DOCUMENT RESUME ED 354 211 SO 023 006 AUTHOR Cagle, William, Ed. TITLE Lincoln Era Essay Contest: Seventh Annual Winners, 1988. INSTITUTION Indiana Univ., Bloomington. Lilly Library.; Indiana Univ., Bloomington. Social Studies Development Center. PUB DATE 88 NOTE 184p. PUB TYPE Viewpoints (Opinion/Position Papers, Essays, etc.) (120) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC08 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Civil War (United States); Elections; Essays; *Presidential Campaigns (United States); *Presidents of the United States; Secondary School Students; United States History IDENTIFIERS *Lincoln (Abraham); *Writing Contests ABSTRACT The seventh annual Lincoln Era Essay Contest's theme was "Lincoln and the Elections of 1860 and 1864." The contest was open to students in grades 6 through 12 throughout the state of Indiana. This booklet includes all the winning essays. The junior high/middle school essays include: "Abraham Lincoln Journals for the 1860 and 1864 Elections" (C. Berman); "The Hearts of the Delegates Are with Us" (M. Brady); "Lincoln: His Later Years" (T.L. Hoyte); "President Lincoln and the 1860 and 1864 Elections" (J. Miller); "President Lincoln and the 1860 and 1864 Elections" (J. Myers); "The Union is Perpetual" (L. K. Rudenko); "The Election of the Leader" (K. Ruse); "The Presidential Election of 1860 in Indiana" (L. Weinstein); and "President Lincoln and the 1860 and 1864 Elections" (S. Westlund). The senior high essays include: "Lincoln and the Election of 1860" (J. Kennedy); "Abraham Lincoln and the Election of 1860" (J. A. Maude); "Lincoln and the 1860 Election" (J.S. Nelson); "Abraham Lincoln: Westerner To President" (J. A. Rechtin); and "Lincoln's Road to the Presidency: 1858 To 1860" (E. Smietana). (LBG) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ***********************************************AuA********************* U IS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as eived from the person or organization originating it O Minor changes have bee,, made to improve reproduction duality Points of view or opinions smied m this deco meat do not necessarily represent official OERI pos.l.on or ool.cy PERMISSION TOREPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEENGRANT D B' (L TO THE EDUCATIONALRESOURCE INFORMATION CENTER(ERIC) BEST COPY AVAILABLE LINCOLN ERA ESSAY CONTEST SEVENTHANNUALWINNERS 1988 ESSAY THEME: LINCOLN AND THE ELECTIONS OF 1860 AND 1864 William Caale Oakleaf Lincoln Collection Lilly Library Indiana University Bloomincton, Indiana INDIANA UNIVERSITY, BLOOMINGTON For more information on the Lincoln Essay Contest, contact Evelyn R. Holt, Social Studies Development Center, 2805 East Tenth Street, Room 110, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION William R. Cagle, Lilly Librarian, Indiana University ii JUNIOR HIGH/MIDDLE SCHOOL ESSAYS Abraham Lincoln's Journals for the 1860 and 1864 Elections, by Caroline Berman, Central Middle School, Columbus 1 "The Hearts of the Delegates Are With Us," by Molly Brady, St. Thomas Aquinas School, Indianapolis 13 Lincoln His Later Years, by Tracy L. Hoyte, Central Middle School, Columbus 21 President Lincoln and the 1860 and 1864 Elections, by Jennifer Miller, Carroll Junior High School, Flora 29 President Lincoln and the 1860 and 1864 Elections, by Jeff Myers, Grissom Middle School, Mishawaka 43 The Union is Perpetual, by Larissa Kathleen Rudenko, Thompkins Middle School, Evansville 52 The Election of the Leader, by Kimberly Ruse, St. Thomas Aquinas, Indianapolis 69 The Presidential Election of 1860 in Indiana, by Lisa Weinstein, Westlane Middle School, Indianapolis 81 President Lincoln and the 1860 and 1864 Elections, by Shawn Westlund, Frankton Junior High School, Frankton 89 SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ESSY5 Lincoln and the Election of 1860, by Jenny Kennedy, Roncalli High School, Indianapolis 102 Abraham Lincoln and the Election of 1860, by Jennifer Anne Maude, Roncalli High School, Indianapolis 120 Lincoln and the 1860 Election, Julie S. Nelson, Anderson High School, Anderson 135 Abraham Lincoln: Westerner to President, by James Anthony Rechtin, Roncalli High School, Indianapolis 149 Lincoln's Road to the Presidency: 1858 to 1860, by Elisabeth Smietana, Paul Harding High School, Fort Wayne 164 INTRODUCTION The Lincoln Era Contest, sponsored by an endowment fromthe estate of Frank L. Jones, was established to promote interest inand understanding of Abraham Lincoln and his time among students throughoutIndiana. Frank L. Jones' enthusiasm for Lincoln extended beyondthe endowment of the Lincoln Era Contest. In 1942, Mr. Jones, along with the Ball Brothers Foundation of Muncie and the late Will Irwin of Columbus,made possible the purchase by Indiana University of the important collectionof Abraham Lincoln materials which had been assembled by Joseph B. Oakleafof Moline, Illinois. This