aaa-+C.+Walter+-+My+Civic+Hero

Abraham Lincoln: A Civic Hero of Communication Technologies of the 1850s to 1860s media type="youtube" key="b34qRcfMR00" height="480" width="853" align="center"

=**Biographical:** =  Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States of America, saw America through the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. Lincoln’s vision of a more free and united America, and his courage to see his beliefs into fruition, mark him as one of our greatest presidents and civic heroes. Lincoln utilized the new communication technologies of the time to promote his campaign, communicate better with the American people, and directly command his troops during wartime, much to the chagrin of his generals. Lincoln’s presidential term, from March of 1861 to his death in April of 1864, was a tumultuous time for the nation, as the cultural and social divisions between the North and South finally erupted in gunfire at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. Without Lincoln’s bold command of communication networks, his rhetorically innovational national addresses, and his passion for American unity, history would not read the same.  Lincoln’s progress from his birth in a one-room log cabin in Kentucky to his presidency is a great American story of hardship and diligence. Lincoln’s family moved to Indiana, and then Illinois, both across the Ohio River and non-slave states. While Lincoln worked hard at his frontier-life duties, he quietly resented his father’s lack of education and dreamed of a bigger world. In 1832, Lincoln moved to New Salem, Illinois, a move that would open many doors for him. Although he failed at owning a small general store, he read constantly and even taught himself law. He was admitted to the bar in 1836, and his passionate speeches in the courthouse earned him a reputation as a powerful speaker.  Lincoln ran for the Illinois House of Representatives where he served four consecutive terms (Thomas, Burlingame 27). At this point in Lincoln’s life, he was not yet the advocate for abolition that we remember him as. In 1837 Lincoln described his stance by stating that the "Institution of slavery is founded on both injustice and bad policy, but the promulgation of abolition doctrines tends rather to increase than abate its evils” (Donald 134). It was not until much later that Lincoln adopted the abolition stance that we remember him for. During these early years before his presidency, Lincoln subscribed to a popular train of thought known today as “colonizationism.” Lincoln believed that freed slaves could be returned to Africa and set up a colony in Liberia. Of course, slaves were no longer Africans, after generations of living in America, these were now families of African-Americans. However ridiculous colonizationism may sound to us today, in the 1850s it was supported by anti-slavery politicians who did not want to threaten the working class with a sudden influx of freed slaves looking for work. (Donald 166).



=**Innovations:** =  Lincoln learned resourcefulness on the frontier, independence by being self-educated, and persuasiveness as a lawyer, and yet his most powerful skill was undoubtedly his ability to speak eloquently and passionately. Lincoln’s record in the Illinois House of Representatives began to show up in local newspapers, and word of his promising career spread to the East Coast. Lincoln delivered his famous “A House Divided Speech” after being nominated for the U.S. Senate in 1858. The speech captured the pulse of the nation at that time, warning Americans of the perils of division. His powerful words united republicans of the North; “I do not expect the house to fall-but I do expect it will cease to be divided” (Lincoln 1). Although Lincoln lost the seat to Stephen A. Douglas, his words alerted many to a pertinent political question: How long can the American Union ignore this issue? The United States railway is not only a symbol of the conquering of the frontier, but also one of political unity. The railway boom of the 1830s to the 1860s saw the creation of railway lines on a scale never before imagined. During this time railways surpass canals as the main transportationchannel. Lincoln’s campaign trail in 1860 relied heavily on the railways to transport him all across the east coast. Without train travel, Lincoln would not have reached so many Americans with his message, and possibly would not have won the presidential election (White 25).  Lincoln’s Civil War victory was due in large part to the northern access to communication and industrial technology. While the South had access to rail lines, they were not nearly as extensive or modern as the northern lines, and the northern control of industry limited the southern access to repair parts and tools. Lincoln took advantage of these new technologies, forbidding northern industries from shipping to southern ports, and essentially cutting off southern access to the North (White 21). Lincoln also used the trains to communicate with Union soldiers fighting battles in the South. Lincoln was the first president to effectively command his troops from safe distances using telegraphs. While presidents before Lincoln would rely on their generals to make judgment calls in battle, Lincoln would communicate with his generals daily, giving them detailed instructions (Flagel 56). =**Outcomes:** =  Lincoln leaves behind a legacy of innovation, revealing a new way for the railways to be used. Lincoln’s inaugural addresses and speeches along the campaign trail are also evidence of his connection to the American people, and his desire to create open channels of communication within our divided nation. Today, historians and politicians look to Lincoln for examples of these strengths. The Gettysburg Address, one of the most famous speeches in history, is often quoted today to express lament for fallen soldiers. Lincoln’s use of the railways to communicate not only with the American people, but also with American soldiers, has inspired civil rights leaders and politicians alike to value communication, and to see it as an important unifying strategy.

=**Lessons:** =  Lincoln’s utilization of the railways, industry, and rethinking of the campaign trail has influenced the way politicians and public figures view communication with the American people. Lincoln, as a civic hero, used these new technologies to unite the country and liberate a repressed people. Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation was a significant step in the history of civil rights in our country. Lincoln’s bravery and strength in the face of political, social, and cultural strife shaped the character of our nation, and helped us to move into a brighter future.

Works Cited <span style="background-color: white; color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Donald, David Herbert.//Lincoln//. New York, NY: Touchstone, 1996. Print. <span style="background-color: white; color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Flagel, Thomas R.//The History Buff's Guide to the Civil War//. Naperville, IL: Cumberland House, 2010. Print. <span style="background-color: white; color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"House Divided Speech - Abraham Lincoln." //Pre-Civil War Library//. The Lincoln Institute. Web. 09 Oct. 2011. <span style="background-color: white; color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thomas, Benjamin Platt, and Michael Burlingame.//Abraham Lincoln: a Biography//. Carbondale: Southern Illinois UP, 2008. Print. <span style="background-color: white; color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">White, John H.//A History of the American Locomotive: Its Development, 1830-1880//. New York: Dover Publications, 1979. Print.