Winter Semester Honor History EssayPurple ZhaoMr.KeganFeb.27th .2012 Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln, one of the most eminent presidents in the American history,showed his extraordinary personality while speaking up in politics, leading theUnion in the Civil War, freeing the blacks, and uniting the nation. Lincoln not onlyhad an early aggression in the politics but also used it wisely in fighting theConfederacy. Lincoln was a man with charisma. When he gave the GettysburgAddress, even with such succinct and concise words, he processed a power tounite all the states under one nation. Since 1858, a fierce debate between Democratic senator, Stephen A. Douglassand Lincoln began. Over the issue of Slavery, Douglass and Lincoln held totallyopposite views. Based on the Dred Scott decision in June, Douglass agreed withthe Supreme Court that slaves are not counted as citizens; therefore don’t havethe right to sue in the federal court. Moreover, “he also believed the people inKansas and Nebraska should be allowed to vote on whether or not slavery wouldbe permitted in those states – this is the concept of popular sovereignty.” (KarenJudson, Pg. 55) However, Lincoln, the Democratic, said, “If America was tosurvive, the country couldn’t accept slavery. ‘This is a world of compensations,’ hesaid, ‘and he who would be no slave, must consent to have no slave. Those whodeny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.’ ” (Karen Judson, Pg.57)“whenever Douglass gave a speech, Lincoln spoke against Douglas’s views”. Thiswas an early reveal of his aggression in politics. Lincoln’s fierce response and hispersistence will later play an important role in American history. Zooming intohis arguments, his strong logic sense was also shown. “Those who deny freedomto others, deserve it not for themselves” presents a righteous reason of theimmorality of slavery and his statement was irrefutable. Nevertheless, Lincolnlost this Senate election, not much because of him, but of the weak position ofRepublican Party compared to the Democrats at that time. There were interesting stories happened in the battlefield during Civil War.The conflict between President Lincoln and General McClellan was a one.“General McClellan was liked by his men, but he was an arrogant man whoresented President Lincoln’s suggestions about military tactics. In face, hesometimes referred to Lincoln as a ‘rare bird’ and ‘the original Gorilla’.” (KarenJudson, Pg. 67-68) There were two significant battles General McClellan offendedPresident Lincoln. The first one was the battle to capture Richmond. “McClellancommanded a trained army of seventy thousand men. He was to captureRichmond by sea, then move on through Virginia. In Oct. 1st, he made McClellangeneral-in-chief, perhaps hoping the general would move if he had moreauthority. By December 1861, McClellan still had not moved…” (Karen Judson, Pg.68) The hesitation and lack of decision really made Lincoln frustrated. GeneralMcClellan also attended retreat because he had heard exaggerated reports of thenumber of Confederate troops and likely didn’t want to risk defeat. The secondtime was when McClellan was again a field commander at Antietam, Sharpsburg,Virginia. Antietam was a very successful battle. General McClellan took theadvantage of secrete military message wrapped by a cigarette from theConfederacy and fought a victory battle against Confederacy. Nevertheless, when“Lincoln hoped a quick follow-up that would destroy Lee’s army. He wasdisappointed, however, when McClellan did not cut off Lee’s retreat.” (KarenJudson, Pg. 69) Antietam was believed to be an end of the Civil War if GeneralMcClellan could be more decisive and resolute. President Lincoln later firedMcClellan after the battle of Antietam. General McClellan was really at conflictwith Lincoln who was man straight to the point and believed to response fast andattack fast. “The president remarked that McClellan simply had the ‘slows.’”(Karen Judson, Pg. 69) Emancipation Proclamation was another reference to Lincoln’s intelligenceand a reason to Union’s success in the Civil War. “The proclamation said that as ofJanuary 1, 1863, ‘all persons held as salves within any State or designated part ofa State’ where people were ‘in rebellion against the United States shall be then,thenceforward, and forever free….’” (Karen Judson, Pg. 82) “In other words, theproclamation freed 4 million slaves in the Southern sates that had seceded fromthe Union, It did not include slaves in those states that had remained in theUnion.” (Karen Judson, Pg. 82) Emancipation Proclamation was such a smartmovement to make during the Civil War. There were two big benefits of thisproclamation: first, it authorized the formation of African-American Unionmilitary units. Second, it sublimated the spirit of fighting against the Confederacyto a more moral level – fighting for justice and freeing slaves. First onestrengthened the Union military force. By 1862, African American was 1% of theNorthern population, but 10% of the military population. African American was amajor fighting force during Civil War. Second one won international support fromthe other nations such as the Great Britain who saw slavery as a devil againsthumanity. Lincoln always knew what was the right step to take what would solvea problem without hurting his side. Just like how he dealt with the Fort Sumterissue with the Confederates, when he didn’t know whether to support it withmilitary force. Lincoln simply sent it food supply. In this way he wouldn’t makethe rest of the Southern states to secede and neither recognized the Confederatesas a political body. Lincoln’s intelligence shined through out the time of Civil War.One of Lincoln’s legacies that have rooted in American history was theGettysburg Address. Lincoln was a great speaker with a distinctive personalcharm. “In a clear, loud voice, he reads from a single sheet of paper he takes froma pocket. The speech he wrote the day before the ceremony will last for just threeminutes.” (Karen