Abraham Lincoln

A hero’s job is a tough one. Whether it's saving the world, or saving a pet, a hero’s job can get pretty stressful, especially when it comes to saving a nation. That’s what Abraham Lincoln did.

Abraham Lincoln was a hero for many reasons. For one, he abolished slavery in the United States. This began on April 12th 1861, when the Civil War started. It was the bloodiest war in the history of the United States. The worst battle of all was the Battle of Gettysburg. After the battle, Lincoln gave a speech to the townsfolk. This was to honor those who fought and gave their lives.

On January 1st, 1863 Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which prohibited slaves from being shipped to America. However, there were slaves still in the South, but when the South surrendered on April 9th 1865, all the slaves were freed.

Lincoln is also a hero because on May 20th 1862, he signed the Homestead Act, (to spur western migration) which gave 160 acres of land to each family who had 5 years residence in the U.S. On April 14th 1865, five days after the Civil War, Lincoln went to Ford’s Theater to see “Our American Cousin”. However, in the middle of the show, John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln in the head. Abraham Lincoln was a hero to many, even though he came from the most humble of beginnings. This shows a hero can come from anywhere.

http://www.visitingdc.com/

“Why is Lincoln a Hero?” MCCSC. Monroe County Community School Corporation. Copyright 1998. 7 October 2009
http://www.mccsc.edu/~jcmslib/mlk/lincoln/hero.htm