ASSIGNMENT THREE: Please write a 6-page paper based on the readings on Abraham Lincoln on pages 341-360 (“Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation”) and pages 371-380 (“Master of the Game: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln”). The paper should focus on the many personal and wartime problems that Lincoln faced and the qualities that made him an excellent president. For example, was he upset that most of his Cabinet members did not respect him, that General McClellan ignored his wartime visit, or that General Grant may have had a drinking problem? It should also examine his views on slavery when he was a young politician in Illinois, and his reaction to the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott Decision. Why was he not ready to end slavery at the start of the Civil War and why did he later declare the Emancipation Proclamation? Are you concerned that it took so long for Lincoln to decide to emancipate the slaves? This is not a research paper and is solely based on the information in the two readings.
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Abraham Lincoln faced many personal and wartime problems during his presidency, including a Cabinet that did not respect him, a General McClellan who ignored his visit, and a General Grant with a drinking problem. Despite these challenges, Lincoln demonstrated qualities that made him an excellent president.
Lincoln’s views on slavery evolved over time. As a young politician in Illinois, he was not an abolitionist and believed that slavery was a state issue. However, the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott Decision made him realize the urgency of the issue. At the start of the Civil War, Lincoln was not yet ready to end slavery, but as the war progressed, he declared the Emancipation Proclamation.
It took Lincoln some time to decide to emancipate the slaves, which may be considered concerning by some. However, he was a cautious and strategic leader who carefully weighed his options and acted at the right moment. This is part of what made him a political genius.
Abraham Lincoln faced many challenges during his presidency, including personal and wartime problems, but his qualities as a leader, including his political genius, allowed him to overcome these challenges and become one of the greatest presidents in American history.
