What are some qualities that aberham lincoln possessed that made him a great leader?

Question

please help!

Answer 1

1.) Humility. Lincoln was willing to stand in McClellan's shadow if that was the price of McClellan bringing victory in the Civil War. He was willing to humor the power-hungry, the vain, the self-absorbed - as long as it was in furtherance of his goal to maintain the Union. The goal was more improtant than his pride.

2.) Pragmatism. If a subordinate failed and showed no likelihood to improve, he was willing to sack them and get someone who would win. As long as McClellan showed promise, he supported him - once it was clear that McClellan was too afraid of supposed Confederate armies twice the size of his own to actually go fight, he fired him and got someone else. If a subordinate succeeded or showed that his was moving towards a success, then he stuck with him (Grant). Contrast this with Jefferson Davis, who stuck with sub-par generals in the West, when capable replacements were at hand. Davis was unwilling to work with someone he didn't like, even if they were better suited.

3.) Political skill. Lincoln was able to keep various political forces on his side by giving them rank or favors, and otherwise keeping them happy. Political support for the war was dropping in '63 and '64 - Grant's military victories may have been the only thing that kept Lincoln in office and the Union together, but it was Lincoln who helped keep a fractious Congress and Union together long enough for someone to step up and start winning.