Throughout American culture, Abraham Lincoln is considered one of the greatest and most lionized presidents of the United States. His accomplishments as president influenced and shaped the United States into the distinguished country it is today. As president, Lincoln was able to abolish slavery in America and save the Union. However, during his tenure as president, many citizens viewed his actions as controversial, which led many Americans to both love and hate him. His attempts at trying to abolish slavery and reunify the Union brought about a major war between the northern and southern states: the Civil War.
Abraham Lincoln’s political party, the Whig Party, was a major influence on his policies and beliefs. President Lincoln began his …show more content…
As a House Representative, Lincoln was strongly against the Mexican War: He believed that it was unnecessarily aggressive and unconstitutional. Furthermore, this war would encourage the expansion of slavery into the conquered territories. In order to end this war, Lincoln voted for the Wilmot Proviso. This legislation would stop any slavery from expanding into the land obtained during the Mexican War (Neely). However, this caused many of his constituents in Illinois to hate him because they did not agree with the Wilmot Proviso (History.com staff).
During Abraham Lincoln’s political career, Lincoln met his biggest rival, Stephen A. Douglas. Stephen A. Douglas was a Democratic senator who encouraged the expansion of slavery to the western states. Both Lincoln and Douglas have debated against each other multiple times in the senatorial elections. Most of their arguments have been on the topic of slavery and African-American …show more content…
Changing his policies caused many of his loyal citizens to detest him because they no longer saw him as someone who would fight for racial equality; rather, he was seen as a white supremacist and a racist. Lincoln made statements that were contrary to his old ones: He said that he did not believe in Negro suffrage, and he denied any claim to supporting “social and political equality.” According to William Lee Miller, “These are the statements, often quoted, that are now embarrassments for his admirers and weapons for his critics”
Abraham Lincoln’s political party, the Whig Party, was a major influence on his policies and beliefs. President Lincoln began his …show more content…
As a House Representative, Lincoln was strongly against the Mexican War: He believed that it was unnecessarily aggressive and unconstitutional. Furthermore, this war would encourage the expansion of slavery into the conquered territories. In order to end this war, Lincoln voted for the Wilmot Proviso. This legislation would stop any slavery from expanding into the land obtained during the Mexican War (Neely). However, this caused many of his constituents in Illinois to hate him because they did not agree with the Wilmot Proviso (History.com staff).
During Abraham Lincoln’s political career, Lincoln met his biggest rival, Stephen A. Douglas. Stephen A. Douglas was a Democratic senator who encouraged the expansion of slavery to the western states. Both Lincoln and Douglas have debated against each other multiple times in the senatorial elections. Most of their arguments have been on the topic of slavery and African-American …show more content…
Changing his policies caused many of his loyal citizens to detest him because they no longer saw him as someone who would fight for racial equality; rather, he was seen as a white supremacist and a racist. Lincoln made statements that were contrary to his old ones: He said that he did not believe in Negro suffrage, and he denied any claim to supporting “social and political equality.” According to William Lee Miller, “These are the statements, often quoted, that are now embarrassments for his admirers and weapons for his critics”