We all probably know that Abraham Lincoln was the one who abolished slavery, but do you know what else he was capable of doing? During a speech given by Cardwell IV, he said “What I do know is that at the most difficult time in our history he saved our Nation, and through his quiet, subtle leadership he achieved extraordinary results, but it was not easy” (Cardwell IV), informing how Abraham achieved great success; however, he had to work for it like no other. Lincoln was both a sincere advocate of his ideals and a cunning compromiser of them” (Stout), is a quote explaining how Abe was decisive about his principles; however he also contradicted himself. An excerpt from a codicil that explains Abraham’s legacy is, “Lincoln is known for his leadership and preservation of the Union during the United States Civil War, his humble beginnings, and his struggle to end slavery, promote equality and encourage civil rights” (Drehle). Lincoln did many things to improve the United States through hard work and doing what he thought was right.
Throughout American history, Abraham Lincoln has been portrayed as a noble individual due to his heroic attributes, such as perseverance, self-control, and genuinity. The citation, “Lincoln is a riddle because, in our politics, we are a riddle to ourselves. We are his heirs, for good and for ill. We cannot escape his legacy, and we don’t know what to make of it” (Stout), from a Commonweal magazine article, discloses that Lincoln has accomplished many feats; meanwhile, there is still much to recognize about him and that no matter how history turns out, the country will still be impacted by Lincoln.
But he was a man, in ways as familiar as the guy next door” (Drehle), explains how Lincoln remained as an approachable and respected man even after the success and failure he experienced. Furthermore, communities are able to observe Abraham’s traits from literary sources and common knowledge. Abe demonstrated heroism by never giving up on his dreams and by involving constant perseverance throughout his life. An instance of this is when Lincoln had to oversee issues of war, rebuilding, elections, wartime economies, and divisive politics (Cardwell IV).
Moreover, although Abraham had to meet these challenges head on, he did not grow weak or refuse to push past them. The U. S. encounters many issues alike today and fail at passing them; therefore, it is extraordinary that someone in the 1860s can behave productively against those problems. In the following magazine article quotation, it produces another example of how Lincoln continued to grow through his struggles: “For a time the family lived in a half-face camp with only three walls and a fire constantly going in front to keep animals out and provide some heat within” (Ahlf).
Despite his rough upbringing, Lincoln kept confidence and trudged through the hardships of his childhood, whether it was the setting or the dreadful activities. Elizabeth Keckley, a former slave for the Lincoln’s recalled on her observations of Abraham being very depressed and grief stricken after his son, Willie, died during his presidency (Cardwell IV). Losing a child is terrible for anyone, which is why people expected Abe to take some time off or resign in order to mourn the loss of his son, however, he did not. He used his anguish and new found understanding to help others sympathetically.
His strongest boyhood memories were of death and near death: the time he almost drowned, the time he was brained by the kick of a horse, the early deaths of his younger brother and beloved mother and eventually his sister Sarah” (Drehle), is a reference to a commodity that explicates how Abraham endured much pain and suffering, but he remained hopeful to strive. In the first and half year of Lincoln’s presidency he suffered constant backlash and name calling, such as “wet-raged” and “timid” (Ahlf). Even through the backlash, Lincoln continued to push past the hate and continue to achieve greatness.
Proving how Lincoln prospered in the face of hate is a quote from Britannica, “Lincoln had made himself one of the most distinguished and successful lawyers in Illinois. He was noted not only for his shrewdness and practical common sense, which enabled him always to see to the heart of any legal case, but also for his invariable fairness and utter honesty” (Britannica). Abe became to be one of the greats because he did not let himself react to the scrutiny of the public, or the harshness of his childhood, and continued to carve his own path.
Although there are many instances of perseverance exploited within Lincoln’s life, people also witness him withhold self control. The 16th president of the United States of America is noted as a disciplined advocate as a result from his self-control. “‘If I were to try to read, much less answer all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business’”(Cardwell IV), is a recitation of Lincoln stressing how he can not act upon the name calling or slander that is thrown his way.
Abraham nows that responding to the hate would only make it increase, so he controls his emotions and blocks it out. This retelling from a speech elucidates how Lincoln did not let his immediate reactions dictate his behavior, “He felt vindicated in writing his response, but he did not want his remarks made in frustration to be made public… ” and “In each of these situations, Lincoln’s actions and words were consistent… He never let emotions dictate his actions” (Cardwell IV). Abraham thinks about his actions and does not want his regards of any negative connotation to be released.
