The Presidential elections in America has had a commendable history and it has been very important for the Americans to vote for the right candidate to be their leader. George Washington became the first US president in 1789 during that time when only the white men with property could vote for the elections. However, the thirteenth, nineteenth and the twenty-sixth amendments of the constitution gave the rights to the American public who were eighteen years and older to vote for their president (history.com/us-presidents/presidential elections). Donald Trump is the current, 45th, president of the U.S. since 2017 while the former president was Barack Obama who held the office from 2009-2017.
If we go back to the year 1860, when Abraham Lincoln won the presidential elections and served as the sixteenth U.S. president officially from March, 1961 we will have an idea about how things were during the elections in those days compared to how things are at present. The issue revolving around slavery was of a major concern and debate during that period. A lot of heated arguments on this issue had been making the elections very chaotic for the various political parties and every one wondered if the proceedings could be carried out peacefully or not ( Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: Campaigns and Elections ).
Abraham Lincoln was born on 12th February, 1809 and belonged to a very humble background. His father Thomas Lincoln was a farmer and carpenter by profession and his mother, Nancy Hanks died when he was just nine years old. He always credited his mother for guiding him, however, he also had a great bond with his step mother, Sarah Bush Johnston, whom his father married afer Nancy's death. Sarah is said to have supported Lincoln immensely and she always insisted on his education and well being. His family moved to Illinois towards the West of Decatur when he was twenry one and after moving here he went off to New Salem in Illinois in 1831 and started living on his own ( Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: Life Before Presidency ).
Abraham Lincoln’s Initial Days in Politics And His Path To Be The 16th President
The life which he came from had no link with politics but it was his own interest that made him a person who could present himself as a leader. He beacme well known in New Salem due to his wit and skills to connect to the masses, he was considered intelligent and was regarded as a bookish person. His first major move in the filed of politics was when he gave his candidacy to win a seat in the Illinois state legislature in 1831 as an independent candidate (Burlingame). He won 277 votes out of 300 in New Salem but lost within the county by coming eight amongst thirteen fields ( Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: Life Before Presidency). Lincoln spent his time learning the law on his own aftwr this temporary failure and got himself a license in 1837. He also got involved with the Whig political party but he later joined the Republican party permanently in 1856. As he tries to prevail in the political scenerio, he finally wins the state legislature in 1834 which he continued to do so till 1840. We can make a note that the 44th president, Barack Obama was a senate as well before he ran for the elections. The contrast over here is that Obama is the first African-American president voted in times of modern America whereas the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln assumed this role during the times when black people had severe right issues and the concept of slavery prevailed in the country. A lot of progress can be seen by just refering to this sitution in terms of the rights of Americans based in caste and creed. However, taking the discussion back to the rise of Lincoln we must note that his Republican party was against slavery. In 1858 he was pitted against Stephen A. Doughlas who was an acclaimed senetor and a democrat to debate over the issue of slavery which is still considered to be amognst the most powerful debates in the American history. He spoke strongly about how slavery was wrong and his famous ‘House Divided Speech’ came up during this event wherin he said that a country cannot stand up against itself and slavery cannot come to an end until the country gives up the slave system completely. However, he loses against the argument when he is made to talk on racial equality wherein he makes a weak statement by not being able to say that white and clack people were the same in every manner. He lost his pitch against racial equality to Doughlas but Lincoln became a prominent political personality after that debate ( Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: Life Before Presidency). The year 1860 was approaching and all these events in 1858 was leading towards his final victory which was still unknown to him.
Abraham Lincoln Finally Becomes The President
It was not a smooth sailing for Abraham Lincoln to win the elections. He had a difficult start as a child, his adolescence was spent over working for his family and proving himself as someone worthy to enter politics. He won hearts with his wit which helped him become popular but he faced lost a lot of candidacy as well. His persistance to stay in the field gave him wins in the political field but they didn't come easy to him. During his campaings for presidentship he was equally loved and ridiculed. A large number of Republicans did a torch light parade as a gesture to support Lincoln, The supporters also put up slogans like ‘vote yourself a farm’ by voting Abraham Lincoln as the president ( Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: Campaigns and Elections )
The ones who did not support him made rude remarks about his inexperience as a proper statesman and that he would not be able to fulfill his duties. He was drawn along with black women and horrid remarks were made against him in Georgia which said that he will bring about marriages between white and the black people and their children would have to serve as slaves of the Negroes. If such statements were made during the present elections the citizens of the contemporary world would have made it difficult for such degrading racial remarks but this was the lying issue during the 1860 elections. His apperance was made fun of by the Charleston Mercury which said that Lincoln looked like a horrid wretch who was unfit for the office ( Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: Campaigns and Elections). Leaving behind all the accusations and remarks Lincoln won the elections in 1860. He was a Republican party candidate, a northener, and the southern candidates had been dominating the elections since 1789 and non of the northeners had won any re election. Finally, when the votes were counted Lincoln had won majorly in the north, Breakenridge, Bell and Douglas had influenced the south. Breakenridge got more votes compared to Bell and Doughlas. Lincoln won in this as he scored 180 votes compared to 72 votes of Breakenridge Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: Campaigns and Elections )
The conclusion that was made was that the majority of votes by the highly populated northern part of America could play a crucial role in the elections of the American president.
