Government

Abraham Lincoln is viewed as a great president who got us through the Civil War and abolished slavery, but how do you classify someone as a great president? Is it by their accomplishments while in office? Is it by how they deal with the issues they face or is it how they follow the Constitution as they promised when sworn into office? Many believe that Abraham Lincoln abused his powers during the Civil War while others believe that he did not and did what he had to do to preserve the United States.

Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16^th president of the United States on November 6^th, 1860. He served during one of the most brutal times that America has ever seen. Many see him as a great American leader because of his ability to get us through the Civil War and to keep the United States united. He is also considered great because he abolished slavery by issuing the Emancipation proclamation and leading the charge to pass the 13^th amendment. The argument is that he abused his powers and went against the Constitution when doing so. I believe that this may be true but when doing so was the reason he abused those powers a good enough reason to justify his actions? I believe that everything that Lincoln did he did for what he believed to be the best for the people and the country. He was fighting to keep the nation together because he knew that together as one the north and south had strength.

Lincoln also led the campaign to free the slaves. Many believe that Lincoln freed the slaves just to weaken the south so that he could win the war. Lincoln wanted the slaves to be free because he believed that every man was considered equal. In the movie “Lincoln” there is a scene where he is talking about freeing the slaves. He says that he feels that if he takes the slaves from the south then that can be looked at as if the North was seizing the South’s property. By doing that is he saying that those people are property and not human beings. Because of this I believe many people don’t see how hard it must have been for him to make the decision and ridicule him for abusing powers but I believe that what he used his powers for were for the good.

Many people today believe that our current president Barak Obama also abuses his powers. I personally feel that Obama abuses his powers. The majority of the executive orders that Obama has passed deal with gun control. The thought that more gun control leads to a safer country. I believe that that’s false. It doesn’t matter if guns are outlawed or not criminals will get guns.  

I think the big difference between Lincoln abusing his powers and Obama is right vs wrong. When Lincoln abolished slavery he was following the Constitution to a sense because it says in the constitution that everyone is created equal and deserves the same rights. Obama is trying to pass gun laws that allows the government to regulate our guns when it is clearly stated in the second amendment that it is our right to keep and bear arms. This is why I believe Lincoln’s reasoning  was for the better while Obama’s  is for the worst.

Presidents abusing their powers have been an issue since the beginning of this country but just because they abuse their power doesn’t mean they are a bad president. I believe that it depends on what they are trying to accomplish when doing so.