The First Lady: Mary Todd Lincoln’s Life and Experiences Throughout the Civil War

Brianne Abrams

History 10

May 29, 2015

Brianne Abrams Block  A

History 10 May 29, 2015

The First Lady: Mary Todd Lincoln’s Life and Experiences Throughout the Civil War

Part One: An introduction to the Most Controversial First Lady of the United States

As many idolize the actions of a president they also overlook the impact of a first lady. Before starting my research I barely knew anything about the first lady of the sixteenth president Abraham Lincoln. In fact I did not even know her name. On the other hand I could list several accomplishment of Abraham Lincoln, and in order to be as successful as Lincoln was I knew that he had to of had someone beside him throughout his journey who was as supportive and  caring as Mrs. Lincoln was. I knew that I wanted to focus on a women’s contributions to the war for my research paper and I thought who better to choose than the first lady herself. Mrs. Lincoln had a very important role as a women during the civil war. As many women did not have a significant amount of say in society, but she was able to influence the decision of the President and stand as a voice for a women in the United States. My choosing of Mary Lincoln was fitting and appropriate for this assignment because our main focus of our current curriculum in History is the American Civil War. With so many different aspects I could have focussed on with Mary Lincoln I chose to get an overall better understanding as her life as a whole, and her impact on the Civil War. So, who was Mary Lincoln, and how did she contribute to the war?

Part Two: Searching For Answers

To start off my research I simply went to google and typed in Mrs. Lincoln. Within seconds I had many resources within my finger tips. However even though this was convenient it created much confusion. I had no idea where to start my research or how to tell the reliable sources from the unreliable. So I decided to start my research with a site that I was familiar with and  is well known. I did a quick run through of the article making sure it had useful information on my topic. Then after coming to the conclusion that it was scholarly I created a bibliography, and started the note taking process. I repeated this throughout my research. One source that I found to be extremely helpful throughout my research was the book Mrs. Lincoln. At first I was hesitant to the idea of finding books when I am so accustomed to using the web, but it turned out to have a significant role in my final research. I found it convenient to make a spreadsheet in google docs which allowed me to develop clear and neat notes. Finding important notes was going smoothly until I frequently came to the realization that many articles began with the main focus on Mrs. Lincoln, and then shifted into the views and accomplishments of Abraham Lincoln. I started to back track my research and take it from the beginning in order to get rid of, and weed out all of the unnecessary information on President Lincoln. Another struggle I came about during my research process was the conflicting information about Mrs. Lincoln. Some articles would go into detail about how positive Mrs. Lincoln was and how supportive she was of her husband. In contrast to those viewpoints many other sources would point out how negative Mrs. Lincoln was. Then I realized that a person is capable of having both positive and negative actions and effects on people, so I decided to focus on both the positive and negative that Mrs. Lincoln had to offer.

Part Three: A Women With Importance

On the thirteenth of December in 1818, no one knew that the child born to Elizabeth Parker and Robert Smith Todd would become the first lady of the United States during one of if not, the biggest events in American history. Mary grew up in Lexington, Kentucky where her and her sister, later on known as, Elizabeth Edwards were raised to be proper southern ladies. Mary’s  mother Elizabeth died when Mary was only six years old leaving Betsey Humphreys as Mary’s motherly figure. Betsey had children of her own leaving Mary with not as much attention as she was used to. Mary had a hard time accepting Betsey into her life and on many occasions they did not get along. Betsey had a strict way of bringing up her children and Mary and her sister were not used to this. Mary was used to asking for something and almost always getting what she wanted. Due to the fact that Mary and Betsey did not get along Mary moved out of her father’s house at a young age, and moved in with her sister Elizabeth and brother in law Ninian Edwards in Springfield Illinois where she would meet her beloved Abraham Lincoln.

Mary and Lincoln were an unexpected couple. Lincoln came from nothing while Mary came from a successful, wealthy family. They quickly fell in love with each other’s sense of humor, interest in politics, and ambition. Mary was eager to get married. Lincoln called off the first proposal, but then reconsidered his decision to marry Mary, and they later got married in the living room of Elizabeth and Ninian Edwards. Mary was a big help alongside Lincoln during his years of hard work trying to become president.

