Comparing Childhoods and Presidencies: Roosevelt vs. Lincoln

Categories: Abraham Lincoln

The objective of this paper is to examine and compare Franklin D. Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, specifically concentrating on their childhood, education, presidencies, methods for national enhancement, objectives while in office, and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from March 1933 until his death on April 12, 1945. He played a crucial role in World War Two and sadly passed away while still in office due to a cerebral hemorrhage.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States from November 6, 1860, was renowned for his efforts in emancipating slaves and his exceptional skills as a writer of speeches and poems.

Sadly, on April 14, 1865, while watching a play, Lincoln's life came to a tragic end when he was assassinated by being shot in the head.

Although not a strong comparison, there are similarities in the early lives of these two presidents. They both attended school and obtained an education, displaying a passion for reading and a preference for learning rather than physical labor.

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Both individuals would spend their time engrossed in books, which caused tension with their fathers who had different interests. Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin frequently borrowed books from neighbors, leading to sheltered lives without significant trouble. Additionally, they were tall, attractive, athletic, and sociable people who enjoyed playing outside with neighbors or by themselves. Despite frequent relocations during childhood, both quickly adjusted to new environments without any apparent difficulty. Furthermore, they both encountered the loss of a family member at a young age.

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The childhood differences between Abraham and Franklin were not significant, although there were some distinctions. Abraham was taller than all the men in his neighborhood, whereas Franklin was tall but not taller than everyone else. Abraham enjoyed assisting his dad with tasks such as chopping wood or any other chores around the house. In contrast, Franklin would help both his dad and mom but preferred reading a book or playing outside. While Franklin attended a preparatory school, Abraham went to a school where studying at one's own pace and individual work were emphasized. This school was more akin to independent studies, but it was not exclusively for troubled children.

Abraham Lincoln's early life was marked by hardship and tragedy. When he was about 9 years old, his mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln passed away due to milk sickness, a result of consuming milk from cows that had eaten poisonous white snakeroot. Additionally, Abraham's sister also died during childbirth. These encounters with death deeply impacted him emotionally at such a young age. In contrast, Roosevelt did not face any deaths until later in life.

As adults, Abraham and Franklin took different paths. Abraham decided to travel the world, while Franklin chose to pursue higher education at Harvard University. However, Franklin later changed his mind and decided to study law but did not complete his studies. Meanwhile, Lincoln met Mary Todd in Springfield and they got married three years later. Together, they had four children within the next 11 years. As Lincoln's legal career flourished, the family bought a house on Jackson Street. In 1846, Lincoln successfully ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives where he gained recognition for his dedication to both the Mexican War and slavery issues. After completing his term, he returned home and continued practicing law with even more determination.

Franklin Roosevelt and Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, who were distant cousins, got married on Mar. 17, 1905. They had a total of six children, but unfortunately their sixth child died at birth. While Franklin practiced law by handling small-claims cases and became a Democrat in the New York state senate, the Roosevelts actively participated in New York's social circles.

In contrast to Lincoln, who opposed slavery's expansion into territories without being an abolitionist, Franklin also ran for Senate but was not successful. However, both individuals worked tirelessly to establish themselves in politics and seemed to be making progress.

Relying on his Roosevelt name and newfound image, Franklin managed to secure the Vice-Presidential nomination in 1920 despite receiving little support from the Democratic party.

Both Lincoln and Roosevelt served as presidents of the United States. Lincoln assumed office as the 16th President in 1860 after securing the Presidential nomination on the third ballot. In contrast, Roosevelt campaigned for presidency in 1930 amidst an economic depression that had diminished Hoover's chances of winning re-election. In 1932, Roosevelt emerged as the Democratic Party nominee for president and triumphed over Hoover with a seven million vote lead. Both presidents shared a common objective of enhancing the nation and diligently strived to accomplish it.

The time in office of the two Presidents, Lincoln and Roosevelt, was marked by significant differences. In terms of responsibilities, Lincoln had fewer compared to Roosevelt. While Roosevelt served for four terms and had to make decisions related to World War Two, Lincoln's duties were relatively smaller. When he took office in 1933, Roosevelt implemented a "good neighbor" policy for the United States in Latin America as promised. His goal was to maintain positive relations with all nations during the 1930s when war seemed inevitable. Both the President and the American public desired neutrality, but Roosevelt did not aim to provoke aggressors. Eventually, war erupted in Europe when Germany invaded Poland in 1939.

