Compare And Contrast Abraham Lincoln And Manifest Destiny

1132 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Manifest destiny apush

Abraham Lincoln is a man held in high regard by most present day Americans. He 's a prominent historical figure, and always seems to be depicted as a gleaming example of a truly wonderful person. I grew up thinking of him as an extremely admirable person for his time, a savior bravely facing down the southern Democrats and Confederates while he single-handedly brought about the end of slavery. What I appreciated so much about Slavery, Race, and Conquest in the Tropics was that it easily disproved previous notions I 've had about the topic of Abraham Lincoln and the Manifest Destiny. My knowledge of these subjects before reading May 's work was vastly different than my knowledge of them now, and this response paper is about comparing and contrasting …show more content…

As we discussed in class, most people aren 't aware of the southward goals because our ancestors never achieved them, and so that aspect of Manifest Destiny was just forgotten. Still, I never knew that in the 1800s, it was very much a reality for American citizens that Cuba and other Latin American countries could fall under their control. I also didn 't realize how much Latin America as a whole influenced the United States during this time period. In general, I had no idea that people in the nineteenth century gave any thought to what lay to the south, so it becomes rather complicated for me to choose exactly what information was new to me. Looking back, I now realize that my knowledge of the subject was all around rather ignorant, and so I 'm thankful to have read May 's portrayal of …show more content…

Lincoln freed the slaves, Manifest Destiny was good, and America always does what 's right. It 's refreshing to enroll in college courses that teach the same information, yet manage to capture the whole image of history, even when it isn 't the most flattering. May 's Slavery, Race, and Conquest in the Tropics certainly complicated my knowledge about two subjects I mistakenly thought I knew rather well, but it does so in a way that makes me grateful. I 'm glad to have learned about the uglier side of both Manifest Destiny and Abraham Lincoln, because now I can affirm that I have a more wholesome and accurate depiction of what this time period stood

Show More
Related

  • Compare And Contrast Lincoln And George Washington

    154 Words  | 1 Pages

    The best presidents that the United states has ever seen have to have been Abe Lincoln or George Washington. They were both loyal and cared about their country. George Washington founded the base for our beautiful country that we live in to this day. Abe Lincoln put a stop to slavery during his presidency before he was shot in the back of the head and murdered in the Ford Theater. They both put a lot of time and effort into building our country up. George Washington was an Army general and fought in many hard battles in the cold and across rivers and lakes. We have a lot to thank these men for and lots to learn from their noble actions. Living in their legacy is the whole United States that thanks them for their service. Another great president

    Read More

  • Lincoln's Suspension Of Habeas Corpus Analysis

    1451 Words  | 3 Pages

    The American Civil War not only proved to be the country’s deadliest war but also precipitated one of the greatest constitutional crises in the history of the United States. President Lincoln is revered by many Americans today as a man of great moral principle who was responsible for both preventing the Union’s dissolution as well as helping to trigger the movement to abolish slavery. In retrospect, modern historians find it difficult to question the legitimacy of Lincoln’s actions as President. A more precise review of President Lincoln’s actions during the Civil War, however, reveals that many, if not the majority, of his actions were far from legitimate on constitutional and legal grounds. Moreover, his true political motives reveal his

    Read More

  • Phillip Shaw Paludan's The Presidency Of Abraham Lincoln

    1264 Words  | 3 Pages

    In “The Presidency of Abraham Lincoln,” Phillip Shaw Paludan argues that even though Abraham Lincoln faced unparalleled challenges, Lincoln was America’s greatest president as he preserved the Union and freed the slaves. According to Paludan, Lincoln’s greatness exceeds that of all other American presidents as Lincoln’s presidential service was remarkable in both the obstacles he faced as well as the ways in which he overcame them. Before accepting the distinguished chair in Lincoln studies at the University of Illinois, Springfield, Paludan was a professor of history at the University of Kansas for over 30 years. Paludan has authored several books including Victims: A True Story of the Civil War and A People’s Contest: The Union and Civil

    Read More

  • The Relationship Between Abraham Lincoln And James Oakes

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    James Oakes gave a brilliant and unique perspective to a relationship between two well known historical figures of their time. Abraham Lincoln is a well-admired president for the United States because as Americans culture teaches that he was an honest and well-respected man. He heard about a young African American man, who had high aspirations for his life and the blossoming United States. This man’s name was Frederick Douglass. James Oakes demonstrates how both Douglass and Lincoln worked towards the abolishment of slavery and effectively producing better outcomes within antislavery politics.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Abraham Lincoln And The Timely Death Of President Harding

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    The essays, “Death of Abraham Lincoln” and “The Timely Death of President Harding”, critique society’s tendency to respect the dead and glorify the presidents’ former lives regardless of their characteristics while living.

