February 12, 2009 marks the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday. Some refer to President Abraham Lincoln as the “Great Emancipator” and others refer to him as the “Great Delayer.” Regardless of how you view America’s 16th President, it is on this day that America celebrates one of its most famous figures. Abraham Lincoln’s 200th Birthday is not just a symbolic gesture but it is so much more in understanding the times that America faced and what could have happened to a country that is more united than divided than the country that Lincoln inherited.
The 200th Birthday of President Abraham Lincoln is a signal to all Americans of just how precious this union is although it is not perfect by any means; it is a union that probably could not have occurred without the vision and stature of Abraham Lincoln. While Lincoln opposed the expansion of slavery and his vocal opposition to it is what placed him at the forefront of the new Republican Party. In fact Lincoln’s Presidential election victory was won with less than 40 percent of the popular vote and literally triggered the secession of eleven Southern slave states from the Union.
At the same time, Lincoln’s opposition to slavery did not make him an abolitionist. Lincoln’s own words say it because he said, “My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and it is not either to save or destroy slavery.” However at the same time, Lincoln was adamant that secession was a gross violation of the Constitution that had to be prevented by any means necessary. It was Lincoln himself who admitted that he cared more about saving the sanity of the Union than being the man who saved or destroyed slavery.
While many historians refer to Abraham Lincoln as the “Great Emancipator” because of the “Emancipation Proclamation.” However many slaves in fact majority of slaves were not emancipated until 8 months and 3 days after Lincoln’s death in 1865. It is fair to say that the House of Representatives approved the 13th amendment which called for the end to slavery in all territories and states on January 31, 1965 almost 3 months before Lincoln’s assassination. Although the amendment did not become ratified by two-thirds majority of the states until December 18, 1965 and that is when it became law. That’s why some historians who say Lincoln was not the “Great Emancipator” is correct to a degree and those who say he is are as well.
Nonetheless, the truth of the matter is that America’s 16th President was more willing to work on behalf of African Americans than America’s 17th President Andrew Johnson who vetoed every piece of legislation regarding civil rights for newly freed slaves. In fact Johnson abused his power as President so badly that he was eventually impeached. Therefore no matter how you view Abraham Lincoln, it is no denying that Lincoln did some things no matter if it was strategic, delayed or wise that helped begin a long process of equal rights for not only African Americans but all Americans.
Lincoln knew that he would be tested as no U.S. President had ever been before—not even Washington. However it was Lincoln’s forbearance under such weight that made him one of the nation’s most beloved heroes to some and one of the nations hated. In fact to a degree, you can say that Lincoln is perhaps the most famous and infamous President in America’s history because so much about him has been written regardless if it is good or bad with new details being revealed constantly. Also while Lincoln has his own memorial in our nation’s capitol and is found on the penny, he is the only man on a coin who is turned in the opposite direction of all the other people on coins.
That’s why Lincoln’s feats are questioned by some and revered by others but most of all Lincoln’s presidency is one for the ages and it is no wonder why many are comparing President Barack Obama to him. However President Obama can only hope to live up to what Lincoln did and the times have changed since Lincoln was President because Obama doesn’t have to deal with keeping a union united but Obama and Lincoln both had to deal with keeping our country on track. That’s where the comparison ends outside of both of them coming from Illinois.
However on Lincoln’s 200th birthday, our nation should take a deeper look into Lincoln’s presidency and understand that Lincoln was viewed by southerners as a despotic tyrant, while members of his own party viewed him as a backwoods fool without the courage to take on the slavery issue directly. It is these views of Lincoln that helped shaped Lincoln’s presidency as well as how Lincoln is viewed in history. In the image of the northerners who began to question Lincoln’s ability to conduct the war effectively is what many Americans should look at. History does not always stay the same because back in Lincoln’s day he was viewed by many as weak and an opportunist. But in today’s time, Lincoln is viewed as a hero, a savior and a visionary by most.