Initially, Roosevelt's intention was to support democratic nations without involving the United States in the war. However, as time passed, it became increasingly difficult to prevent US involvement. When France fell in 1940, Roosevelt quickly supplied a large amount of weapons to aid Britain in their battle against Germany. It is clear that Roosevelt had a very busy schedule. In contrast, Abraham had a presidency of a completely different nature. He played a significant role in freeing slaves and delivered exceptional speeches. One of his beloved poems conveyed the message that people should not be overly proud because life is fleeting and ultimately leads to death.

The leaves of the oak and willow trees will wither, scatter, and rest together. Young and old, low and high will decay to dust and lie side by side.

The mother cared for and loved the infant. The mother showed affection for the infant. The husband blessed the mother, infant, and himself. Each of them are now in their resting place.

The maid's triumphs, reflected on her cheek, brow, and eye, were a testament to her beauty and pleasure. However, both the memory of those who adored and admired her and the praises they bestowed upon her have been completely erased from the minds of the living.

In the depths of the grave, the hand of the king once held the sceptre, the brow of the priest donned the mitre, and the eye of the sage and the heart of the brave are now concealed and lost.

The peasant, the herdsman, and the beggar have all vanished like the grass we tread upon, each occupied with their respective tasks: sowing and reaping for the peasant, tending to goats on steep hills for the herdsman, and searching for sustenance for the beggar.

The saint and the sinner, the wise and the foolish, the guilty and the just have peacefully come together in death.

Like the flower or the weed that withers away to let others succeed, the multitude goes. Likewise, the multitude comes - even those we behold - to repeat every tale that has often been told.

For we are the same as our fathers have been; we witness the same sights that they have witnessed; we consume the same stream, experience the same sun, and follow the same path that our fathers have followed.

The thoughts we currently have are the same thoughts our fathers had; We are reacting to death in the same way as our fathers would; We are holding onto life just like they would - However, it quickly escapes from us all, like a bird flying away.

They had love, but we can't reveal the story; They had scorn, but the hearts of the arrogant are cold; They had grief, but no cry will come from their sleep; They had joy, but the expression of their happiness is silent.

They perished - yes, they perished - we beings of present existence, who tread upon the ground covering their resting place, and briefly inhabit their homes, encounter the same entities they encountered on their journey through life.

Hope and despair, joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, are entwined in both sunny and rainy times. The smile and the tear, the song and the dirge, continue to come one after another, just like waves crashing upon waves.

The deaths of two presidents, Abraham Lincoln and his wife attended a play called Our American Cousin at Ford's Theater on Good Friday, April 14, 1865. John Wilkes Booth arrived at the theater during the show and approached Lincoln from behind in the State Box. Around 10:15 P.M., he shot Lincoln in the back of his head. After being shot, Lincoln was taken to Petersen House across the street where he died on April 15th at 7:22 A.M.

The first Presidential assassination in American history occurred when Lincoln was killed, causing the nation to mourn its leader. His body was transported to Springfield by train and laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery's Lincoln Tomb on May 4, 1865. Roosevelt's health began deteriorating in early 1944 and did not improve. After attending the Yalta Conference, he sought rest in Warm Springs, Georgia. On April 12, 1945, while lying in bed, he passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage. Clearly, the deaths of these two remarkable individuals had a profound impact on the American people and greatly influenced our country's history.

To sum up, these two presidents exhibited both similarities and differences. I strongly believe that there is much to gain from studying these individuals, which can greatly benefit us. If more of our presidents possessed the same attributes of courage, compassion, and intellect as them, our world would undoubtedly be in a better state than it is now. Without these influential figures in our history, I am confident that our lives would be significantly altered in numerous ways. I trust that this report has provided you with valuable insights, as it undeniably has for me.

Updated: Feb 16, 2024
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Comparing Childhoods and Presidencies: Roosevelt vs. Lincoln. (2016, Jul 15). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/franklin-d-roosevelt-vs-abraham-lincoln-essay

Comparing Childhoods and Presidencies: Roosevelt vs. Lincoln essay
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