Abraham Lincoln | Success Story of America’s Greatest President

Abraham Lincoln was an American lawyer and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Reaching such a height didn’t happen easily. He went through a lot of struggles and hardships in life. But despite all the setbacks and failures, he was a very hardworking and persistent individual. He never gave up in life. His journey to becoming president has a series of failures. His success story is truly an inspiration.

Abraham Lincoln’s early life

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a one-room log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. His family was poor and his parents, Thomas and Nancy Lincoln, were farmers. Lincoln had little formal education, but he was a voracious reader and taught himself about a wide range of subjects.

At the age of 21, Lincoln moved to Illinois where he began a career as a lawyer. He was admitted to the bar in 1837 and quickly gained a reputation as a skilled and effective lawyer. In 1834, Lincoln was elected to the Illinois legislature and he served four terms in the state legislature.

In 1846, Lincoln was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he served one term. After leaving Congress, he returned to Illinois and resumed his legal career. In 1854, he reentered politics and was elected to the United States Senate. However, he served only one term in the Senate before resigning to run for President.

In 1860, Lincoln was elected President and he took office in 1861. He served as President until his assassination in 1865.

Struggles

• The American Civil War: Lincoln faced perhaps his greatest challenge as President when he led the country through the Civil War. He was faced with the difficult task of preserving the Union and ending slavery, and he had to make many difficult decisions that were deeply unpopular with some segments of the population.
• Assassination Attempts: Lincoln faced several assassination attempts during his presidency. In 1861, just weeks after his inauguration, he was attacked by Baltimore mob while on his way to Washington, D.C. In 1865, he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
• Personal Struggles: Lincoln also faced personal struggles throughout his life. He struggled with depression and he lost several loved ones, including his mother, who died when he was just a child. He also lost two of his sons, Edward and Willie, who both died at young ages.
• Political Struggles: As President, Lincoln faced significant political challenges, including opposition from within his own party and from Congress. He had to navigate a divided government and work to build consensus and pass legislation.

Way Toward Success

But he kept himself motivated despite the series of failures. Ten years after that, at the age of 49-years old, failure occurred when he ended up defeated in his quest to become a U.S. Senator. Of course, through all the personal, business and political failures, Lincoln didn’t give up. In 1846, Lincoln was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives where he drafted a bill to abolish slavery. In 1861, at the age of 52, he secured the office of President of the United States and has since become one of the most famous failures to ever hold office in the United States.

His face also appears on the U.S. five-dollar bill. The amount of rejections he tackled is numerous but he was persistent and didn’t let these affect his confidence. He kept working harder after each failure and his never give up attitude has been his greatest assets for his success story.

Lessons from Abraham Lincoln’s life

• Education is important: Despite having very little formal education, Lincoln was a voracious reader and self-taught himself about a wide range of subjects. This helped him to become a successful lawyer and eventually President of the United States.
• Persevere in the face of adversity: Lincoln faced many challenges and setbacks throughout his life, including the loss of loved ones, political defeats, and the American Civil War. However, he never gave up and he continued to work towards his goals no matter how difficult the challenges he faced.
• Lead with integrity: Lincoln is known for his honesty, integrity, and commitment to doing what he believed was right. He always tried to do what was best for the country and its citizens, even if it was not popular or easy.
• The power of words: Lincoln was a master of the spoken word and he used his eloquence to inspire and motivate people. He is best known for his Gettysburg Address, which is considered one of the greatest speeches in American history.
• The importance of forgiveness: Lincoln believed in the power of forgiveness and he sought to bring the country together after the Civil War. He worked to reconcile with the South and helped to rebuild the nation.

Interesting Facts About Abraham Lincoln

• Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and he served from 1861 to 1865.
• He is best known for leading the country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, and for his role as a key figure in the abolition of slavery in the United States.
• Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a one-room log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky.
• He was the first President to be assassinated while in office, and his death marked the end of the Civil War.
• Lincoln was a self-taught lawyer and was admitted to the bar in Illinois in 1837.
• He served in the Illinois legislature and the United States House of Representatives before being elected President in 1860.
• He is known for his eloquence and his ability to inspire people with his words. His most famous speech, the Gettysburg Address, is considered one of the greatest in American history.
• Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in the Confederate states were to be freed, was a key moment in the Civil War and a significant step towards the abolition of slavery in the United States.
• Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Also Read : Sidney Poitier | A true rags to riches success story

Conclusion

Abraham Lincoln’s life proves that the amount of rejection you receive is not a defining factor. Success is still within your reach. When you are hardworking and persistent you are sure to make it to your dreams. Failures and setbacks are a part of life. What matters in life is your ability to overcome these with utmost confidence. When you are determined to reach you goals, success never becomes too far. Your efforts and hard work are sure to pay off significantly one day.