It is from Lincoln’s historical presidency that many of us look to today’s President and hope that he does what Lincoln did for a nation. However it is in that notion that we as Americans might not understand that while history is written today, it does not stay the same forever. So regardless of how others view Obama’s Presidency, it will not be how future generations view it. Lincoln’s presidency is the example that many Americans must look at and understand in order to better understand how historians and future generations view historical figures and things well into the future.
Therefore we should all take the time out of our lives to not only celebrate Lincoln’s birthday but be thankful for what Lincoln accomplished as President in his short period of time. Lincoln helped to preserve a nation and in the process began a process of emancipation for slaves regardless if it was strategic or unplanned. Lincoln probably never intended to interfere with slavery; he had no choice but to respond to it after the Civil War began during his Presidency where African Americans fought with the North against the South. Lincoln shouldered the burden of keeping a Union united and no one can deny that Lincoln dead doing just that. Lincoln succeeded at doing something that our nation is now thankful for because we are the United States of America with 50 stars in our Great Red, White and Blue flag with the stripes.
Lincoln’s brilliance or delay, no matter how you view it, has kept this union together this long and hopefully as long as we continue to celebrate the significance of Lincoln’s presidency, our union will continue to grow no matter who’s the President of the United States. This union is greater than any one person and the sanity of the union is important than any one person who holds the office of the Presidency and that is the lesson that Lincoln’s presidency gives us. Lincoln saw that and understand that keeping the Union as one was more important than any piece of legislation that could come from his Presidency.
No one can ever imagine what our union would look like if the South was successful at concession and how that would have perhaps destroyed America’s standing in the world as we see it today. Therefore Lincoln’s 200th Birthday is more than just another holiday or celebration but it is the remembrance of one of America’s Great President’s and how his sacrifices and his ability kept our nation united as one despite disagreements that continue to rare its ugly head today. Lincoln’s birthday is a day for all Americans to understand that our union though imperfect is perfect in the sense that we are 50 United States of America and not separate states who have to fend off other countries from potential attacks. Instead we are a nation that is united as one to defend each state and each citizen from other countries in the world.
Abraham Lincoln 200th Birthday is truly a Bicentennial Celebration that I’m thankful to be a part of and blessed to have witnessed.
The 200th Birthday of President Abraham Lincoln is a signal to all Americans of just how precious this union is although it is not perfect by any means; it is a union that probably could not have occurred without the vision and stature of Abraham Lincoln. While Lincoln opposed the expansion of slavery and his vocal opposition to it is what placed him at the forefront of the new Republican Party. In fact Lincoln’s Presidential election victory was won with less than 40 percent of the popular vote and literally triggered the secession of eleven Southern slave states from the Union.
At the same time, Lincoln’s opposition to slavery did not make him an abolitionist. Lincoln’s own words say it because he said, “My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and it is not either to save or destroy slavery.” However at the same time, Lincoln was adamant that secession was a gross violation of the Constitution that had to be prevented by any means necessary. It was Lincoln himself who admitted that he cared more about saving the sanity of the Union than being the man who saved or destroyed slavery.
While many historians refer to Abraham Lincoln as the “Great Emancipator” because of the “Emancipation Proclamation.” However many slaves in fact majority of slaves were not emancipated until 8 months and 3 days after Lincoln’s death in 1865. It is fair to say that the House of Representatives approved the 13th amendment which called for the end to slavery in all territories and states on January 31, 1965 almost 3 months before Lincoln’s assassination. Although the amendment did not become ratified by two-thirds majority of the states until December 18, 1965 and that is when it became law. That’s why some historians who say Lincoln was not the “Great Emancipator” is correct to a degree and those who say he is are as well.
Nonetheless, the truth of the matter is that America’s 16th President was more willing to work on behalf of African Americans than America’s 17th President Andrew Johnson who vetoed every piece of legislation regarding civil rights for newly freed slaves. In fact Johnson abused his power as President so badly that he was eventually impeached. Therefore no matter how you view Abraham Lincoln, it is no denying that Lincoln did some things no matter if it was strategic, delayed or wise that helped begin a long process of equal rights for not only African Americans but all Americans.