Politics were big in the Todd family and Mary was more than willing to carry on the tradition. Mary held her husband’s career close to her heart and would make sure his reputation was a good one. She would constantly be updating her husband wardrobe and making sure his appearance met the high standards to impress those around him. Mary would attend press conferences and comment to the press about her husband’s policies. Making sure he was always having his name and opinions expressed.

When Lincoln became president many Americans were sceptical about Mary and her intentions. She spent her first months living in the white house spending all of the renovation money that was meant to last over Lincoln’s whole presidential term on redecorating. Her lavish spending influenced many to believe that she was incapable of standing by her husband and make rational decisions for the United States. When the war began it made citizens even more worried.

The south looked at Mary as a traitor because she was supposed to be opposed to the abolishment of slavery. Mary knew how much the south depended on slaves to uphold their economy, and the south expected Mary to stand as a voice for them during the war when in fact she did the exact opposite. Mary was more eager to end slavery than President Lincoln was himself. She was extremely impatient, and her beliefs would play a huge role in Lincoln’s decision making process. Lincoln and Mary also shared the same desire to keep the Union together and not allow the South to succeed.

The North also did not find Mrs. Lincoln to impact the country in a positive way. Her actions toward the union went unnoticed for the most part. Mary showed her passion for the North by aiding the sick and wounded in the war. She also took in troops and allowed them to stay in the East Room of the White house. Mary also showed her support to the Union by refusing to leave the White House when D.C. was threatened to undergo an attack. Mary repetitively showed her loyalty to those in the North, but many of them continued to believe that since Mary was from the South and had southern views that she was a spy.

Mary’s life took a turn for the worst on April 15th, 1865 when he husband and president of the United States was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre. The couple and their youngest son Thomas Lincoln were all enjoying a night out while watching a British comedy. Mrs. Lincoln was sitting right behind her husband when he was shot from behind and struck the ground. Mary pleaded a doctor that was at the theatre to keep her husband alive, but he knew that it was just a matter of time before Lincoln took his last breathes. The doctor brought Lincoln to the Petersen’s which was  house near by. Their he was able to attempt to save the President’s life, but their was not much he could do. Mary was asked to leave the room where her husband was being examined by the doctors because her loud shrieks prevented them from being able to focus. Even after she left the room her screams were still heard from down the hall.

After Lincoln died Mary stayed in severe depression making those around her worried about her health. Mary wrote letters expressing her pain due to the loss of her husband. One letter stated “I mourn over that of my worshiped husband, in whose devoted love, I was so blessed, and from whom I was so cruelly torn?” Her son Robert Lincoln had her tried and convicted Mary in court of insanity for attempting suicide multiple times. Mary was in disbelief that her own son could betray her, and have her committed to Bellevue Insane Asylum, in Batavia, Illinois. After going to trial again Myra Bradwell was able to prove that Mary was being held against her will resulting in Mary’s release from the asylum into the care of her sister Elizabeth. Mary died July 16th, 1882 of a stroke. She was buried alongside her husband and children in the Lincoln Tomb at the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield Illinois.

Part Four: A Learning Experience

Throughout my research I learned that it is important to take clear and well thought out notes while completing my outline. I was able to have a better understanding of my topic by getting a significant amount of information. Due to the excessive note taking I was able to produce an essay that covered all aspect of my topic while still maintaining a central focus. Another skill I learned while completing my research was perseverance. There were many times where I struggles to find information I needed through reliable sources, but with enough focus, commitment, and time I soon found what I needed to move along in my research. I will definitely use that perseverance in the future when I come along a challenging obstacle. If I were to do another I-search paper again I would manage my time better. These essays require a lot of time and energy, so I feel as though I should have spread the work out over a week. I really enjoyed writing this essay because we were able to pick a topic of our choosing and incorporate our own opinions into the essay.

