Throughout America's long history, many hardworking and dedicated politicians have made our country strong and resilient. At a time when our country was most in peril, one of them stood out more than the other. That man was Abraham Lincoln, one of the most resilient and essential leaders we have ever known. Abraham Lincoln came from humble origins in the backwoods of Kentucky. He was born on February 12, 1809, in a one-room log cabin on Sinking Spring Farm in southeastern Hardin County, Kentucky. His father (Thomas Lincoln) was a poverty-stricken pioneer after losing his farm who, along with his wife (Nancy Hanks Lincoln) and other children, had to work hard every day to provide the necessities of life. Lincoln was no stranger to hard work; he split logs, plowed his family's land, and used his carpentry skills around the farm. He preferred reading and learning to hard work, which caused a strained relationship between him and his father. He received only 18 months of formal education and was largely self-taught. In 1816, Lincoln's father lost his farm and was forced to move to Perry County, Indiana. This area of ​​the country near the Ohio River was very isolated and rugged. Their first winter on the new farm was very harsh but they managed to survive. Unfortunately, that summer, Lincoln's mother died of a fatal illness known as "milk sickness" and left his father to raise the children alone (Lincoln Research Project). After his mother's death, the family fell apart and most of the day-to-day work was left to Lincoln and his sister. In the winter of 1819, Lincoln's father returned to Kentucky and found a new wife, Sarah Bush Johnson, a widow and mother of three children (notable biographies.com). His n...... middle of paper ......motivated to be there to remember the fallen soldiers. He played on their strong emotions by urging them not to let these soldiers die in vain, but to let their memory give them the strength to win the war. Its most important goal was to strengthen the Unionists' resolve to continue the struggle and save the United States. He also masterfully empowered his audience by conveying his vision to them by telling them to honor the fallen soldiers by being determined to win the war no matter what. I believe that through these two compelling speeches, Lincoln was able to bring the country together and save the citizens. from the depths of the civil war. Through these speeches, Lincoln demonstrated the power of the word. Without Lincoln's genius and abilities, the Civil War might have been lost and the world today would be very different..