Abraham Lincoln Leadership Essay

1133 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essays on characteristics of effective leaders

Throughout history there have been many great leaders. Many leaders who have changed the shape of America and also soldiers of today’s Army. One leader that comes to mind and has shaped me into the leader I am today is Abraham Lincoln. When I look at Abraham Lincoln and what he has done, I think of what Army Leadership manual ADRP 6-22 defines what a leader should be and how leadership is based off of attributes and competencies.
Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky into a family of poverty. Lincoln’s father was not able to read or write while his mother on the other hand was able to do both. While young Lincoln was lent out to local neighbors to assist on their farm land and because of this he had little to no schooling. Due to being molded by lost; Lincoln had developed compassion and concern for others. This right here shows how Lincoln had empathy for others, one of the foundations an Army leaders character.
According to Kearns Goodwin, Lincoln was considered a self taught man. Everywhere Lincoln went he had a book with him. Lincoln learned trades of boatman, clerk, merchant, postmaster, surveyor and country lawyer all by reading books and newspapers. Lincoln would read and re-read law books until her fully understood them. Lincoln wrote to a student seeking advice from him, “Life was a school to him and he was always studying and mastering every subject before him.” Lincoln also stated “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.” This right here shows how Lincoln had a herculean feat of self-creation and how he had a thirst for Technical and Tactful Knowledge.
According to Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln was able to listen to different vi...

... middle of paper ...

.... When I rehash the legacy that Lincoln left on this country and myself, I find myself contemplating how would I like to have my soldiers remember me as. I want my soldiers to remember me as a leader who cared for them, who were able to teach them how to do things they never believed they could do before and how I was able to get the mission accomplished. I would want my soldiers to think of how I understood their concerns and how compassionate I was. I want them to remember how I was able to sympathize with their emotions and give credit where credit was deserved and how I was equal to all and a great communicator.
As leaders and fellow soldiers, it is up to us to make sure our soldiers and friends live out our legacy. It is up to us we train them well enough so they are able to train the next war fighter generation and think back how we accomplished the mission.

Show More
Related

  • Lincoln and His Generals by T. Harry Williams

    1504 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Lincoln, one sees a willing amateur, one who has the ability to bring out the best in some men, and also learn from them (Williams 11). Williams gives us insight into Lincoln’s thought process and into who Lincoln really was. Williams superbly supports this with various examples and numerous interactions that Lincoln had with his Generals.... ... middle of paper ... ...

    Read More

  • Richard Hofstadter's American Political Tradition By Abraham Lincoln

    1213 Words  | 3 Pages

    This reputation describes him as a “self-made” man, coming from a difficult family life. In his early biographies Lincoln portrayed that he came from a poor and uneducated family in which he defied on his path to success. He claimed, “I was born and have ever remained in the most humble walks of life” (Hofstadter 122). By constantly putting himself down, and talking about his previous adversities he “placed himself with the poor, the aged, and the forgotten” (123). However, Hofstadter believed the reasoning behind Lincoln’s constant reminder of his struggles was just to gain sympathy and support in his political career. As historians later found out Lincoln’s family life gave him a much better start than he originally claimed (Winkle 2). Hofstadter set out to prove how Lincoln’s reputation as a “self-made” man was simply just a myth. By using his self-made ethic it advanced not only his political career, it had social and cultural functions as well. He exploited his humble beginnings and people flocked to his word. However, even if Lincoln being self-made was a myth, in believing so it helped to shape the course of Lincoln’s life, to leave his family, to become educated, and to go on to be one of the best president’s in our nation’s

    Read More

  • Abraham Lincoln: Inspiring Equality and Freedom

    1054 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout history we often see Abraham Lincoln as a great president, whose words and action inspire people throughout the nation to change the mindset of how we think about the importance of human lives regardless of race and ethnic groups. His journey toward changing the people perspective on the moral issue of slavery is no easy task to accomplished. But his action however, it did leave an everlasting impact for many African American that being chain by the cruel acts of slavery to experience freedom for the first time. And his Lincoln’s legacy would inspire other individuals to take a stand on their ideas and fight for the freedom of our fellow man. Individuals, such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr take pride on their belief to fight for the equality their race and to unite the nation as one. In the book “The Fiery Trial” by

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Abraham Lincoln's House Divided Speech

    860 Words  | 2 Pages

    Looking back at the life of Abraham Lincoln, if you read about him before 1858, you wouldn’t think he would be such a predominant figure in American history today. It’s not till you learn about the election in 1860 and the events following that you learn what cemented this man, who would become our nations sixteenth president, into our nation’s history. If Lincoln had not won the election, perhaps our only memory of him would be his famous “House Divided” speech from the Illinois Republican Convention in 1858, but we learn from a young as, that isn’t the case. Lincoln went on the be the President during the bloodiest war in American history. Despite having little schooling as a child he would also write his own speeches before and during his

    Read More

  • abraham lincons life

    713 Words  | 2 Pages

    On Feburary the 12th 1809 was Abraham Lincoln born in Hodgenville, Kenucky. He grew up in poor circumstances. His parents Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks were little farmers later “Abe” had to work in the farm. For his school education wasn't much time. In December 1816 the Lincolns moved, to the newly admitted state of Indiana. The Lincolns lived in a small, three-sided shelter on Pigeon Creek, sixteen miles north of the Ohio River. There “Abe” learned the use of axe and plow when he had to help his father. Together they built a shelter and a farm out of the hardwood forest. When his mother died in 1818, his father Thomas went back to Kentucky and remarried. His new wife's name was Sarah "Sally" Bush Johnston, a widow from Kentucky. His stepmother bothered for Abrahams school education and took the decision, that Abraham does also something for his school education during his work on the farm. She also gave him on his birthday some books to learn reading. But his father wanted, that Abraham work as a farmer. 1830 he moved out from his family and went to New Salam and worked there as a business person and continued his private study.

