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Jose Sanchez Campuzano

Mrs. Alvarez

Junior English

5/8/2018

Abraham Lincoln

President Abraham Lincoln was in involved in possibly the most important era in U.S

history, the Civil War. He had the biggest role of the time and that was protecting the Union as

the president. To have such a high position in government, his power was all in how he

addressed situations and delivered speeches to get people on the same page as him. Being a

lawyer really benefited him because that have him an advantage when it came to debates and

defending his point and arguments. President Lincoln’s writing which included speeches helped

outlaw slavery, stopped the nation from splitting apart, influenced people with his speeches, and

shaped a better America.

Mr. Lincoln lived in a time when there was debate on whether slavery should exist or not.

Without a doubt his goal in life was to change the U.S old ways for the better. “Abraham

Lincoln, who attended school for less than a year, became a lawyer under the Illinois law enacted

in 1833.” (R.J Norton) Due to the fact that Lincoln was a lawyer, it was to his benefit when it

came to stating his argument upon the house and other politicians. He wrote his speeches as good

as good as he defended them, which made him a well-structured author. His success and his

confidence in his writing brought him many successful debates in his favor.

The Emancipation Proclamation written by Abraham Lincoln had a huge impact on

America. “And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that

all persons held as slaves within said designated states, are, and henceforward shall be free.”
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(Lincoln 562). This quote written and said by President Lincoln had a huge effect on American

history. This piece of literature not served as law to be followed by Americans but it served as a

symbolic gesture. African American’s faith and hope for a better future forever changed and also

those who were in favor.

Abraham Lincoln gave his first political announcement he held a well delivered speech in

New Salem, Illinois where he talked about his goals and his vision as a politician. “The probable

cost of this contemplated rail road is estimated at $290,000;--the bare statement of which, in my

opinion, is sufficient to justify the belief, that the improvement of the Sangamon River is an

object much better suited to our infant resources.” (Lincoln). He believed that building a

transcontinental railroad would help the nation stay together. Lincoln had many supporters which

is why he was so successful in getting an act to build this railroad which was a first in U.S

history and total railroad history. It also served as a benefit for the economy giving jobs to many

workers and influencing many people to move westward. African-Americans and Chinese

worked on this project which was revolutionizing moment for their faith and their ability to work

alongside other Americans.

In Abraham Lincoln’s final speech he touched upon the topic of reconstruction which a

complex idea at the time due to the fact that yet there was many people in his contrary. He finally

had beat the confederate army and a crowd in his support was outside the White House calling

the president for a speech. He stood in his balcony in the dark and stated, “By these recent

successes the re-inauguration of the national authority -- reconstruction -- which has had a large

share of thought from the first, is pressed much more closely upon our attention.” (Lincoln). This

would start a new chapter for American history and its new policies for a better unified nation.
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The new constitution outlawed slavery, granted economic independence to blacks and allowed

for public schools for both races, bringing everybody closer together.

In conclusion, Abraham Lincoln accomplished the abolishment of slavery, stopped the

U.S from becoming two separate nations, influenced people’s thoughts on politics through

speeches, and reconstructed a better America. He without a doubt was a president of action

changing many policies and opening opportunities for many of those who were look down upon.

As you know with success comes with enemies and unfortunately he was assassinated on April

15, 1865. I chose this author because he, in my opinion, was a man of wisdom and he believed in

equality. To this day we still remember him as the President to end slavery.
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Works Cited

Norten, Roger. The Accomplishments of Abraham Lincoln. New York: 1996. Web Site.

Rogerjnorton.com/Lincoln87.html

Lincoln, Abraham. Last Public Address. Washington, D.C. April 11, 1965. Speech.

http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/last-public-address/

Lincoln, Abraham. Proclamation. Washington, D.C. July 22, 1862. Speech. Text Book.