    Read More

  • Abraham Lincoln and the Kansas-Nebraska Act

    1503 Words  | 4 Pages

    Abraham Lincoln’s original views on slavery were formed through the way he was raised and the American customs of the period. Throughout Lincoln’s influential years, slavery was a recognized and a legal institution in the United States of America. Even though Lincoln began his career by declaring that he was “anti-slavery,” he was not likely to agree to instant emancipation. However, although Lincoln did not begin as a radical anti-slavery Republican, he eventually issued his Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves and in his last speech, even recommended extending voting to blacks. Although Lincoln’s feeling about blacks and slavery was quite constant over time, the evidence found between his debate with Stephen A. Douglas and his Gettysburg Address, proves that his political position and actions towards slavery have changed profoundly.

    Read More

  • Manifest Destiny: The Abolitionist Movement

    747 Words  | 2 Pages

    Behind the scenes of Manifest Destiny, what really transformed the country was the ability to move products across great distances and the Erie Canal was a huge turning point for economic growth in America. Opened in 1825, the Erie Canal was the engineering breakthrough of the nineteenth century: Its four waterways would connect manufacturing and eastern ports with the rest of the country. Farmers could now ship their goods, they could move out, come down the Hudson River and this way of commuting became a part of a global economy. This Moment would bring about the thought of expansion which will become the fuse to enormous economic growth that will ultimately in the next century, become the belief of manifest destiny. The nation that both reflected the pride which reflected American nationalism, and the idealistic image of social perfection through God and the Church caused the nation to separate.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Radical And The Republican

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    . .’, concludes James Oakes’ book with the aftermath of the Civil War and Lincoln’s assassination. Oakes discussed the respect Douglass gathered for Lincoln over the years and the affect his assassination had on both himself and America as a whole. Oakes even brushed over Douglass’ relationship with Andrew Johnson, the president succeeding Lincoln. Analyzing his experience with the new president, it was safe to say that Andrew Johnson had no consideration as to what Douglass and Lincoln previously fought for. Johnson did not have the same political skills as Lincoln did, and he did not retain the same view for America that Lincoln did. It was obvious that Douglass held Lincoln at a higher standard than Andrew Johnson, stating that he was a “progressive man, a humane man, an honorable man, and at heart an anti-slavery man” (p. 269). Oakes even gave his own stance on Andrew Jackson, “It was a legacy that Andrew Johnson could ever match. When all of Lincoln’s attributes were taken into consideration - his ascent from the obscurity to greatness, his congenial temperament, his moral courage - it was easy for Douglass to imagine how much better things would be ‘had Mr. Lincoln been living today’.” (p. 262). It is hard to imagine the pre-war Douglass to have said something like that as opposed to an older, much more reserved Douglass. With the abolishment of slavery, so came much discrimination. Without

    Read More

  • The Great Emancipator Analysis

    1296 Words  | 3 Pages

    Abraham Lincoln deserves the accolade “The Great Emancipator”. The title “Great Emancipator” has been the subject of many controversies. Some people have argued that the slaves themselves are the central story in the achievement of their own freedom. Others demonstrate that emancipation could result from both a slave’s own extraordinary heroism and the liberating actions of the Union forces. However, my stance is to agree that Abraham Lincoln deserves to be regarded as “The Great Emancipator” for his actions during and following the Civil War.