collection, numbering approximately 8,000 booksand pamphlets as well as manuscripts, photographs,caricatures, and other illustrations of Lincoln and his circle, came to the University in1942 and now is housed in the Lilly Library. Frank L. Jones made the Indiana University Foundationthe ultimate heir of his estate, securing first a lifetime interestin its income for his daughter. It was Mr. Jones' wish that the earningsof his bequest provide funds for the University to add to its Lincoln holdings and sponsorthis annual essay contest. and it is to honor this wish that Indiana Universityestablished the Lincoln Era Essay Contest. Since 1982, the first year of the contest, studentsfrom sixth to twelfth grades in many Indiana cities and townshave submitted essays in competition for prizes of up to S100.00each. Indiana University takes pride in presenting in this volume the workof the successful contestants for 1986. William R. Cagle Lilly Librarian Indiana University. Bloomington 11 AERAHA:: LI!:COLN'S JOURNALS FRO?: THE 1860 AND 1864 ELECTIONS by Caroline Berman Caroline Berman was a student at CentralMiddle School in Columbus, Indiana, when she submitted this winning paper. Her teacher was Mr. TomKing. During a recent renovation of the basement of the White House in Washington, D.C, a new andunknown journal of Abraham. Lincoln, the 16th President, was found. This journal was found behind some wallboards where it had lainsince the end of 1864, and seemed primarily to contain Lincoln's observations duringand immediately after the election campaignsof 1860 and 1864. Some selections from this just-discovered journal follow. May 19, 1860 I received the committee from the Chicago convention today,and they informed me that I am their nominee for thepresidency. I will carefully examine the resolutions of the convention and the platform, and then respond to the chairman,though I have no doubt that it will be satisfactory. I was wrong in my reasoning with Sam Galloway, however, for it was myopinion that because I am a new name I did not have the favorof many politicians, but now I say I must have. May 21, 1860 Joshua Giddings and I had lunch at the Wayside Inn today. I will have to take Mary there when I have a chancebecause it was extremely pleasant.He and I had a long conversation about my 1 li nomination, and we agreed that I must put fortha great effort so as to maintain my freedom against bad influences. If I fail, it is in my strength, but not inmy wanting of the purpose. June 4,1860 In preparation for my meeting tomorrow withLyman Trumbull, I have drawn up a rough concept that I will use. I plan to discuss the act of making commitments with him. The strategy I will use is the act of Peter denying his Lord by making an oath after he said that he would not make any other oaths. I do not plan to bind myself not to make any commitments, though I do not think I will need to make any. June 11,1860 Another beautiful day. August 14,1860 Mr. Cheney today requested for the third time that.I voice some of my opinions about the Fugitive Slave Act. Again,I told him that it would be imprudent and contrary to expectationsof my friends to say anything more about doctrinal points. I also told Mr. Cheney that my published speeches contain all the information that I will agree to give willingly. Justice and fairness to all is the utmost I have saidor will say on the subject. I also discussed this matter with James Harvey in connection with our associates in New York who are becominguneasy about the election. 2 September 1, 1860 Planning for my upcoming campaign takes the majority of my time this summer, and I do regret that I haven't had much time to entertain my wife Mary and her guests when she arranges dinner parties or tea parties. Mary has given me so much moral support these past weeks; I do not for the life of me know what I would have done without her. September 22, 1860 So many people are pressuring me to give my opinions on this matter or that matter. Yesterday I received a letter from Mr. G. Yoke Tams asking about my favor of the tariff and protection to American industry. I replied to Mr. Tams today in a letter stating that I agreed with the platform of convention that nominated me; they have stated their position on this matter and I fully agree with it.I also commented that if I were publicly to shift any of those feelings or beliefs, the convention could and quite possibly would displace me from the candidacy. assumed that Mr. Tams would not wish me to disclose any information to him that must be kept secret from others. October 23,1960 I received a letter in the post today from William Speer inviting me to lunch at the Pilgrim Tavern to discuss someideas that he had concerning my campaign, specifically the slavery issue. He suggested that I write a pamphlet stating that I have no 3 intention to interfere with the slaves in the states.