    Read More

  • Abraham Lincoln: America’s First Commander-in-Chief

    1884 Words  | 4 Pages

    An important aspect of Abraham Lincoln’s overall performance is his personal and political background. Concerning his opinions on slavery, his personal background shaped his ideals in a very unique way. James McPherson, author of the short biography Abraham Lincoln, provides some insight into Lincoln’s background, writing that Lincoln’s fathe...

    Read More

  • The Personas of Abraham Lincoln

    1077 Words  | 3 Pages

    Abraham Lincoln is perhaps one of the most interesting characters to have ever graced the American political arena and presidency. He is most noteworthy, obviously, for his role in saving the United States from its own destruction and the eradication of the vile Southern tradition of slavery. However, upon deeper inspection, one finds there was much more to Lincoln than his political achievements. Throughout his years as a politician, there's a noticeable shift in terms of his character, and political persona. He seems to go from ambitious and boisterous to being more solemn and reserved. Also, it should be noted that some remark that Lincoln was, quite ironically, both America’s most democratic and autocratic President to have ever held office. However, it seems that though there is abundant evidence for his democratic values, there are little to suggest his autocratic intentions. As though some lines revealing such intent can be found, many are also directly rebutted by powerful democratic rhetoric. All of this can be found in Lincoln’s four main speeches; “A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand”, his Inaugural Addresses and the Gettysburg Address. Basically, in order to properly analyze Lincoln it may be best to look at Lincoln’s personal and political changes within the terms of his antebellum and Civil War “personalities”, as well as to examine his democratic and autocratic leanings; all through scrutinizing Lincoln’s major speeches.

    Read More

  • Abraham Lincoln: A Tragic Hero

    679 Words  | 2 Pages

    Young Abraham was born February 12, 1809 in Hodgenville Kentucky, a child of the frontier. He was prominently self-educated, he is a very intellectual individual despite the formal education he received as a young adolescent, but even then he seemingly stood out for being more mature or wise for lack of a better word than some would say most children are at that young age. As Lincoln matured into a young adult, he decided to take a dive into a career of being a lawyer, even though he didn’t go to be a lawyer till the end

    Read More

  • Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Analysis

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    Abraham Lincoln wrote one of the greatest speeches in American history known as the Gettysburg Address. It was not only used as a dedication to the fallen troops of the North and South, but as a speech to give the Union a reason to fight and attempt to unite the divided nation. The sixteenth president’s handling of his speech at Gettysburg demonstrated how the effectiveness of juxtaposition, repetition, and parallelism, could bring unity to a nation deeply divided on beliefs. His speech touched the hearts of many and indirectly put an end to the Civil War. Lincoln may have been considered a tyrant at the time but he was a great leader of a nation, a war, and a democracy.

    Read More

  • David Donald's Lincoln

    2000 Words  | 4 Pages

    In writing Lincoln, David Donald set out to do two things: one, to provide an in-depth explanation of Lincoln’s decision-making process, and two, to highlight the “essential passivity of his nature” (14). Unfortunately, he succeeded in only one of these.

    Read More

  • Why Was Abraham Lincoln The Best President

    2118 Words  | 5 Pages

    Lincoln was able to go out into the field and manage the situation directly. His hands on approach helped show his strength and leadership. During the Civil War, many soldiers died and there were many ups and downs. Lincoln established lasting connections with the troops by visiting the battlefield and hospitals, which also helped to boost everyone’s spirits. Lincoln also spent time talking with members of the public, while taking the public’s opinion. He held public receptions and made a point of shaking everyone’s hand and speaking to each individual. Lincoln’s personal appeal was a great asset as a leader and showed that he was a “plain folk” just like everyone else. His past made it easy for him to understand more life situations and relate to people of all different walks in

    Read More

  • William Bradford

    1270 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout history, there have been great leaders, some for the good of humanity, and some for the not-so good of humanity. The one element all leaders have in common is in some way, have changed the course of history. The one great leader I have found to be interesting and envision of a great leader is William Bradford, an original passenger on the Mayflower, and the first ever governor elected on what is to become, American Soil.

    Read More

  • What It Means To Be An Army Leader Essay

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    The best Army leaders will effortlessly find some way to get others to do exactly what they need them to do. They do this by giving soldiers a

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Abraham Lincoln

    1589 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the morals of the people or individual oppressing them”, is the idea of Abraham Lincoln’s presidential policy. Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, pushed America towards its present ideals. Lincoln’s leadership was practical and hopeful; yet he did not press for the reality of the phrase “All Men Were Created Equal”. I would give him a grade of a B average. He had good intentions, and progressive ideas, but he did not know how to handle them or order them to be passed majority of the time. However, he led the United States through one of the bloodiest, Constitutional wars that America has been in. He proved his worthiness of President among issues such as the

    Read More

  • Abraham Lincoln Second Inaugural Address Summary

    1209 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lincoln is not only a historical figure but a role model for doing what is right. One of Lincoln’s main points in his speech was for our country to learn from the mistakes it has made in the past and apply them to the future. To this day Lincoln still is teaching America the importance of equality no matter your religion, culture, gender, or race, we are

    Read More

More about Abraham Lincoln Leadership Essay

Open Document