President Lincoln

Introduction

Presidential scholars unanimously rank Abraham Lincoln as the greatest U.S. president. One sign of his enduring influence as a leader is the fact that more books (estimated at seventeen thousand), journals, newsletters, and organizations have been devoted to preserving his legacy than that of any other president. His leadership is one of the greatest gifts of U.S. democracy to the world. He began developing as a leader through experiences early in life and drew on these experiences to lead the nation during its most difficult time: the Civil War.

Background

Lincoln was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, in a one-room log cabin. His parents, Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln, were simple farmers. He was the only son to survive. In 1816, the family moved to Indiana, where family members began to clear land and build their farm. Merely a year later, after the family was settled, Lincoln's mother fell sick and died on 5 October 1818. The family needed help, so Lincoln's father remarried. Lincoln's stepmother, Sarah (Bush) Johnston became an extremely important influence in Lincoln's life.

Lincoln had a happy childhood after his father remarried. He received minimal formal education as a child but learned to read and write. His outlook on life enlarged as a teenager in 1828, when he was hired to pilot a flatboat loaded with cargo 1,800 miles to New Orleans, Louisiana. As soon as he reached legal age at twenty-one, he left home to work in the new village of New Salem, Illinois. However, his professional direction remained open. In fact, he explored several directions.

Political Leader

The sixteenth president is unique among the forty-two men who have served in the Oval Office: He ran for political office at a younger age than any other lawyer who became president, and he was one of the few who ran for office even before he became a lawyer (Davis, 9-17). In 1833, Lincoln made his first effort to be elected a state legislator but lacked time to effectively campaign because he had become involved in the Black Hawk War as a volunteer, although he never actually fought during his ninety days of service. Although Lincoln lost his first electoral bid, finishing seventh among twelve candidates, the members of his militia unit had selected him to serve as their captain, a tribute that he valued for life. Before running for the same seat in the next election, he bought two stores and combined them into one. He and his partner, W. F. Berry, operated the store for only a year before it “winked out” with a substantial debt. Nevertheless, Lincoln paid off what he called his “national debt.” Meanwhile Lincoln accepted two local offices: postmaster and assistant county surveyor. He was an energetic and ambitious person.

If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his true friend. Next, probe to discover what he wants to accomplish.

Political Career

In 1834, Lincoln devoted more time to his electoral effort and was rewarded accordingly. He took his seat in ...