About the Movie:
Movie Lincoln, directed by Steven Spielberg, is based on the true story of US President Abraham Lincoln’s struggle to get the 13 Amendment, dealing with the abolition of slavery, passed in the parliament. The movie deals with negotiation in depth it shows how Mr. Lincoln inspired, convinced or even bought off requisite number of members of the U.S. Congress to support Constitutional abolition of slavery. In the movie Lincoln, the situation in which President Abraham Lincoln takes his stand on the issue of abolition of slavery is very unique. Since no one was in favor of passing of such an amendment. The 13th commission was deeply criticized by one and all. The entire group of congressmen whether republicans or democrats were
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• The movie shows how President Lincoln doesn’t shy away from having to trade and negotiate with all sides to secure his goal and despite very unfavorable circumstances he was very determined to achieve his target and get the amendment passed. The entire situation also reflects on the amount of self belief he had in himself, that despite being ridiculed for such a viewpoint he did not budge from his stand.
• President Lincoln, knew how and when to use what strategy. He understood the importance the correct tactic at the correct time and was very pragmatic. Whether it was power, trading votes with federal jobs, persuasion skills, emotional appeal etc. for instance, he used ending the civil war as a result of passing the amendment to gain acceptance for abolition of slavery which otherwise was very difficult. He also used his being popular and respected by the masses to his favor and also understood the fact that it was his only chance is to get the bill passed into law before the impending end to the civil war and thus he stressed on the speed at which progress was being made. He along with Mr. William Seward who was the Secretary of State set about building a coalition to secure sufficient votes in the Congress. It wasn’t that getting the bill passed was a cake walk for Mr. President on the
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He was not only popular among the masses but was also respected by the congressmen. He serving a second term itself was self explanatory of his popularity. He was a man of integrity and had gained the trust of his countrymen. This was very evident in the behavior of Mr. and Mrs. Jolly who had come to meet him with a request and when asked about their opinion on the matter of the amendment, they very clearly stated that they would support the passing of the same as Mr. President says it is a pre requisite for the war to end. This definitely shows the amount of trust they had in their president, which did not waver despite the kind of atmosphere prevailing in the
Williams portrays Lincoln in a very positive light, allowing the reader to realize the greatness of Lincoln, in his compassion, strategy, statesmanship and lack of ego. Williams has provided numerous instances wherein he provides ample support to his arguments and facts. In spite of the unnecessary detail and verbosity that Williams sometimes uses, there is no doubt that this book is a remarkable insight into Lincoln’s persona.
“The greatest measure of the 19th century was passed by corruption, aided and abetted by the purest man in the world.” This quote, by Thaddeus Stevens, served to announce the corruption and dismay found within the presidency of Lincoln, as he attempted to pass the infamous 13th amendment. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States of America, set forth ideas that were unknown at the time. As a major opponent of slavery towards the end of his term, Lincoln voiced his plans to abolish slavery, along with ending the Civil War. Although these plans seemed far-fetched at the time, Lincoln used his power and popularity to achieve both goals, paving the way for equality throughout the States. Despite the fact that the Civil War began merely as a fight to preserve the union, Lincoln soon
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.
The passage of the 13th amendment seems simple. Lincoln declared the emancipation proclamation and set the majority of the slaves free. General opinion was already shifting toward abolition and a bill like the 13th amendment seemed inevitable. This is the well-known but extremely overgeneralized view of national abolition. Leonard L. Richards attempts to correct this general perspective in Who freed the slaves?. He argues that abolitionists were actually fighting an uphill battle throughout the civil war. Not only was there opposition from Democrats, the majority of Republicans was also against abolition. This only changed near the end of the civil war with countless endeavors to change public opinion and heavy secret bargaining.
Abraham Lincoln’s greatest challenge during his presidency was preserving the Union during the Civil War after the Southern states seceded from the Union. There were many dividing issues in the U.S. before his election in 1860, and his presidential victory was the final straw that led to the Civil War. The North and the South were already separating due to regional differences, socially, politically, culturally, and economically. Slavery was one of the biggest factors that led to the division between the North and the South. Preserving the Union while half of the country refused to regard federal law while in secession was extremely challenging, yet Abraham Lincoln decided to fight war against the South not only for the sake of abolishing slavery, but most importantly for the sake of preserving the Union. He was dedicated to fighting for the equality of all men in the U.S., as mentioned in his famous Gettysburg Address: "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." He used this to argue a basic point: if all men are created equal, then all men are free. His House Divided speech showed his determination to keep the...
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments are the amendments adopted to the United States Constitution after the Civil War. In succession, these amendments were adopted to the Constitution.
