Before elevating citizens and slaves, Lincoln had to rise.

1. The Rise of Abraham Lincoln Brian Flanagan Spring Lake District Library September 29, 2009

2. Before elevating citizens …

3. Before elevating slaves …

4. Lincoln had to rise.

5. The Rise of Abraham Lincoln Lincoln’s rise was a conscious enterprise. He experienced both successes and setbacks. He exhibited endurance and determination – two qualities that would later define his presidency.

6. The Rise of Abraham Lincoln Topics: Obstacles Ambitions Keystones

7. Obstacles to Lincoln’s Rise Geography Education Wealth & connections Ugliness Emotional poverty

8. Obstacles to Lincoln’s Rise Emotional Poverty: “His melancholy dripped from him as he walked.” “Don’t you find … that his eyes are full of tears and that his lips are sad with a secret sorrow?”

9. Obstacles to Lincoln’s Rise Family “He sat down in the door of the smoke house and buried his face in his hands. The tears slowly trickled from between his bony fingers and his gaunt frame shook with sobs.”

10. Obstacles to Lincoln’s Rise “Lincoln was lazy – a very lazy man.” “He was no hand to pitch in at work like killing snakes.”

11. Obstacles to Lincoln’s Rise Ann Rutledge “I did honestly – & truly love the girl & think often – often of her now.”

12. Obstacles to Lincoln’s Rise Love life “I am willing, and even anxious to bind you faster, if I can be convinced that it will in any considerable degree, add to your happiness.”

13. Obstacles to Lincoln’s Rise “I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on earth.”

14. Obstacles to Lincoln’s Rise “Whether I shall ever be better I can not tell; I awefullyforbode I shall not. To remain as I am is impossible; I must die or do better.”

15. Lincoln’s Ambition “I would be more than willing to die, but I have an irrepressible desire to live till I can be assured that the world is a little better for my having lived in it.”

16. Lincoln’s Ambition “To connect his name with the events transpiring in his day and generation and so impress himself upon them as to link his name with something that would redound to the interest of his fellow man was what he desired to live for.”

17. Lincoln’s Ambition “I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence…. It was that which gave promise that in due time the weights should be lifted from the shoulders of men, and that all should have an equal chance.”

18. Lincoln’s Ambition Jefferson’s America: Independent citizens Spread widely on abundant lands Engaged in useful, primarily agricultural work Free from the “demoralizing pursuits” of banking, manufacturing, and commerce

19. Lincoln’s Ambition Hamilton’s America: Vibrant, forward-looking nation Bustling urban centers Global trade Featuring the “demoralizing pursuits” of banking, manufacturing, and commerce.

20. Lincoln’s Ambition “I want every man to have the chance … in which he can better his condition – when he may look forward and hope to be a hired laborer this year and the next, work for himself afterward, and finally to hire men to work for him. That is the true system.”

21. Lincoln’s Ambition “… to elevate the condition of men – to lift artificial weights from all shoulders; to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all; to afford all an unfettered start, and a fair chance, in the race of life.”

22. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise Self education A strenuous life Humor

23. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise Self education: “a Constant … Stubborn reader” “He read diligently – studied in the day time … went to bed Early – got up Early and then read.”

24. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise “When he came across a passage that Struck him he would write it down on boards if he had no paper & keep it there till he did get paper – then he would re-write – look at it repeat it….”

25. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise Readings: Pious: Bible Poetic: Shakespeare & Burns Political: Newspapers Practical: Grammar, Math, Law

26. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise Debating Society: Subjects: Slavery, public improvements, education, banks, temperance “[Lincoln] opened up the discussion in splendid style to the infinite astonishment of his friends…. He pursued the question with reason and argument so pithy and forcible that all were amazed.”

27. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise Self education: Conclusions Narrow but thorough, laborious reading Purposeful reading Driven to gain the skills of his trade Driven to rise

28. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise A strenuous life: Carpenter Riverboat man Store clerk Blacksmith Merchant

29. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise Soldier: militia captain in the Black Hawk War

30. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise Postmaster for New Salem, Illinois

31. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise Surveyor: Deputy County Surveyor for Sangamon County, Illinois Became the best in the region – settled disputes

32. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise Lawyer: 8th Circuit in Illinois: 14 counties

33. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise 5,000 cases in 23 years 300 before the Illinois Supreme Court 70 in federal courts Modern equivalent of a $170,000 fee for one case William Armstrong case

34. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise Politician: Stump speaker Party leader Illinois legislator U.S. Congressman Senate candidate

35. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise A strenuous life: Conclusions Hard work From physical to mental labor Professional reputation Expanding fame

36. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise Humor: “the vents of my moods & gloom “An emollient [that] saves me much friction and distress” “I laugh because I must not cry.”

37. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise “Gentleman, why don’t you laugh? With the fearful strain that is upon me night and day, if I did not laugh I should die, and you need this medicine as much as I do.”

38. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise “Down on her behind” “The end in view” “Presidential chin fly”

39. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise

40. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise Humor: Conclusions Coping mechanism Personal magnetism Fellowship

41. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise Conclusions: Obstacles fed Lincoln’s enormous ambition. Ambition fed Lincoln’s determination to rise.

42. Keystones to Lincoln’s Rise Conclusions: Self-education: Gift for the written and spoken word; political philosophy; and practical knowledge. Strenuous life: Skills; reputation; fame Humor: Emotional wherewithal; personal magnetism; fellowship

43. The Rise of Abraham Lincoln