When looking back at someone, how should we judge their character? By what they think and say, or by their actual actions? When looking back on Abraham Lincoln, how should we remember him? As one of the greatest presidents we had who ended slavery, or as a two faced politician who only cared about the Union? When remembering John Brown, should we see him as an important figure to ending of slavery, or a man whose failed actions made him irrelevant to history? It is important that we remember the figures who shaped and changed our lives by their actual actions instead of what they personally felt or said about the issue. Because whether or not someone says something that goes against their actions, their actions are what permanently change our future for the better or worse.
Lincoln was an important figure not because of what he believed, but because of what he did. During the civil war, Lincoln's main concern was the Union. He didn't care about what would happen to slavery, because he felt as it wasn't his business to make decisions on slavery. Slavery became an important issue to him though, because abolishing it would be an effective tactic for the Union to live on. "My [main] objective in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy Slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it," is what Lincoln had said in a note from 1862. But the things he's said do not make his actions any less important and valid. In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation created by Lincoln freed all slaves in the rebellious states, eventually leading to the end of slavery. If it weren't for these actions by Lincoln, it is possible slavery would've stayed for decades to come. Once we look at someone like John Brown, it seems that the way he was remember was for the opposite reasons than Abraham Lincoln. John Brown was an abolitionist, one of the biggest known ones during Bleeding Kansas. Though as much as John Brown advocated for anti-slavery, once he led a raid with others to free slaves and attack pro-slavery forces, "The raid, however, quickly failed. They were surrounded by militia, ten of his followers were killed, and Brown himself was wounded and captured and later hung." John Brown was much more anti-slavery than Abraham Lincoln, but because of his failed actions, he made much less of an impact on our future. When you compare the legacies of John Brown and Abraham Lincoln, one is known for his strong belief of anti-slavery but with failed actions. Another is known for not caring about the issue of slavery, but was the leading role in abolishing it. So does it make Lincoln less of a hero for not caring about the issue he ended? Well, no. If it weren't for Lincoln, who knows how long slavery could've continued for. Then let's pretend John Brown never existed, not much would've probably changed because his actions had failed anyways. In the long run, someones actions are what change our future, and if that change is positive change the person who makes that positive change should be praised for their work. No matter Lincoln liked slavery or not, we still today no longer have it because of him. Some might say that activism and speaking out against something without taking direct or successful action still has importance, and I'm not disagreeing with that. Anti-slavery forces still benefited from John Brown because of his activism, as he spread the word of anti-slavery to others, and popularized it. There was an importance to John Brown, just not on the same level of Abraham Lincoln. When we look at modern day activism for things like gun control, we can clearly see some level of success from those who speak out against it. These activists do have an important role in making the change they want. But it is those in a political position and in power who can actually make the changes that people wish for. And because Lincoln made his way into becoming the president, he could finally use his platform to make real successful change unlike John Brown's failed actions. Without an Abraham Lincoln as president, there would be few political powers to make change to the important issue of slavery. Our society is the way it is today because of people like Abraham Lincoln. Whether you dislike him or not for what his true beliefs are, there is no doubting the fact that he ended slavery in the U.S. and changed our world in a positive way. His actions should reflect on his character, and therefore we should look up to him as a hero. It is ones actions that make an impact on our world more than one's words. No hero is perfect, no matter their flaws. Because who knows what the U.S. could look like today without Abraham Lincoln.
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October 2018
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