Who is Abraham Lincoln?: A Man With Many Facets.

Who is Abraham Lincoln and what should his legacy be as the nation marks the anniversary of his 200th birthday?

It would be easy to answer this question if the information being sought simply referred to what the man did as President.

After all, history is the story of the accomplishments of men in positions of influence and power, and that history most often reflects what the men themselves want as their legacy.

Lincoln is among the most quoted and most studied Presidents in history, so there is plenty of information available to build a good mental picture of just how this man is.

Since the question asks who he is, the answers must clarify who Abraham Lincoln is in the collective mind of the world’s citizens.

For this purpose, the official and semi-official details of history should suffice to tell just what the people think Abraham Lincoln is in the 21st century.

He is, and was, a rather poor young man who rose to become President of the United States.

In addition, he was a shop keeper and generally friendly small town man who got along reasonably well with his neighbors.

He is, and was, a man who lost several elections before winning a seat in Congress.

This fact alone is one that inspires many who don’t succeed at first, and Lincoln may well have been just like some who keep trying today until they reach their goal.

He was Abraham Lincoln

He was the President During the Civil War

In addition to the several personal traits mentioned earlier, Lincoln was, and still is in most minds, the President who guided the United States through the Civil War, one of the most difficult times in U.s. history.

Who is Abraham Lincoln? In the common mind of today, he is the source for many wonderful quotes that show his dry sense of humor and a keen understanding of human nature.

When subsequent generations agree on the mental picture of a person in history, then it is safe to say that this is who the person is, just as it is safe to say that this is who the person was.

Scratching the Surface

But some historians and Lincoln enthusiasts are not satisfied with the common knowledge about Lincoln, the Civil War, slavery and so on.

These energetic individuals want to know who the man really was, thus providing a different mental picture for their minds that might be more accurate than who the majority think Lincoln was and is.

They might ask if Lincoln was a depressed individual who should not have functioned efficiently in a leadership position but somehow found a way to do just that.

He was subject to such changes of mood, with one session lasting some six months, according to family and public records. He is also known to have walked late in the night, perhaps due to inability to sleep.

Who is Abraham Lincoln? He was, and to some still is, the Springfield lawyer who practiced within sight of the original Illinois Capitol, walking to and from the modest home he shared with Mary (Todd) and their sons.

Few know the details about her pre-marriage life, which included growing up in a well-to-do household that had slaves doing most of the serving and physical labor.

With Militia But Not a Fighter

Who is Abraham Lincoln? He was physically active and and strong with an axe, but Lincoln shunned weapons, even for hunting.

He did serve as a captain with the Illinois militia but did not take part in any combat campaigns.

Some have noted an ambivalence toward slavery, usually basing their arguments on the fact that he put preservation of the Union above any other issue, including slavery.

But as a member of the Illinois General Assembly he did speak out against slavery, stating without hesitation that is was unjust, not to mention bad social policy.

Who is Abraham Lincoln? In summation he was a man with many facets who found a way to lead during one of the most difficult periods of U.S. history.