He gives himself time to recollect rationally before reaching a public conclusion. Another excerpt from Britannica is, “His guiding rule was: ‘My policy is to have no policy. ’ It was not that he was unprincipled; rather, he was a practical man, mentally nimble and flexible, and, if one action or decision proved unsatisfactory in practice, he was willing to experiment with another” (Britannica). Abraham was a malleable man, he knew that if something didn’t work then he had to think of a new method for it.
Abraham made it a point to explain how he does what he thinks is right, whether his decision turns out to be correct or wrong, he stands by his decision. Thus, controlling his emotions to not become enraged or upset if he was incorrect, which is stated in the subsequent source, “‘I do the very best I know how – the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten thousand angels swearing I was right would make no difference’” (Cardwell IV).
Lincoln did not let personal differences get in the way when it came down to business (Cardwell IV). When choosing cabinet members, political debate teams, or any partnership, Abraham did not look at personal opinions, he chose the right people because they fit the needed criteria, not because he had a bias about them. While self-control is visible in Lincoln’s ethical morals, his genuinity is also put on display amongst his daily actions. Father Abraham, Honest Abe, and the Ancient One are all Abraham Lincoln who is indicated as a national icon considering his genuinity.
An exemplification of Lincoln’s morality incorporated in an article about Abe’s similarity to others is, “He liked sports, dirty jokes and being the alpha male. He flirted with pretty women and suffered occasional deafness when his wife was talking. He put his feet on the furniture, encouraged his sons to roughhouse and break things, suffered from bad digestion” (Drehle). This interprets how Lincoln was a real man, he wasn’t some figment of imagination, he existed and was just like the rest of men. He wasn’t full of himself to stand out above everyone; he remained at peace with being a regular man, although, with great success.
Lincoln lived on both sides of sides of life, his childhood was rough and brutal; meanwhile, his adulthood had great triumphs. This aspect of Lincoln proving his genuinity can be seen in the following quote from another magazine article: “Lincoln knew the dead-end life of an undeveloped economy: poor, nasty, brutish and short” (Drehle). Lincoln knew the “dead-end life” because he experienced it, establishing a genuine persona. Lincoln did not judge one of his partners or citizens, he urged that onto others as well (Stout).
Lincoln was a humble man who thought that one should not do onto someone you would want onto you. Even though he was in a leadership position, Abe did not lose his humor. He was as an authentic human who thought as the rest did, which can be noticed in this part of the Chinese American Forum, “As an example of Lincoln’s famous humor, a lady with a large, fancy hat tried to cross the street one day. Lincoln was watching from inside his law office. When she fell, Lincoln turned and announced that she reminded him of a duck. Why a duck? ‘Feathers on her head and down on her butt’” (Ahlf).
Abraham prefered to fix the problems that had already appeared, not to create new ones (Britannica). Lincoln did not want to cause more commotion he wanted things to remain at peace and how it already was. ‘“I now wish to make the personal acknowledgment that you were right, and I was wrong”’ (Britannica). Lincoln said this quote to, Grant, a fellow military lieutenant after the Vicksburg Campaign. Being able to admit whenever you are wrong is hard for most people; however, Lincoln had no shame in admitting his mistake. Thus, validating his significant genuinity and humbleness.
Abraham was not a insulant man who wanted the attention from success, he was an ordinary person who fulfilled his dreams and strived to be the best version of himself. Abraham Lincoln is one of the more popular former presidents. He possessed many chivalrous characteristics, which are addressed in the details provided within the paper. Written amid a Chinese American Forum, a quote that defines Abraham is employed, which is, “Slow and careful in coming to resolutions, willing to talk with every person who has anything to show on any side of a disputed subject, long in weighing and ondering, attached to constitutional limits and time-honored landmarks, Lincoln certainly was the safest leader a nation could have at a time when the habeas corpus must be suspended, and all the constitutional and minor rights of citizens thrown into the hands of their military leader. A reckless, bold, theorizing, dashing man of genius might have wrecked our Constitution and ended us in a splendid military despotism” (Ahlf). Ahlf writes how Lincoln was both, a reckless, yet genius man.
Abe was consistent in surprising most people with his prosperity, and how he unified the United States for the greater good. Perseverance, self-control, and genuinity are noble traits to further represent Abraham Lincoln as a heroic icon. Through online sources and common knowledge, the individuals who are interested in Abe can conclude that he not only possessed heroic qualities, but he tried to urge those aspects of persona to his fellow leadership partners and his followers during American history.
