{"id":13649,"date":"2023-11-20T16:40:25","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T15:40:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=13649"},"modified":"2023-11-20T16:40:25","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T15:40:25","slug":"what-did-abraham-lincoln-call-the-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/what-did-abraham-lincoln-call-the-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"What Did Abraham Lincoln Call The Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Background Information<\/h2>\n

When Abraham Lincoln was president he encountered a political crisis caused by an argument between the Union and Confederate states over the river border between them. Although most of the border between the Union and Confederate states ran along the Mississippi River, the Confederate state of Tennessee called for an artificial boundary line to be drawn. This angered Abraham Lincoln, who saw the river as a part of the Union and declared it the “Western boundary of the United States.” He is famously known for declaring “This river, then, shall be our boundary.”<\/p>\n

Relevant Data<\/h2>\n

In order to settle the debate between the Union and Confederate states, Abraham Lincoln attempted to draw a line along the Mississippi River so as to clearly separate the two sides. In order to do this, he called for the application of the 1787 Northwest Ordnance which was a law that was used to define the Western border of the United States. The Ordnance defined the Mississippi River as the western boundary of the United States. <\/p>\n

Perspectives From Experts<\/h2>\n

Experts on Abraham Lincoln suggest that he had an immense respect for the power of the Mississippi River and saw it as a symbol of unity for the United States. He viewed it as an important part of the country’s history and something that could bring the Union and Confederate states closer together. Additionally, he recognised that the river was a valuable resource which could be leveraged for economic development and expansion. Scholars argue that it was for this reason that he declared the Mississippi River the western boundary of the United States. <\/p>\n

Adding Own Insights and Analysis<\/h2>\n

When considering why Abraham Lincoln chose to call the Mississippi River the “Western boundary of the United States”, it is important to consider his broader approach to the Civil War. Lincoln believed that the best way to reunify the nation was to focus on the common ground that the two sides shared, rather than the differences. In this sense, the Mississippi River served as a bridge between the Union and Confederate states. Its geographical importance marked it as an integral part of the wealth and prosperity of the United States, while also signifying its symbolic power as a national treasure and a source of unification. <\/p>\n

Educating and Engaging the Reader<\/h2>\n