The Rise of Abraham Lincoln:

From Obscurity to the Presidency

By John D’Adamo

English Period 8

May 24, 2006 

            Abraham Lincoln- the very mention of the name brings a vision to mind of the strong man who freed the slaves and helped end the American Civil War with a Union victory.  This, however, was toward the end of his life, which we all remember.  What many people do not know that hat Abraham Lincoln came from simple beginnings living on a farm, politically staying obscure until the last few years of his life.  Most reputable politicians that eventually challenged Lincoln in his quests for various political positions such as Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, and William Seward, had more prosperous youths politically. [1] Overcoming all obstacles, and through his exemplary determination, Abraham Lincoln rose from obscurity to the post of the President of the United States.

            Born in a log cabin in Kentucky to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks [2], no one could have ever guessed that only fifty years after living in such a homely manner, a man could become president of a country as large as the United States.  After only seven years in this log cabin, Lincoln and his family moved to Spencer County, Indiana, “on account of slavery”, as Lincoln later recalled. [3] With the upgrade from a log cabin to a farm, Lincoln’s early years may have seemed to be taking a term for the better.  However, this was not completely the case, because at the age of nine, Lincoln’s birth mother, Sarah Lincoln, died from “milk sickness” at thirty-four years of age. [4]  Although Lincoln was probably set aback emotionally from this experience, it was at this point that Lincoln began to show interest in law, especially civil law.

            Lincoln had a mere eighteen months of formal schooling.  The majority of his knowledge was gained by reading books of all genres, but especially American and English history, the Bible, and the works of Shakespeare [5].  Lincoln had a drive to succeed, and what he lacked in early preparation and guidance he more than made up for with his concentration. [6]  This, accompanied by his new stepmother who supported him every step of the way, jump-started Lincoln’s career. [7]

            Lincoln went into the political field when he was twenty-three with a campaign for the Illinois General Assembly as a member of the Whig Party. [8]  After serving his term, however, he began to travel a different path, venturing into civil law.  Lincoln passed the Bar examination in 1836, and began to practice law in Springfield, Illinois. [9] Winning more and more cases, Lincoln gained prominence in Illinois, becoming one of the most respected practitioners of law in the state.

            With his newfound reputation, Lincoln entered the law practice of William Herndon, another massively respected Illinois lawyer.  During this time, Lincoln began to remember his beginnings as an assemblyman and started to look into politics one more time, this time for the Illinois House of Representatives. [10]  The Illinois public overwhelmingly voted to elect Lincoln for four terms as a representative of his local Sangamon County.  It was in this local House that Lincoln first debated against slavery, a topic which would arise many more times in his career. [11]

            The next move Lincoln made was a great one- he ran for a U.S. House of Representatives seat, and won. [12]  Unfortunately, this move might have even pushed him further into political obscurity, as a fiery speech during his 1840s term regarding the unconstitutionality of civil war cost him a House reelection bid.  This one House of Representatives term would prove to be his only national political accomplishment, if one could call it that, before achieving the Presidency. [13]

            After the House term, Lincoln stayed away from politics, returning to Springfield Illinois to practice law.  [14]  Lincoln tried to rebuild his reputation by his vigorous use of rarely otherwise used tactics to win cases.  One of the most famous examples of this was Lincoln’s defense of a criminal, William “Duff” Armstrong, on trial for murder.  Using only his wit and a Farmer’s Almanac, Lincoln managed to convince the jury that an eyewitness for the plaintiff had lied, acquitting “Duff” Armstrong. [15]

            In 1854, Lincoln’s political candlewick had been relit, as he wanted to do something about the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which effectively repealed many of the effects of the Missouri Compromise of 1820. [16]  As his reputation had been considerably healed since the incidents on the House of Representatives floor, he wanted to attempt a campaign for a U.S. Senate seat in the Election of 1858.  Accepting the Republican nomination for this seat, Lincoln delivered one of his most remembered speeches, opening with “A house divided against itself cannot stand”, referring to the split between Northern and Southern views on slavery and economy.  With this speech, the stage was set for some of the most momentous set of debates in American history.  [17] 

            Two men of completely different natures but equally immense speaking abilities faced off, with only one being able to take the Senate seat.  A man by the name of Stephen Douglas, who had gained prominence as a Senator far beyond Lincoln’s sole House term, represented the Democratic Party, while Abraham Lincoln represented the Republican camp.  [18]  With people traveling over three hundred miles to see these two great men, a U.S. Senator and one of the most prominent lawyers in Illinois, clash, one might assume theoretical fireworks were going to explode.

