Intro

He has many names… The Emancipator, the Liberator, or Honest Abe. President Abraham Lincoln is highly revered for his great leadership during the United States bloodiest war. He achieved in 5 years, what very few Presidents can achieve in 8 years. He emancipated the Southern slaves, established the 13^th Amendment, and won the Civil War, all while preserving the Union. His unquestionable leadership through one of our nation’s darkest hours has made it so that it is known, “the United States is,” not, “the United States are.” Abraham Lincoln united the states of America.

The Emancipator

Abraham Lincoln’s vision of what the United States could be is truly remarkable. President Lincoln did not have a guidebook or any mentor to help him through our nation’s most difficult time. His first major accomplishment during his time as President was the famous piece of legislation, the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation declared that all slaves in enemy territory would be freed on January 1, 1863 if the South did not surrender by then. Of course, the slaves were not freed while in enemy territory right away, but many slaves, once they’ve fled to the North, were essentially freed immediately. The slaves behind Union lines were freed. As the war progressed and the North continued to push into Southern states, more and more slaves were freed.

Lincoln visits with Allan Pinkerton (left) and General McClernand (right) at Antietam.

Most people think that Lincoln should’ve just declared the Proclamation at the war’s start, but it’s not that simple. Lincoln knew that timing was imperative to it’s potential success. There were four Border States that were torn between the Union and the Confederacy: Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland and Missouri. If these states seceded, the Union army would’ve been outmatched and outmaneuvered and would have lost the war. Lincoln had to wait for a big Union victory before he could announce Emancipation. Unfortunately, this big victory didn’t come until a little over a year into the war. The Union’s victory at Antietam boosted morale not only in the Union army, but between the Northern and Border States as well. This victory gave Lincoln the political edge he needed to put forth the Emancipation Proclamation without the Border States seceeding. The Emancipation Proclamation turned the war from being about “state’s rights” to what it was actually about, slavery.

Now that it was clear that the war was about slavery, everything changed. For one, blacks could now fight for the Union which increased the North’s manpower advantage over the South. Secondly, the European powers, who were allied with the Confederacy, didn’t interfere after January 1, 1863. The European powers had already abolished slavery by this point and did not want to support a “country” fighting mainly for slavery. Both the blacks being able to fight and the European withdrawl were highly significant setbacks for the South.. setbacks that would prove nearly impossible to overcome. Due to the diminished outlook for the South, Lincoln’s timing was perfect for putting the Proclamation forward. Not too soon, nor too late!

A Change in the Constitution

While most slaves were freed, the Emancipation Proclamation only covered through the end of the war and, hence, their fates would be uncertain after the war. Lincoln knew he had to abolish slavery permanently and, hence, needed to find a way to amend the United States Contstituion which would ultimately become — the 13th Amendment. However, trying to get that amendment passed through both the House and Senate was no walk in the park for Lincoln as it took more than a year to pass both Houses.

At the beginning of the war, it is disputed whether Lincoln originally wanted to free the slaves at all. No matter the timing of Lincoln’s epiphany about the evil’s of slavery, we do know that, by the end of the war, Lincoln was definitely against slavery. If he appeared neutral on the issue, it was likely because it was too dangerous politically, but after he was re-elected, Lincoln made the abolishment of slavery his top priority.

The Amendment passed through the Senate rather easily in April 1864, but the real struggle was to get it passed in the House. Lincoln had most of the Republicans on his side, but the challenge was to convince around 20 moderate Democrats to vote “Yay” or to abstain. Lincoln resorted to bribery, by offering positions to the lame duck Democrats who would vote “Yay,” and even talked personally to some Democrat representatives to get them on board with the Amendment’s passing. Lincoln, not only, had to pass the Amendment, but he had to do it before the wars end. Lincoln knew as well as Congress, if the South was to surrender before the Amendment was voted on, then the Amendment most assuredly, would’ve been voted down. At the time, the prevailing wisdom was that Lincoln could not, both, preserve the Union and end slavery. The first and main objective was to preserve the Union by winning the war, but it was very treachorous political water to also free the slaves. Lincoln, indeed, had to do some things that were “questionable,” but it was for the greater good of the nation.

“The United States of America is…”

Lincoln’s last, and I believe to be greatest, accomplishment is that he was able to preserve the Union. No national leader wants to be the one who is responsible for their country’s undoing. Lincoln, along with dealing with the issue of slavery, the death of his son, and even the possible defeat from the Confederacy, was able to keep a composed head through this, not just for him, but also for the country. Lincoln needed to show everyone that their leader was strong and would get them through the nation’s crisis. As a result, this boosted morale of the soldiers, as well as Northern supporters. He also was very involved with the war. Whereas most Presidents leave the matter to their highest Generals, Lincoln went through several Generals due to their lack of success. Some Generals didn’t even listen to him in the early years of the war due to lack of respect for Lincoln. Lincoln finally settled on General Ulysses S. Grant as his highest General for the Union Army. As we all know, General Grant was a very great General during the war. Lincoln had to make the choices that would be difficult for others. He had to make choices for the future prosperity of the nation, even if that meant firing his underlings.

Reflection

Lincoln is a very inspirational leader to myself and to these United States. He understood the importance of time and that events have to happen at a specific period, otherwise you might not get the most effective result. Also, he knew that when times were rough, he neede to keep a calm mind. There are always stresses and difficulties in life, but especially if you are leading during a time of crisis, and maintaining calm and confidence to keep moving forward.

Lincoln could’ve just taken the easy way out and not fight for the freedom of slaves, or just let the war drag on without good leadership until the eventual South victory, but that just wasn’t who he was. As it’s often said, “Lincoln grew 15 years in his 5 years in office.” I know I will always look towards Lincoln’s example when I lead in the future!

References

Gardener, Alexander. “Abraham Lincoln at Antietam,” Wet collodian negatives. October 3, 1862.

Lincoln, Abraham. Letter to Horace Greeley, March 24, 1862.

Linden, Russ. “Abraham Lincoln and the Art of Collaborative Leadership.” Public Manager 42, no. 2 (2013)

Rutherglen, George. “The Thirteenth Amendment, The Power Of Congress, And The Shifting Sources Of Civil Rights Law.” Columbia Law Review 112, no. 7 (November 2012): 1551-1584.

Schwartz, Barry. “Our Lincoln.” Society 50, no. 5 (October 2013): 503-505.

Wilson, Kirt H. “Lincoln and Freedom: Slavery, Emancipation, and the Thirteenth Amendment. (Book review).” Journal Of American History no. 2 (2008)

Witt, John Fabian. “Lincoln Changes The Rules Of War.” (Presidents in Crisis).” Weider

History Group, 2013.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the Watchung Hills Regional High School history department!