Bibliography

Type of Entry	(Foot/End) Note Entry Form	Bibliography Form
Website	“Mary Lincoln” (A&E Television Networks, LLC,  2015); http://www.biography.com/people/mary-todd-lincoln-248868, accessed on 25 April 2015.	“Mary Lincoln” A&E           Television Networks, LLC.                                                                                                                                2008.http://www.biography.com/people/mary-todd-lincoln-248868 (accessed on 25 April 2015).
Website	“Mary Todd Lincoln” (World History Group, 2015); http://www.historynet.com/mary-todd-lincoln, accessed on 25 April 2015.	“Mary Todd Lincoln” World History Group. 2015. http://www.historynet.com/mary-todd-lincoln (accessed on 25 April 2015).
Website	“Mary Lincoln Biography” (The National First Lady Library, 2015); http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=17, accessed on 27 April 2015.	“Mary Lincoln Biography” The National First Lady Library. 2015. http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=17, (accessed on  27 April 2015).
Book, one author	Catherine Clinton, Mrs. Lincoln (Harper Collins Publishing, 2009), 11.	Catherine Clinton. Mrs. Lincoln. Harper Collins Publishing, 2009, 11.
Website	“Mary Lincoln’s Letters” ( Michigan Publishing, 2015); http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/09/arts/sealed-with-sorrow-mary-lincoln-in-letters.html, accessed on 6 May 2015	“Mary Lincoln’s Letters” Michigan Publishing.  2015. http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/09/arts/sealed-with-sorrow-mary-lincoln-in-letters.html (accessed on 6 May 2015).
Website	“American President” (Miller Center, University of Virginia, 2015); http://millercenter.org/president/lincoln/essays/firstlady, accessed on 26 April 2015.	“American President” Miller Center, University of Virginia. 2015.  http://millercenter.org/president/lincoln/essays/firstlady (accessed on 26 April 2015).
Book, one author	Lisa Tendrich Frank, Women in the American Civil War (ABC-CLIO, 2008), 368	Lisa Tendrich Frank. Women in the American Civil War. ABC-CLIO. 2008, 368

Who is Abdul Rahman, the Prince Among Slaves

Who is Abdul Rahman, the Prince Among Slaves

Rahman's Background:

Abdul Rahman was born in Futa Jallon, Africa in 1762.  Rahman was born into royalty, his father being the king, so when Rahman reached a certain age he was given the task of head of the army. This was very important because in Futa Jallon they had strict laws, structure, and formed a sophisticated society.  With this heavy task Rahman had control of two thousand men. Rahman's life was content as he lived in Futa Jallon with his wife and children on their acres and acres of land. 

Rahman's Journey Into Slavery:

One day when Rahman and his men were on their way back from victory they were ambushed by an enemy tribe, and forced to walk one hundred miles barefoot while chained to the shore. Once they reached the shore they were sold to an English ship for objects such as gun powder, rum, tobacco, and muskets. While on board the ship they were cramped into the bottom of the boat with very little water and food. Many slaves died on board the ship because the conditions were extremely unsanitary.When the ship reached its destination in the Americas the slaves lined up on a doc and were auctioned off the white men. Rahman was sold to Thomas Foster a religious minded business man for $930 along with another slave.

Life Under Foster:

When Futa Jallon first arrived at the plantation he tried to explain to Mr. Foster how he was a prince but Foster mocked him so Rahman gave up. During his first couple weeks in slavery Rahman was stripped of everything that made him who he was as a person his hair which was a sign of power and nobility was cut off. Rahman felt worthless so he ran away, but only to realize after a couple of days that their is no way to return to his old life in Africa and went back to Mr. Foster. After his return Rahman devoted all his energy to the plantation leading it to success in the cotton industry. Mr. Foster heavily relied of Rahman to keep the other slaves in line while completing their work on the fields. Mr. Foster allowed Rahman to marry because he knew that if Rahman had a family on the plantation it would be harder for him to leave. 

Fight for Freedom:

One day Rahman had heard news that Mr. Foster slept with one of his daughters and this made him put his whole future in perspective. He realized that this plantation was no place to grow a family, and that when Mr. Foster died his family would be split apart and he would be forced to never see his family again. With this knowledge Rahman took action and wrote to his family back in Futa Jallon to try to get help with freeing him and his family. After finding out that Mr. Foster agreed to his freedom as long as he left the country Rahman started sharing his story with people all over and took advantage of the publicity by starting a fund to buy the freedom of his children. Eventually time ran out and Rahman only reached half of his funding goals. He had to leave his children in America as he sailed to Africa with his wife in hopes of getting enough money there and buying the freedom of their children. Unfortunately Rahman died at the age of sixty- seven shorty after his ship landed. Rahman never returned to Futa Jallon or saw his children.