Abraham Lincoln
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Honest Abe—what a nickname. Abraham Lincoln was the president who led the country through the Civil War and abolished slavery. And he rocked that black top hat. Let's all give him a pat on the back.
Language | English Language |
Social Studies | People |
U.S. History | Civil War and Reconstruction: 1861-1877 Historical Figures |
Transcript
And his likeness stares down at us from up on high on Mt. Rushmore...
00:40as if he were a God surveying a universe of mere mortals.
00:44Lincoln was a great President, sure...
00:46But he was also a human being who hoped, despaired, loved, and bled just like the rest of us.
00:53Sometimes when we study "great" historical figures it's easy to forget that they were
00:57also just people... with weaknesses and worries like we have right now.
01:03As that Shakespeare fellow once said,
01:06"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great,
01:08some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."
01:12Before Lincoln became President, he suffered from bouts of extreme depression.
01:19When he was suicidal, his friends would actually
01:21lock him in a near-empty room for days so he couldn't hurt himself.
01:25They didn't have psychiatric medication or any real treatment for depression in those days.
01:30As a result, Lincoln struggled with mental illness his entire life.
01:34However, despite his lifelong struggles,
01:36Lincoln was intelligent, kind, brave... and a great President.
01:41We elected him to lead our country during its most difficult time.
01:45Doesn't it seem unlikely that somebody with serious mental illness in his or her past
01:50would be elected President nowadays?
01:53We research virtually every issue in a politician's past...
01:56... and it seems like nobody who went through
01:58much adversity makes the cut anymore.
02:02Do you think Abraham Lincoln could ever get elected today?
02:07If not, does that mean our system is too hyper-critical
02:10of those who run for public office?
02:13That we "analyze to death" small events in otherwise great lives,
02:18blowing up those small events to mean.. more than they should?
02:24What should we be willing to look past and forgive, and what is truly a red flag?
02:33Shmoop amongst yourselves.