Lincoln knew that he would be tested as no U.S. President had ever been before—not even Washington. However it was Lincoln’s forbearance under such weight that made him one of the nation’s most beloved heroes to some and one of the nations hated. In fact to a degree, you can say that Lincoln is perhaps the most famous and infamous President in America’s history because so much about him has been written regardless if it is good or bad with new details being revealed constantly. Also while Lincoln has his own memorial in our nation’s capitol and is found on the penny, he is the only man on a coin who is turned in the opposite direction of all the other people on coins.
That’s why Lincoln’s feats are questioned by some and revered by others but most of all Lincoln’s presidency is one for the ages and it is no wonder why many are comparing President Barack Obama to him. However President Obama can only hope to live up to what Lincoln did and the times have changed since Lincoln was President because Obama doesn’t have to deal with keeping a union united but Obama and Lincoln both had to deal with keeping our country on track. That’s where the comparison ends outside of both of them coming from Illinois.
However on Lincoln’s 200th birthday, our nation should take a deeper look into Lincoln’s presidency and understand that Lincoln was viewed by southerners as a despotic tyrant, while members of his own party viewed him as a backwoods fool without the courage to take on the slavery issue directly. It is these views of Lincoln that helped shaped Lincoln’s presidency as well as how Lincoln is viewed in history. In the image of the northerners who began to question Lincoln’s ability to conduct the war effectively is what many Americans should look at. History does not always stay the same because back in Lincoln’s day he was viewed by many as weak and an opportunist. But in today’s time, Lincoln is viewed as a hero, a savior and a visionary by most.
It is from Lincoln’s historical presidency that many of us look to today’s President and hope that he does what Lincoln did for a nation. However it is in that notion that we as Americans might not understand that while history is written today, it does not stay the same forever. So regardless of how others view Obama’s Presidency, it will not be how future generations view it. Lincoln’s presidency is the example that many Americans must look at and understand in order to better understand how historians and future generations view historical figures and things well into the future.
Therefore we should all take the time out of our lives to not only celebrate Lincoln’s birthday but be thankful for what Lincoln accomplished as President in his short period of time. Lincoln helped to preserve a nation and in the process began a process of emancipation for slaves regardless if it was strategic or unplanned. Lincoln probably never intended to interfere with slavery; he had no choice but to respond to it after the Civil War began during his Presidency where African Americans fought with the North against the South. Lincoln shouldered the burden of keeping a Union united and no one can deny that Lincoln dead doing just that. Lincoln succeeded at doing something that our nation is now thankful for because we are the United States of America with 50 stars in our Great Red, White and Blue flag with the stripes.
Lincoln’s brilliance or delay, no matter how you view it, has kept this union together this long and hopefully as long as we continue to celebrate the significance of Lincoln’s presidency, our union will continue to grow no matter who’s the President of the United States. This union is greater than any one person and the sanity of the union is important than any one person who holds the office of the Presidency and that is the lesson that Lincoln’s presidency gives us. Lincoln saw that and understand that keeping the Union as one was more important than any piece of legislation that could come from his Presidency.
No one can ever imagine what our union would look like if the South was successful at concession and how that would have perhaps destroyed America’s standing in the world as we see it today. Therefore Lincoln’s 200th Birthday is more than just another holiday or celebration but it is the remembrance of one of America’s Great President’s and how his sacrifices and his ability kept our nation united as one despite disagreements that continue to rare its ugly head today. Lincoln’s birthday is a day for all Americans to understand that our union though imperfect is perfect in the sense that we are 50 United States of America and not separate states who have to fend off other countries from potential attacks. Instead we are a nation that is united as one to defend each state and each citizen from other countries in the world.
Abraham Lincoln 200th Birthday is truly a Bicentennial Celebration that I’m thankful to be a part of and blessed to have witnessed.
All Hail Abraham Lincoln and Thank God for His Services while on Earth!
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