Biography of Abraham Lincoln

Biography of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King are personalities with memorable contributions in American history. Although they lived at different times, their philosophies shaped the history of the country in similar ways. The most outstanding similarity between these two figures is their fight for the civil rights of African Americans. This essay compares and contrasts the lives and contributions of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King. First, the paper focuses on their biography to understand their lives and what shaped their philosophies. Subsequently, the essay discusses their contributions to find similarities and differences in their experiences.

Biography of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln lived between 1809 and 1865. He hailed from Kentucky, Indiana, from a poor background (McPherson). Since his parents were poor, Abraham struggled to educate himself and qualified as a lawyer in 1836. He practiced law in Springfield, Illinois. Between 1834 and 1842, Lincoln sat in the state legislature, where he honed his political acumen. Consequently, he won an election as a Congress Representative in 1846 and represented the Whig Party for a term. A decade later, Abraham joined the New Republican Party and ran as a presidential candidate in 1860.

During his presidential campaign, Abraham stood firm on the issue of slavery, and his victory triggered a crisis with the southerners fearing that he would stamp out slavery. His boldness in challenging slavery provoked division in the Union, leading to the emergence of a splinter group of Southern states that formed the Confederacy. However, Lincoln remained committed to preserving the Union.

Throughout his tenure, Lincoln focused on the freeing of slaves. He achieved this aspect in many ways. First, in 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that saw the freeing of slaves in areas under Confederate control. This move was a symbolic gesture that defined the Union’s brawl as a war to abolish slavery. Moreover, Lincoln assumed more power and declared martial law and suspended legal rights.

Lincoln’s contributions in uniting the Union saw him win the presidential election for a second term in 1864. He succeeded in ending the civil war in 1865 when the Confederate general surrendered following Lincoln’s conciliatory approach towards the Southern States. Nearly 600,000 Americans lost their lives during the civil war that lasted four years. Lincoln died in 1865 through assassination in Washington DC while attending a performance at Ford’s Theater. His assassination was an act of revenge from a staunch supporter of the Confederacy.

Biography of Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King lived between 1929 and 1968. He was a social activist and Baptist minister whose contributions played a significant role in the history of the American civil rights movement between the mid-1850s and 1968 (Kelly). Martin Luther hailed from Atlanta, Georgia. He was a son of a Baptist minister. His background accorded him better educational opportunities and received a doctorate in theology.

King’s strong foundation in religion and oratory affluence appealed to Christians and American ideals and gained substantial support from the federal government and the Northern whites. His first memorable impact in American history occurred in 1955 when he organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a major protest of the African-American civil rights movement. He championed civil disobedience and believed in non-violent resistance to segregation in the South. Although Martin Luther advocated peaceful protests, his moves met violence. Nevertheless, Martin remained resilient and ensured that the civil rights movement gained momentum throughout America.

Luther’s renowned address, “I have a dream,” of 1963 was the most impactful contribution in his fight for human rights. In his stirring speech, Luther addressed thousands of people at Lincoln Memorial to culminate the massive March on Washington for jobs and freedom. Consequently, the civil rights movement achieved two major successes in 1964 through the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which abolished poll tax and outlawed racial discrimination in education employment and racial segregation in public facilities.

Luther’s efforts had an impact beyond America. He criticized the U.S. government’s involvement in Vietnam and fought for the economic rights of poor Americans. In this regard, Martin Luther gained recognition as the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize. He lost his life through assassination in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968.

Comparison of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King

Although these two personalities held different positions in the political realm, there are striking similarities between them. First, they both advocated the civil rights of the African-Americans. Lincoln fought for the freedom of slaves and even engaged in a civil war for this pursuit. He championed laws that restricted slavery and later fought for its abolition.

In the same way, Martin Luther marshaled peaceful protests against racial discrimination that dominated American society (Cesarin). Lincoln’s “Emancipation Proclamation” is comparable to Luther’s stirring speech, “I have a Dream.” In both cases, they championed freedom.

Secondly, both Lincoln and Luther believed in human equality. Both leaders cherished equal treatment of humans irrespective of color and race. Both Lincoln and Luther believed in Jefferson’s words that all humans are created equal. This belief is evident in Lincoln’s statement that discourages judgment based on skin color. This conviction justifies Lincoln’s gesture of inviting Fredrick-Douglas, an African-American speaker, to the celebration after the second inaugural. When white soldiers attempted to bar Douglass at the door, Lincoln ordered them to admit him. This gesture demonstrates Lincoln’s respect for human equality. In the same way, Martin Luther believed in human equality and led a peaceful protest demanding equal treatment of the African-Americans. Luther fought against racial segregation, and his efforts led to the Civil Rights Act that abolished racial segregation in public facilities and abhorred discrimination in employment and education.

Another similarity between Lincoln and Luther is that both fought for a united America. Their actions and demonstrated selflessness and pursuit of unity in the American Nation. Starting with Lincoln, he aimed to restrict slavery and encouraged its abolishment without dividing America. As a political leader, Lincoln strived to keep the country together even during the Civil War. Aware of the consequences of a civil war, Lincoln aspired to abolish slavery by taking a compromise position. He allowed states that already practiced slavery to decide the matter on their own while restricting new states from becoming slave states. Likewise, Luther’s famous speech of 1963 foreshadowed a united America, where every person mattered irrespective of skin color. He appealed to followers from across the country. He envisaged a united nation that respected the rights of everyone.

Although Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther shared similar viewpoints on human rights and equality, there are notable differences in their experiences. Whereas Abraham thrived through politics, Luther was a religious leader who used his influence to obtain considerable following to advance his course. Abraham had a significant political influence, which allowed him to advance his ideologies. Conversely, Martin Luther succeeded in his quest through religious influence. He was a Baptist minister whose life and contributions appealed to Christians and American ideals. Therefore, these two leaders used different platforms to shape American history.

Secondly, Abraham’s inspiration differed from that of Martin Luther. While Martin Luther venerated Mahatma Gandhi’s belief in civil disobedience in extreme circumstances, Lincoln was both a lawyer and a public officer whose philosophy did not encourage civil disobedience. In this regard, Luther believed he has a moral duty to turn to civil disobedience in extreme circumstances. Conversely, Lincoln suffices as a custodian of the law. Therefore, he opposed armed rebellion.

Conclusion

The lives and experiences of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther are comparable in many ways. First, both characters feature as civil rights advocates of their time. Lincoln fought for the freedom of slaves, a war perpetuated in Martin Luther’s civil rights movement that led to the abolition of racial segregation. Secondly, both leaders encouraged equality and unity in the American nation. However, some differences are notable, as well. Whereas Lincoln relied on his experience and influence on politics, Luther thrived a religious leader whose actions appealed to his followers to support his quest for freedom of the Blacks. Moreover, Luther believed in civil disobedience, which Lincoln’s profession as a lawyer did not embolden. Although they lived in different periods, the two leaders left indelible marks in the history of America, especially in the fight for civil rights and freedom from slavery.