Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln once said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand" (House Divided Speech). He was an intelligent man who knew about the world. Lincoln had many ambitions and desires for the United States of America. Abraham Lincoln had a very eventful life, full of death and hardship. The 16^th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was born in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. His Father, Thomas Lincoln, was an uneducated farmer and was a very religious Baptist. Nancy Hanks Lincoln, his mother, died when Abraham was twelve years old. After this tragic event, his father remarried a lady named Sarah Bush Johnston. They shared a mutual love for each other like no other. In 1830 Abraham was in Illinois helping his father, clear land, plant crops and build a new log cabin for his family. He was a very strong man, both physically and mentally and was also known to be very skilled with an axe ("Abraham Lincolns." Childhood). Lincoln demonstrated his patriotism when he enlisted to fight in the black hawk war in 1832. He was quickly elected captain of his militia (Kelly). In 1860, Abraham won the Republican nomination for president (Freidel). After being elected again for a second term, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865. He was shot in the back of the head by John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln died the next day on April 15^th (Kelly). A hero must possess virtue, determination and dedication. Lincoln is a man who owns these traits. Abraham Lincoln is not only a noble man, but is inspiring because of his great vision for the nation, his moral ethics and his eternal quest for knowledge.

Lincoln had a vision for a united nation that could be at peace with its self and united not just by name but by its people. The data from the "Gettysburg Address" shows that Lincoln cared about the United States and wanted the best for its people. He had faith that the nation could overcome its trial, for example, "we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth" (Gettysburg Address). Lincoln wanted to honor the men that had given their lives for the uniting of the states. He and many others believe that a single union would be the best for the people and best for the nation itself. He loved the men that died for his noble cause and wanted more than anything for the war to be over so that the soldiers who died fighting for unity, could spare the lives of many. Abraham Lincoln shows his vision for the nation when he says in his speech, "did we brave all then to falter now? - now - when that same enemy is wavering, dissevered, and belligerent? This result is not doubtful. We shall not fail-if we stand firm, we shall not fail" (House Divided Speech). Lincoln believes that the nation can and should be united. He knows they have worked so hard and doesn't want to give up on his cause. He knows that if the nation keeps fighting for what's right, they will succeed. Abraham Lincoln had a vision for the nation and he knew that having a united nation would bring peace and prosperity to all in the land.

Lincoln is a hero for more than just his vision for a united nation, but also for his moral ethics, that shaped the man that he was. The information from the article "Abraham Lincoln" shows his dislike for slavery and how it fed his desire to be a good man, for example, "his parents' dislike for the institution of slavery, and what he saw of it during these youthful trips to the South, contributed to his distaste for slavery" (Abraham Lincoln). Abraham Lincoln's childhood experiences led to his moral believe that all man are created equal, even the black men that were treated as inferior. He didn't believe that slavery was right and he fought for what he knew was right. In Lincolns speech, "Gettysburg Address", he shows he is a hero because of his respect and love for the men that had died, for example, "but, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate - we can not hallow - this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it" (Gettysburg Address). Lincoln believed in the sacrifice that the men had made but he knew that the death of so many was not necessary. He loved the man that sacrificed themselves and knew that they couldn't dedicate or consecrate the land without future generations not understanding the men's sacrifice. Lincoln had morals that affected the man that he was. He ran his country based on his morals and was a hero because of them.

Lincoln taught himself the knowledge he needed to know about the world and was very vigilant in doing so. From the beginning of Lincoln's life he took all of his opportunities to learn, "Beginning in 1834 Lincoln borrowed law books, read them, and taught himself the rules of law" (Abraham Lincoln).  Lincoln was not given the opportunity to receive an education; he took the challenge of learning about law. He had a desire and he had will power, he knew he could become a leaned man. Lincoln loved to learn and had no problem reading in order to find knowledge. An example of this is in the article "Abraham Lincoln", "Lincoln also developed a passion for reading and self-improvement and through his reading he became self-educated" (Abraham Lincoln). Lincoln had a passion for knowledge and he enjoyed learning about and experiencing life. He realized that books were filled with knowledge and that only fed his appetite for wisdom. Abraham Lincoln's passion for knowledge helped him understand the world better and he is very inspirational to many because of his infinite knowledge.

Abraham Lincoln was a great man and was inspiring because of his immeasurable vision for the nation, his honorable morals and his perpetual quest for knowledge. Abraham Lincoln was a man indeed worthy to be remembered by all. He believed in what he knew to be true. He never once gave up on the vision that his nation could one day become whole once more. Abraham Never missed a chance to learn even from the deaths in his life. Everything that was done to him, good or bad, became an experience to be learned from. Abraham Lincoln inspires me and others because he was not afraid of knowledge or of learning experiences. He greeted every new day as a challenge. Lincoln loved his Nation and gave his life to mend the bond of the torn hearts of the people and the country. Abraham Lincoln was just a down-right great man who believed in his cause. His desire and passion kept him on the path of success. Lincoln once said "If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do, and how to do it" (House Divided Speech). Lincoln was a man wise beyond his years and we still benefit from his wisdom today. He knew that a man must first know himself before he can know what actions he is going to take in his life. He knew his country and also knew where he wanted it to go. Everyone can learn from this as Lincoln did. In conclusion, Abraham Lincoln was an amazing man who knew what he wanted and he fought for it until his dying breath.