Abraham Lincoln believed that freedom for all people was an endeavor worth fighting for. He had learned of this principle from many of the Founding Fathers, including George Washington. This very freedom was written in the constitution. Lincoln knew that everyone deserved freedom, even the African-American slaves in the Southern states. Yet, this ideal split the country in half when Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the United States of America. The South was not willing to free their slaves, and the North would not allow America to be torn apart. This would eventually lead to a war where Friends and brothers would fight against each other. However, this conflict was necessary for the freedom of the slaves.
Lincoln was born in 1809
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Abe loved the way George had led a young and fragile country into a hard and grueling war. Despite the odds, George Washington and his army of farmers and store keepers won the day. The freedom of America was secured, and George’s desires for a people that governed themselves was realized. As Abraham read about George and the other Founding Fathers, he started to live the ideals that they had. He believed that all men were created equal and that all people deserved freedom. This was the reason Lincoln hated slavery. He was exposed to this practice at a very young age as he watched many slaves travel along the road near the Lincoln home. Once Abraham grew older, he left his loving family and started to study the law. He eventually became a senator for two years, and it was here that Abraham tried to lessen the power of slavery. He attempted to introduce legislation against the practice but the other senators did not lend their support. After his term ended, Lincoln started to have heated debates with Stephen Douglas, a senator who thought there was nothing morally wrong with slavery. As the two went across the country debating, Lincoln made a name for himself. Many …show more content…
This battle was one of the bloodiest conflicts in the war with about 51,000 men from both sides dead. After the battle, the South withdrew its forces and victory was given to the North. Before Lincoln’s address, Edward Everett gave a two hour long speech listing every detail of the fight. Lincoln then took the stand and commanded the audience’s attention. He started thus, “Fourscore 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.” Lincoln first started by reminding them why this war was being fought. He knew that all men deserved to be equal in their rights and freedoms. This was the very principle that this country was founded upon. The men that had fought on this battle field were attempting to make that belief a reality. Lincoln said that the ground here was already consecrated through the blood spilt by every soldier that gave their lives for the nation. Lincoln knew that this sacrifice was important to the survival of the nation. And he would not let it be in vain. Lincoln would fight for the freedom of slaves through this war. The men of Gettysburg gave their lives for this ideal and Lincoln would free all slaves for that sacrifice. This was accomplished through the eventual surrender of the