Abraham Lincoln And Equal Rights--论文代写范文精选

51due论文代写网精选代写范文:“Abraham Lincoln And Equal Rights”。林肯是美国第16任总统，他在任时击败了南方分离势力，维护了美利坚联邦及其领土上不分人种、人人生而平等的权利。要知道，在那之前的美国，谈平等可不容易。为此，林肯在付出了很大的努力。

With America struggling in a state of Civil War, the nation's very core was being shaken. Abraham Lincoln, who was president during this period, realized this, and delivered one of his most historically renowned speeches, "The Gettysburg Address". This speech addresses many concerns for the nation as a whole. Through "The Gettysburg Address", Lincoln clearly states his views on what the country once was, how it was during the time he was in, and what his hopes and dreams for the future were.

When the United States was founded, it was founded on a very famous principle, that “all men are created equal.” Lincoln realized this and stated that this nation was “dedicated to the proposition that all men were created equal.” Our nation founded itself on this simple thought because its people were tired of the tyranny and oppression caused by rule under Great Britain. The early Americans wanted many things, from their own laws to religious freedoms, but most of all they wanted to be considered equals in the eyes of man. These are only a few of the reasons the Revolutionary War was fought with Great Britain. After the war was over the American people knew what it felt like to finally be free. While they still remained free, Americans began to treat other races and cultures as the British had treated them. The irony found here in American history is that the country gained their freedom and equality from Britain, and was now fighting the same war against them. They let the same issues divide the country into two separate nations with a bitter hatred for one another. Perhaps the greatest irony is the fact that the southern states now wanted to be free, and separate from the northern states.

Now the nation was found in a brutal state of war, which would eventually determine the course of American history (Neely,56). Abraham Lincoln, striving only for the people’s equal rights, described best what impact the war would have on the nation when he said, “Now we are engaged in a great Civil War, testing whether our nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure.”(Lincoln). Lincoln himself was worried about what the effects of the war would bring. It was truly a test of the heart of the United States as to whether or not it could overcome such a trying time. Times ironically sparked by the same conflicts that ignited the American Revolution. In such a time in American history, President Lincoln could not help but hope for brighter and more prosperous days as a nation. It seemed as if people had forgotten how and why they had become a nation in the first place. He had seen a nation divided, thousands of soldiers killed, families broken, and a sense of pride that Americans once shared shattered. Lincoln, knowledgeable of this fact pleaded with the Americans to once again, “have a new birth of freedom”. (Lincoln). Lincoln hoped that by reminding the American citizens why this country was founded, they would strive towards a future where everyone could live freely and equally, not under persecution or oppression.

Lincoln challenged the people of the time to put effort into the future. Not only did he want the nation to taste freedom once again; he called them “to be dedicated to the unfinished work”. Lincoln through The Gettysburg Address was setting forth an enormous challenge to work together to finish the ideas and dreams set forth by our forefathers, not to hinder them with hatred and bitterness. Also, during the time of the Civil War, many controversial Constitutional issues arose. Abraham Lincoln had strong views and radical interpretations of the Constitution.

According to Our Secret Constitution, How Lincoln Redefined American Democracy, by George Fletcher, Lincoln created a “Secret Constitution” in addition to the one created in 1786 by the founding fathers, through his actions. The many constitutional issues raised during the Civil War brought a lot of attention to Abraham Lincoln and his alleged abuse of presidential power and blatant disregard for the Constitution. These charges were proven by the numerous times Lincoln went against what the constitution stated to suit his own agenda. Lincoln increased the size of the army without congressional authorization, when the Constitution states that only Congress has the power to raise and support armies. He withdrew $2,000,000 for military purposes without authorization, when the Constitution states that no money can be taken from the treasury unless approved by law. Lincoln arrested and jailed anti-Unionists, without giving them a reason, before congress had a chance to meet and approve it, when the Constitution states that the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, except in cases of rebellion or invasion, and that Congress must approve the suspension. Also, Lincoln censored some anti-Union newspapers and had editors and publishers arrested, when the constitution clearly states that no law shall be made taking away freedom of speech or the press (Boritt,156).

I will now focus on one of the major constitutional issues that Abraham Lincoln faced during the Civil War. One of the most important issues, was the suspensio of the writ of habeas corpus. On this topic, the Constitution states that the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, except in cases of rebellion or invasion, and congress must approve the suspension. Even though the constitution permits suspension of this protection in times of civil unrest, it fails to specify whether the president may act unilaterally in ordering suspensions (Fletcher,37). Lincoln argued that he was justified in violating the constitutional prescription because it appealed to the necessity of the moment. But, there was no evidence that the country’s circumstances was anywhere near as bad a perceived by Lincoln to call for his actions (Fletcher,38). Many believe that Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus on his own initiative. He even went against the Supremecourt in ruling against the suspension, showing the difference in Constitutional thinking and interpretation. A review of his constitutional arguments and reasoning shows Lincoln's faithfulness to the constitutionalism of the Founding Fathers (Belz,76). He took it for granted that the original intent of the framers was relevant in determining the meaning of the Constitution.

During the Civil War Lincoln repeatedly turned to the text of the Constitution as a guide to statecraft (Burgess,113). Of numerous examples a few may be cited to illustrate his belief that running the Constitution meant keeping within "the Four Corners of the document." Lincoln reasoned: "Inasmuch, however, as the constitution itself makes no such distinction, I am unable to believe that there is any such distinction." (Belz,82). Yet the existence of a written constitution was not enough to ensure association to constitutional limitations, or, as Lincoln was forced to consider, the necessary exercise of constitutional powers. In discussing the problem of habeas corpus suspension, as we have seen, Lincoln referred to the "letter & spirit" of the constitutional clause authorizing irregular arrests under certain conditions. Even though it would be difficult to establish an agreed upon meaning for the "spirit of the Constitution, Lincoln was probably correct in using the term to refer generally to the purposes and intentions of the framers as expressed in the Constitution itself (Burgess,99). Lincoln believed that the central purpose of the Founding Fathers in writing the Constitution was to establish liberty. Therefore, the spirit of the Constitution could be said to be political liberty. Lincoln condoned his actions by expressing his central idea or the right of American institutions, which was the right of individuals to govern themselves under the Constitution, according to the principle of majority rule (Belz,88).

The Civil War was, and still is, a very dark point in American History. It was a war that was fought over freedom and equality, almost paralleling the war that was fought in 1776, but this time the war was with our own country. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches ever delivered by a President, because it not only showed how the forefathers believed and their purpose for the nation, but it displayed the obvious passion that Lincoln had for a free and united nation with majority rule. It will forever be remembered because it discussed the turmoil and dismay of the war he was trying to stop, and also expressed his ideas and dreams for the nation in his time and all time to come.-H

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