As Lincoln leaves for Washington, he tells his audience, "I go to assume a task more difficult than that which devolved upon General Washington." Do you agree with him?

As Lincoln leaves Springfield for Washington, he tells his audience, "I go to assume a task more difficult than that which devolved upon General Washington." Do you agree with him?

Absolutely. The man had the potential destruction of the young nation at the doorstep as a result of what states perceived to be their inalienable rights. Even if you do not take a side in that fight, you know it's an untenable position for any country to sustain.

I agree with dianac that it was more difficult task because there was the nation was at risk of falling apart.

Yes it was much more difficult for President Lincoln. Slavery was tearing apart the country. Many people hated what he stood for.

The two situations were so different. Washington needed to establish policies, procedures, practices, etc. that did not exist. It was almost like working in a void. He had a lot of internal conflict within his own cabinet. Lincoln had accepted the basic principles of the new country and needed to maintain those principles and keep the nation together. I think there was more animosity within the country that Lincoln needed to face; Washington's time was a more hopeful time.

I'm not sure that it was more difficult, but certainly different. As described by others, Washington essentially was starting from scratch. How to "win" the country from England and set up a functioning government for this very new country.
But Lincoln faced even harsher challenges. The "institution" of slavery had been hard-wired into the South. Their dependence on it set brother against brother. How to set it right! How to do what Lincoln felt was just, and to have the country survive intact! I think that telling the story through Ana's eyes, allowed the angst of the situation to be more clearly felt.

I agree with what most have already expressed. Washington was the leader of a nation of people who chose to be here. They were looking for leadership and regulation in the form of law that would allow settlement and development through peaceful governance. By the time Lincoln held the same position, the country was divided and no longer peaceful. The South's separation from the union was a real threat to the survival of the nation - Lincoln's Presidency was clearly a much tougher journey and in a darker time than Washington's.

Yes, for the most part the people supported the American Revolution. The Civil War split the country in two. There was Signiant unrest North and South. Both side angry.

I'm not sure I DO agree. As bad a situation as Lincoln stepped in to, I think Washington faced much steeper odds.

Hmm…this is not as easy a question to answer as I initially thought. kimk makes a good point: Washington was starting from scratch, and his beginning could have gone quite wrong. He did, however, have the support of his countrymen from all 13 colonies. Lincoln did not have that kind of support from the considerably larger geographic area over which he became President. In the end I think Lincoln had the more difficult job.

I do believe that Lincoln's challenges were much greater than Washington's. Lincoln faced a divided Union. Separated into the Pro-slavery South and the Abolitionist North. He led a deeply divided country into civil war. Lincoln had to raise a citizen's army of volunteers who were willing to die for the Union; find generals capable to lead them; and finance the war.

I believe Lincoln faced a more difficult task than Washington. The country had a more unified, hopeful outlook when Washington was president. Lincoln faced the horrendous task of trying to unite the states after the lengthy Civil War. Many in the south and some in the north still considered Black's to be second class citizens and they were not happy with Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.