    Read More

  • Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipation

    1764 Words  | 4 Pages

    During the Abraham Lincoln’s short time as president, he managed not only to save a nation deeply divided and at war with itself, but to solidify the United States of America as a nation dedicated to the progress of civil rights. Years after his death, he was awarded the title of ‘The Great Emancipator.’ In this paper, I will examine many different aspects of Lincoln’s presidency in order to come to a conclusion: whether this title bestowed unto Lincoln was deserved, or not. In order to fully understand Lincoln, it is necessary to understand the motives that drove this man to action. While some of his intentions may not have been for the welfare of slaves, but for the preservation of the Union, the actions still stand. Abraham Lincoln, though motivated by his devotion to his nation, made the first blows against the institution of slavery and rightfully earned his title of ‘The Great Emancipator.’

    Read More

  • Abraham Lincoln and Slavery

    1612 Words  | 4 Pages

    Abraham Lincoln and Slavery Many Americans believe that Abraham Lincoln was the “Great Emancipator,” the sole individual who ended slavery, and the man who epitomizes freedom. In his brief presidential term, Lincoln dealt with an unstable nation, with the South seceding from the country and in brink of leaving permanently.

    Read More

  • Lincoln the Tyrant

    2247 Words  | 5 Pages

    In his work, The Real Lincoln, economic historian Thomas J. DiLorenzo tells quite the different tale. Daring to criticize this beloved president, DiLorenzo defends his antithetical statements with several key points: Lincoln was more similar to a dictator than an American President. Arguing that the War Between the States was wholly unconstitutional, DiLorenzo corrects the popular misconception that Lincoln’s war was one of abolition. War was not necessary to end slavery, but it was necessary to fulfill Lincoln’s true agenda – to destroy the most significant check on the powers of the central government: the right of secession.1

    Read More

  • Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War

    1006 Words  | 3 Pages

    Abraham Lincoln (12 Feb. 1809-15 Apr. 1865) the 16th president (civilwar.org) of the United States of America was one of the main public persons that influence the civil war in many aspects. Even though the civil war may have been the last resource the nation had, it could be argue that Lincoln’s governments try its best to find a different solution. The civil war was a conflict that destroyed the nation; it perhaps could have been avoided if the second party had work for a solution. But it is true that maybe both parts could have looked out for the benefits of the people as a whole instead of their personal benefits. Lincoln principal positive effect on the civil war was actually before and during the war when Lincoln’s government had many attempts to prevent the confrontation, and when this one began he took the right decisions to win the war. One of the biggest effects on the civil war was the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which gave the slaves their liberty. Many would agree is that Abraham’s Lincoln effect on the civil war was positive but Lincoln made many mistakes or misjudgments during the war as well. Perhaps the biggest mistake Lincoln did was underestimating the South what caused many unnecessary deaths. He also did had misjudgments that cause many causalities. Since the beginning of time humanity has fought for what they thought was right. In April 12 of 1861(civilwar.org) The US would begin a fight for civic and moral rights, a civil war that perhaps was the last option for a country to reunite its values. Abraham Lincoln was the president of the time and the person the influence the most the course the war took. I strongly believe that Lincoln’s decisions influence or had more positive effects on the country. Being the president at times like the civil war is without doubt it is one of the toughest jobs, and one way or another there is going to be correct and incorrect decisions but I can agree president Lincoln did what he thought it was the best at that moment.

    Read More

  • The American Civil War Was Inevitable

    1627 Words  | 4 Pages

    Roark, J.L., Johnson, M.P., Cohen, P.C., Stage, S., Lawson, A., Hartmann, S.M. (2009). The american promise: A history of the united states (4th ed.), The New West and Free North 1840-1860, The slave south, 1820-1860, The house divided 1846-1861 (Vol. 1, pp. 279-354).

    Read More

  • The Subjugation Of The American West

    1214 Words  | 3 Pages

    Manifest Destiny! This simple phrase enraptured the United States during the late 1800’s, and came to symbolize an era of westward expansion through numerous powerful entities. The expansion can be inspected though many different contextual lenses, but if examined among the larger histories of the United States, this movement can be classified as one of the most influential developments of the post-Civil War period. While very influential to the larger part of American history, the seemingly barbaric methods that were used conquer the western lands and their peoples took physical and economical forms that proved to be a plague upon the West.

    Read More

More about Compare And Contrast Abraham Lincoln And Manifest Destiny

Open Document