            Stephen Douglas was a staunch proponent of slave labor, as were most Democrats.  [19]  Thus, his views during the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates were mostly pro-slave labor.  In one debate, Douglas asked the crowd if they wanted, truly, for blacks to have equal voting rights: “If you desire negro citizenship… if you desire them to vote on an equality with yourselves… then support Mr. Lincoln and the Black Republican party, who are in favor of the citizenship of the negro.” [20]  Lincoln countered that he was not in favor of complete equality of blacks and whites, but instead in favor of free labor over slave labor.  One must remember that the mindset of the American public at this time in history was vastly different than that of 21^st century views, and so most people believed that the Caucasian race was the superior of the two prominent races.  [21] 

            Despite Lincoln’s camp capturing the popular vote, Douglas won the most votes in the electorate, earning another Senate term.  Although Lincoln lost in the end, he made his opinions known in these famed Senate debates, and as his party later found out, the public largely agreed with him.

            In 1859, Lincoln expressed interest in running for the Presidency for the first time.  His campaign began with a speech praising John Brown, the man who led an anti-slavery revolt, which, although it led to his death, showed that he had character in Lincoln’s opinion.  [22]

            The Republican Party had a multitude of candidates eager to run for the highest office in the country, but only one could receive the party’s nomination.  Therefore, the Republican primaries were quite heated.  [23]  Lincoln seemed like the underdog in the primaries, shadowing such prominent governmental figures as William H. Seward and Edward Bates.  [24]  To the surprise of Lincoln and most Republican party members, the first primary showed Lincoln trailing by only seventy votes with Edward Bates and Salmon P. Chase far behind.  [25]  To the dismay of the Lincoln camp, the underdog seemed to not receive many victories.  However, with Bates and Chase all but out of the race, it was down to Lincoln and Seward.  Seward’s camp had already prepared a banquet celebrating Seward’s victory, and had even opened the bottles of champagne when the news came through telegram… Lincoln had won the nomination.  [26]  The boy who had grown up in a log cabin and outraged many during his sole political contribution, a term in the House of Representatives, had won the Republican presidential nomination.  Now, however, Lincoln was faced with the daunting task of battling the Democratic candidate. 

            At first, going against the Democratic Party seemed like a tough feat, as the Democrats had many advantages, experience being one of them.  Also, they won the Presidential Election of 1856, and most were convinced they were in the “driver’s seat” to win the election.  [27]  This all began to change during the spring of 1860 with an event very few could have predicted.  The Democrats could not choose a sole candidate to run against Lincoln and John Bell of the Union Party.  They were split on key issues such as slavery and equality between free and slave states.  To combat this, the Democratic Party split in two. [28] Representing the Northern Democrats was Lincoln’s old rival, Stephan A. Douglas, and John C. Breckenridge representing the Southern Democrats.  The only party with the money and power to challenge Lincoln had broken in two, all but guaranteeing Lincoln the Presidential victory. [29]

            Even one of the most influential speakers and Congressmen of that era, Stephen A. Douglas, could not overcome the split of the Democratic Party.  On November 16, 1860, Lincoln was elected President of the United States. [30] [31]

            During his First Inaugural Address on March 4, 1861, Lincoln stressed the importance of keeping the Union intact, and that the Constitution’s law was perpetual.  This was, of course, an allusion to the South’s growing impatience with the North on various issues, hinting at possible military action.  Since Lincoln’s first days serving in the House of Representatives, preservation of the Union was crucial to him, and he would, as the American Civil War began, do everything in his power as President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the Armies to keep the Union intact.  [32]

            People all across the North could relate to Lincoln, calling him the “Rail Candidate”, which equated him to be like a railroad worker- working hard to get forward in life.  [33]

Through Lincoln’s dedication and, as Doris Kearns Goodwin put it in Team of Rivals, “his daunting concentration”, Lincoln, born in a log cabin and with only one House term under his belt on a national level, gained the respect of the nation and became President of the United States.