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Abraham Lincoln: who changed the world
Lincoln returned to New- Orleans in 1832, and Election Day was just two weeks away. It was presidential election year and political parties everywhere elected presidential candidates. In his brief campaign Lincoln spoke everywhere, from tiny village squares to city streets, even to farmers in their homes and fields. Lincoln met with anyone he could and shook as many hands as he could. Nevertheless, Lincoln failed in his brief campaign. President Andrew Jackson, who was looking for his second term as president, defeated him.
In 1834 Abraham Lincoln once again ran for representative of the Illinois legislature. By then Lincoln was known and admired by many. When election time rolled around, Lincoln won by a unanimous decision. Lincoln not only was elected that year, but was also reelected in 1836,1838, and 1840. Lincoln later became the floor leader at the Illinois legislature. Lincolns experience in the Illinois legislature sharpened his political skills, made him more skilled in debate, and made him great in the art of political maneuvering. This would lead Lincoln to even more success in politics.
In 1837 Lincoln took his first public stand on slavery, which would change the world forever. Lincoln and a colleague declared that slavery was “made on both injustice and bad politics”. Lincoln opposed slavery, but he favored lawful ways of achieving its destruction. Through out Lincolns career he was constantly fighting slavery, hoping one day to destroy it.
Lincoln continued to widen his actions against slavery, so Lincoln ran for
a seat in Congress. Soon after Lincoln was elected to a seat in Congress, from here Lincoln started his biggest and loudest fight against slavery. Lincoln began by raising more questions. He asked “why were the majority of slaves sold African, if it has nothing to do with race?”. “What ever happened with America being the home of the free, if these people didn’t have the G-d given right to do what they wanted?”. Lincoln and his questions stirred up many conflicts in Congress.
The extension of slavery was a very important question during Lincoln’s term in Congress. He backed the Wilmot Proviso, which said that “slavery be prohibited by any territory acquired in Mexico”. Lincoln also put forward a program for the abolition of slavery in Washington. Although Lincoln’s proposal never really went to Congress, it exemplified his opposition to slavery and the moderate means by which he wanted to achieve abolition.
The proposal called for the emancipation of children born into slavery, after January 1,1850. Slaveholders were informed they would be compensated for their loss or losses. Lincoln then got his bill to Congress, which said that Washington would outlaw slavery. Finally Lincoln won his long fought battle with Congress, and the voters of Washington approved [next page]