Morgen+S.+-+AL+-+SP10

Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) Political Party: Republican Terms in Office: (2) March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865 Vice Presidents: [|Hannibal Hamlin] (1861–1865) [|Andrew Johnson] (1865)

Abraham Lincoln was the first republican president, first president to be assonated, and a president during the civil war. These facts only take Lincoln at his face value. Lincoln reunited a broken nation, which was difficult seeing as the confrontation had been brewing for decades. He had to fight a war while trying to keep others from following the trend of succession. For being so successful under difficult conditions, Lincoln deserves the grade of a B+.

Going into the White House, Lincoln’s goals included preserving the union, keeping the Border States from succeeding, and preventing foreign recognition of the confederacy. By May of Lincoln’s first year in office, eleven states had seceded from the Union. So now he had to control a rebellion within his country, not a war, since he did not acknowledge the legal succession of any of these states. He was successful as he possibly could have been in preserving the union since over the course of his presidency he won the war to bring back all of the succeeded states. He did a good job of keeping the five shaky Border States from leaving the Union. This was done by making decisions with them in mind, making sure to not scare them off by not intervening with the institution of slavery in these states. He also succeeded in having England or France become involved as little as possible and halting British ship building assistance. He secured the US’s navy stance thus convincing Britain to not disobey the blockade. In conclusion, Lincoln was successful in accomplishing a majority of his goals.

Since the Confederacy was now a separate nation, most of congress agreed and supported Lincoln, which mean passing legislation was simple. The Republicans were the majority party at this time. Lincoln used his veto sparingly, only four times throughout his presidency, so it is safe to assume he was on the same page as congress. They established the first ever income tax in the United States, and passed the extremely important Homestead Act.

The most positive decision made during the Lincoln administration is the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation was not positive for the action it took, but more for what it didn’t do. Lincoln was careful in making his announcement, and made it following a Union victory. Also, the Emancipation proclamation only banned slavery in the states and territories that were rebelling. By doing this he ensured that the Border States would not succeed in reaction. If the border States would have switched sides, the Confederacy may have had a chance of winning. The Emancipation proclamation was a good way of creating the sentiment of giving the war a moral cause for the abolitionists, but still didn’t go too far as to discourage the Border States loyalty.

The most negative thing that was done during the Lincoln administration was his suspension of the habeas corpus. It does say in the constitution that habeas corpus can be suspended “in the case of rebellion and when public safety” requires it, however it is unclear as to if it is in the President or Congress’s power to do so. It was an action that was arguably necessary in reaction to the state of the country, but it was a mild over extension of executive power. For example, a demonstrator was arrested for his anti-war message. Lincoln thought that he was a threat to the union and that he should be arrested for treason. This seems like it is going against the constitutional right to free speech. There were not many slip ups during the impressive presidency of Lincoln, but this is by far Lincoln’s most negative decision.

Lincoln’s most influential decision would have to be the same as his most positive, the Emancipation Proclamation. You cannot talk about Abraham Lincoln without mentioning the Emancipation Proclamation. It was influential on future generations based on the fact that it liberated blacks, maybe not in actually freeing them from slavery but in showing their cause support. By announcing to the world that the president of the United States supported the abolition of slavery he was making quite the statement. Not only did this encourage the blacks in their quest for equality and lead to 13th 14th and 15th amendments, but inspired other such minorities to fight for their rights as well.

To summarize it all, Lincoln went into the White House during a civil war and, though he was unfortunately cut short by a tragic assassination, left the presidency with the states back together in unity. He called the tough shots, and if he wouldn’t have made the decisions he made our country would not be the same. These reasons are why president Abraham Lincoln deserves a “B+.”

Sources: "American President: Abraham Lincoln: Domestic Affairs." //Miller// //Center// //of Public Affairs//. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. . Williams, Frank. "Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties in Wartime." //The Heritage Foundation//. Web. 24 Mar. 2010. <[] /Abraham-Lincoln-and-Civil-Liberties-in-Wartime>