Today is class, we were asked to write a blog post about an inspirational person in history, and who better to choose for that then the president on the penny himself, Abraham Lincoln. This gracious leader was the 16 president of the United States, and was known for leading with kindness and character. Sadly, his time in office was cut short when he was assassinated on April 15, 1865. Considered by many as the greatest president to ever lead the United States, his legacy lives on to this day.
Basic Facts:
Birthdate: February 12, 1809
Death: April 15, 1865
Lifespan: 56 years
Country of Birth: United States (near Hogdenville, Kentucky)
Occupation: Before he went into politics, he was a lawyer
My Abraham Lincoln Photo Collage (The White House)
Why he was so inspirational:
Many consider Abraham Lincoln one of the top most inspirational Americans in history, and for good reasons. For one, he kept the nation together during the civil war. This is important because it eventually lead to the end of slavery in the United States, even though Lincoln passed away before the final act was passed. He also supported the homestead act, which allowed immigrants to have 160 acres of land for a low price or even for free. He also signed the Morill act, which supported the building of colleges, the National Bank Act, which created the national currency of America, and supported the first transcontinental railroad.
What characteristics made him so influential:
When many people think of the president of the United States, they usually think of a rich and powerful official who has always lived the good life, but the truth is quite the opposite with Abraham Lincoln. When he was young, he lived on a farm and was nearly entirely self educated, but after a lot of hard work, he slowly made his way to the top. This made him a humble and accepting man, and tells a tale of true capitalism. He was also an excellent leader and public speaker, and had quite the sense of humour.
How people reacted to his actions:
One action of Lincoln that created massive conflict within the U.S was his side in the Civil War. Lincoln was on the Unions side (who wanted to end slavery in the U.S), which enraged those on the Confederate side (who supported slavery). With the country being divided against itself, many people would be against Lincoln, which ended up taking its tole when he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a confederate actor who particularly hated Lincoln and is the Union and what they had done. Also, when Lincoln was elected, it was nearly entirely because of the northern and western states, making the southern slave states angry and sparking the beginning of the civil war.
What/Who Inspired Him
Everyone has an inspiration, weather they know what it is or not. These people, actions, or thoughts typically have something in common with your interests, and one of Abraham Lincoln’s definitely did. When he was young, he was moved by the last speech of George Washington when he was president. It was about how the U.S citizens should love and protect the Union and their country, which inspired Abe’s great loyalty the Union and patriotism. Something internal that also inspired him was his ambition. Like many successful people, his great ambition drove him to keep achieving, even if he didn’t know where that would eventually lead.
If I got to meet him, what would I ask him?:
If I got to meet Honest Abe in person, I think I would ask him this: How did becoming president change you as a person? I would ask him this because any position of immense power is sure to effect a person to some degree, especially when it comes to morals and views. Even though Lincoln kept his humility and kindness throughout his time in power, he still probably had to adapt in ways he may not have wanted to in order to lead the country. It would also be interesting to learn how he grew as a leader through the civil war. It’s probably pretty hard to lead a nation that is split in two and fighting itself, and most likely required Lincoln to gain many skills that he wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.
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Thanks for reading, new posts coming soon!