it is inspiring that one man born in a one-room cabin on the Kentucky frontier would someday be considered the greatest leader of the greatest nation in the world. Many today believe only members of the elite class can change the world, but the life of Lincoln begs to differ. A self-educated man, Lincoln received very little help in his career in politics. Being the first Republican elected President of the United States; seven states seceded from the union before Lincoln ever entered the White House. Lincoln’s handling of the Civil War and the abolishment of slavery allowed America to enter a new age of prosperity.
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There Lincoln witnessed slavery directly which left an impact on his beliefs and values.” In 1832, Lincoln and a partner bought a small general store in New Salem on credit; despite the growing economy around them the store struggled and Lincoln sold his share. Later that year Lincoln ran for public office on the Illinois General Assembly. Lincoln gained local popularity from his storytelling skills and ability to draw large crowds. Before the election however, the Black Hawk War started a Lincoln became a captain in the state militia. Despite never participating in combat, Lincoln did witness some of the atrocities committed earlier in the war. The war allowed Lincoln to make political connections with the political elite of Illinois, something he previously lacked. Lincoln finished eighth out of 13 in the subsequent election, with the top four being elected. Lincoln, however, won 92% of the vote in New Salem, and therefore soon became the postmaster and county surveyor and began to teach himself law in his free-time by reading older law books. Lincoln’s second campaign for the state legislature in 1834 was successful, despite running as a Whig many Democrats voted for him over a powerful Whig opponent. Lincoln was a “Moderate Whig supporting government intervention in the economy and as a young man opposed slavery due to economic downsides and not due to moral …show more content…
House of Representatives. Lincoln was the only Whig from the state of Illinois and therefore had few political allies. Lincoln showed party loyalty and supported Zachary Taylor for president in 1848. While serving in the House of Representatives Lincoln was very outspoken about criticizing the Mexican-American War and because of this became unpopular in Illinois. Lincoln then decided to not run for a second term and instead focus on practicing law. At the onset of the 1850s the railroad industry moved into Illinois and Lincoln became the company attorney for Illinois Central Railroad. After winning several major court cases Lincoln gained more clients ranging from banks, and insurance companies to men accused of murder. Lincoln’s life in the private sector was going smoothly until his political ambitions were once again awakened. In 1854 Congress repealed the Missouri Compromise which therefore allowed individual states and territories to decide on whether or not to allow slavery. The act caused violent opposition in Illinois, Kansas, and other Northern frontier states. This is turn lead to the formation of the Republican Party, who Lincoln joined in 1856. Lincoln shifted his views on slavery, believing it to now be morally and constitutionally wrong. The next year the Supreme Court issued one of the most controversial decisions in the case of Scott v. Sanford, the court ruling
There Lincoln witnessed slavery directly which left an impact on his beliefs and values.” In 1832, Lincoln and a partner bought a small general store in New Salem on credit; despite the growing economy around them the store struggled and Lincoln sold his share. Later that year Lincoln ran for public office on the Illinois General Assembly. Lincoln gained local popularity from his storytelling skills and ability to draw large crowds. Before the election however, the Black Hawk War started a Lincoln became a captain in the state militia. Despite never participating in combat, Lincoln did witness some of the atrocities committed earlier in the war. The war allowed Lincoln to make political connections with the political elite of Illinois, something he previously lacked. Lincoln finished eighth out of 13 in the subsequent election, with the top four being elected. Lincoln, however, won 92% of the vote in New Salem, and therefore soon became the postmaster and county surveyor and began to teach himself law in his free-time by reading older law books. Lincoln’s second campaign for the state legislature in 1834 was successful, despite running as a Whig many Democrats voted for him over a powerful Whig opponent. Lincoln was a “Moderate Whig supporting government intervention in the economy and as a young man opposed slavery due to economic downsides and not due to moral …show more content…
House of Representatives. Lincoln was the only Whig from the state of Illinois and therefore had few political allies. Lincoln showed party loyalty and supported Zachary Taylor for president in 1848. While serving in the House of Representatives Lincoln was very outspoken about criticizing the Mexican-American War and because of this became unpopular in Illinois. Lincoln then decided to not run for a second term and instead focus on practicing law. At the onset of the 1850s the railroad industry moved into Illinois and Lincoln became the company attorney for Illinois Central Railroad. After winning several major court cases Lincoln gained more clients ranging from banks, and insurance companies to men accused of murder. Lincoln’s life in the private sector was going smoothly until his political ambitions were once again awakened. In 1854 Congress repealed the Missouri Compromise which therefore allowed individual states and territories to decide on whether or not to allow slavery. The act caused violent opposition in Illinois, Kansas, and other Northern frontier states. This is turn lead to the formation of the Republican Party, who Lincoln joined in 1856. Lincoln shifted his views on slavery, believing it to now be morally and constitutionally wrong. The next year the Supreme Court issued one of the most controversial decisions in the case of Scott v. Sanford, the court ruling