The Great Emancipator
“Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States on November 6, 1860 – and served as the 16th president until his assassination in 1865. He was one of the most influential and admired presidents in American history.
Born in 1809 in a log cabin in Kentucky, Lincoln grew up in poverty on the frontier. He taught himself to read and write, and became a lawyer, politician, leader of the Republican Party, and then as President during the American Civil War, the deadliest war in US history, he preserved the Union. In the process, he faced untold challenges and opposition from both the Confederate States and his own political factions. But he never gave up on his vision of a united and democratic nation.
He issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which declared that all enslaved people in the rebel states “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free”. This was a bold and controversial move that changed the course of the war and led to the ending of slavery in America – and elsewhere. He supported the subsequent passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery throughout the country.
He delivered some of the most memorable speeches in American history, including his Gettysburg Address, his Second Inaugural Address, and his famous House Divided Speech – in which he called upon the people to oppose slavery and place it on the path to extinction. His speeches were always eloquent, powerful, and inspiring. They expressed his principles, values, and hopes for the nation. He injected humor, stories, and metaphors to connect with his audience and persuade them.
He established the United States Department of Agriculture, signed the Homestead Act and the Morrill Land-Grant Act – providing land and education opportunities for settlers and farmers. He also signed the Pacific Railway Act which authorized the construction of a transcontinental railroad that connected the East and West coasts. He promoted economic development, innovation, and infrastructure throughout the land.
Honest Abe was a man of integrity, compassion, and humility. He was honest, fair, and respectful of everyone. He cared deeply about the welfare of his citizens and his country. He faced personal tragedies and hardships throughout his life, including losing his mother, sister, and two sons at young ages. He also suffered from depression and anxiety. Yet through it all he remained hopeful, optimistic, and resilient.
Lincoln is universally regarded as one of the most influential presidents in USA history. His likeness is enshrined on the Mount Rushmore Memorial, along with those of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Theodore Roosevelt.
In Homeland Rescued, Adam and Tari lead the unification of the three states of Galtland, avoiding a bloody civil war. Then they lead a bloodless revolution across Novana, freeing the people from enslavement to AI and the Plakerol robots. Abraham Lincoln served as an inspiration as we wrote the chapters of this book.
As we remember Abraham Lincoln, let us pray that representative governance by ‘we the people’ will find its way into every nook and cranny of our planet – driving out totalitarian rule and slavery once and for all. This is the will of the people; this is their destiny; this is a common goal behind which all must unite.
