by Victoria Rose Perkins

Created on: February 22, 2011   Last Updated: February 23, 2011

President Abraham Lincoln is rightly remembered on Presidents Day for his outstanding leadership skills, but perhaps even more importantly, for his deep sense of justice and fairness that he felt  for humanity. President Lincoln was invaluable in bringing about the abolishment of slavery.  

Born in a humble cabin on February 12, 1809, in Hardrin County, Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln rose to become the sixteenth President of the United States in 1861. Before this, he served as a legislator, lawyer, and United States senator. 

It is easy to see why President Lincoln is so easily remembered.  He had a reputation for honesty, being nicknamed "Honest Abe." From the following quote we can see how seriously he recognized that being a president was a real test of one's true ambitions. "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

Abraham Lincoln abhorred slavery.  The following quote indicates just how much.  "Whenever I hear arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally."

Historically, he is recognized for being a champion in abolishing slavery.  In his famous Gettysburg Address, these words..."dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal" offer further proof of his sense of justice for all mankind.

President Lincoln loved peace and hated war. However, to preserve the Union and abolish slavery, events led up to the great Civil War, and war could not be avoided.

In 1863 he wrote a famous speech, the Emancipation Proclamation. This was meant to abolish slavery as can be seen in this partial statement..."all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, ...the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward and forever free;"...

Further, the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution was instituted.  This document also gave Black Americans the right to fight in the Civil War.

One of his documented statements reveals a statement, "malice toward none, and charity for all,"  which further shows this president believed in peace and equality for all men., and  he lived the way he believed.  A total politician he was not, a people's person he was. He pardoned many Confederate soldiers taken prisoner, when mothers made the long journey to the White House and cried for him to do so.

President Lincoln was not shy about giving credit to where he felt it belonged. He consulted a portion of the Bible daily, to help give him wisdom to guide the nation, and in referring to it, he said, "The Bible is the greatest gift God gave to mankind."

Whenever President Lincoln met a man he did not like, he strove to practice what he knew to be best, "I don't like that man, I must get to know him better."

When President Abraham Lincoln is remembered,  not just on Presidents Day, the majority of Americans remember him for his love of humanity, his sense of equality, his bravery, his honest character and his sense of what the office of presidency really stood for...and he considered that to be the people.

All presidents are honored on Presidents Day.  Many presidents leave behind famous and valuable quotes.  President Lincoln's quotes almost always reflected his deep and honest feelings he had for his fellowman.  He was not only honest, but humble.

President Abraham Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865 and died on April 15, 1865.  It is ironic he should die in this way, especially so when he was fond of saying when and if the people wanted to change their government officials, "the ballot is stronger than the bullet."

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