As a child in elementary and high school, I was taught that President Abraham Lincoln was the reason that African slaves were freed from slavery. My teachers did not provide much more information than that. For an African American student, I should have received further historical information than that about my ancestors. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity or desire to research slavery on my own until college. And with my eagerness and thirst for more answers concerning my African American history, I set out to console my spirit, knowledge, and self-awareness of my ancestors’ history. I received the answers that my brain, mind, and soul need. Although Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution, courageous African American slaves were the real heroes and motivation of the movement.
Thomas DiLorenzo’s purpose in writing The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War is to portray the idea of a different side of one of America’s greatest presidents. Abraham Lincoln is indeed one of the most written about “American political figure[s]” (1). However, The Real Lincoln is devoted to revealing the true mindset and agenda of Abraham Lincoln during his time of presidency. DiLorenzo, in one single book, undermines the political choices and strategies of Abraham Lincoln. He challenges the decisions Lincoln made; specifically stating that Lincoln “could have ended slavery just as dozens of other countries in the world did” (4).
...ll the Republican political leaders, two third of the majorities of the house and the senate approved and sent the senates to approved the thirteenth amendment abolishing slavery. President Abraham Lincoln used his influences republican party leaders, and his campaign speech that he spoken from Springfield to Washington to persuasive and changed the South state’s mind. Lincoln wanted to end the civil neutral by stating that he was willing to conciliate the slaves’ states in the South, but that there will be no compromise that was acceptable of the expansion territory of the slavery.
It was a delicate balancing act because it defined the war as a war against slavery, not the war between the northern and southern people, and at the same time, it protected Lincoln’s position with conservatives, and there was no turning back. Thousands of slaves had “voted with their feet” for emancipation; blacks and their white allies celebrated with praise songs. Another piece of evidence, the Thirteenth Amendment, proved that Lincoln deserved the title “The Great Emancipator”. Lincoln came to see black soldiers as “the great available and yet unavailable force for restoring the Union”. African American people helped secure equal rights for their people.
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.’
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.
The power of the federal government can also be seen during Lincoln’s presidency at the time of the Civil War. He swayed the entire purpose of the war to something far off from what had been the initial purpose. From fighting for the preservation of the Union, Northerners readily began to accept that the abolition of slavery was the cause of the war for them, not the Union. Lincoln and his power made this happen.
The movie Lincoln focuses on the four months of Abraham Lincoln's life before his death. Lincoln starts in January 1865. In the movie, Lincoln is afraid the Emancipation Proclamation will be denied by Congress once the Civil War ends. Lincoln also fears the Thirteenth Amendment will not be passed once the southern states are reunited with the northern states. The Thirteenth Amendment concerns the freeing of slaves. Lincoln has to get some Democrats on board with the Thirteenth Amendment if Lincoln wants the Thirteen Amendment passed. Since the Civil War is projected to end in less than a month, Lincoln had to get to work. Lincoln's advisers advise him to wait until the new Congress is in place. However, Lincoln is firm in his belief of the Thirteenth Amendment needing to be passed immediately. Lincoln goes to the head Republican, Francis Preston Blair, to use Blair's influence to get all the Republican vote. Blair tells Lincoln that in order for Blair to endorse the Thirteenth Amendment, Blair must go and seek peace with the South. Blair's request is frustrating to Lincoln, as the Radical Republicans Lincoln got votes from are extremely against a negotiated peace that allows slavery. However, Lincoln needs Blair's vote, so Lincoln allows Blair to go make peace with the Confederates. Next, Lincoln focuses on the “lame duck” Democrats' vote. Lincoln believes since the Democrats lost the re-election, the Democrats will not be aiming to please the public and will vote the way they so choose. Lincoln cannot give the Democrats bribes, so Lincoln has individuals go and discreetly offer the Democrats federal jobs in return for their vote.
Now presidents have an army system that chooses for them, but at the time Lincoln had to chose them himself. Also, back in 1833, Abe had to proclaim bankruptcy. This caused his business to fail. Abraham also ran for state legislature in Illinois, but unfortunately lost. On the other hand, one of Lincoln’s biggest strengths was his determination. Lincoln had a lot of setbacks due to the the Civil War, but he didn’t let that stop him and he kept going. Of course, one of Lincoln’s biggest accomplishments was when he became president! Also, more people started to acknowledge him for his coraguesness when he put an end to slavery. Obviously, he had more ups than downs. Abe was known for his complete honesty when he attended national events for speeches. He gain the nickname “Honest Abe.” During the Civil War’s most outstanding battles, Lincoln gave a speech during his presidency that many people adored. The best quote from the speech is, "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created