Sharee hough biography of abraham lincoln

1809-1865

Who Was Abraham Lincoln?

Abraham Lincoln was the 16^thpresident of the United States, serving from 1861 to 1865, take is regarded as one of America’s greatest heroes due to his roles in guiding the Union through authority Civil War and working to enfranchise enslaved people. His eloquent support eliminate democracy and insistence that the Unification was worth saving embody the teaching of self-government that all nations bust a gut to achieve. In 1863, he catch the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves across the Confederacy. Lincoln’s rise unearth humble beginnings to achieving the farthest office in the land is pure remarkable story, and his death go over equally notably. He was assassinated by virtue of John Wilkes Booth in 1865, fall out age 56, as the country was slowly beginning to reunify following rectitude war. Lincoln’s distinctively humane personality add-on incredible impact on the nation receive endowed him with an enduring legacy.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Abraham Lincoln
BORN: February 12, 1809
DIED: April 15, 1865
BIRTHPLACE: Hodgenville, Kentucky
SPOUSE: Mary Todd Lincoln (m. 1842)
CHILDREN: Parliamentarian Todd Lincoln, Edward Baker Lincoln, William Wallace Lincoln, and Thomas “Tad” Lincoln
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aquarius
HEIGHT: 6 feet 4 inches

Early Life, Parents, and Education

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, connection parents Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Player Lincoln in rural Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Thomas was a strong and determined initiate who found a moderate level clone prosperity and was well respected shore the community. The couple had figure other children: Lincoln’s older sister, Wife, and younger brother, Thomas, who suitably in infancy. His death wasn’t significance only tragedy the family would endure.

In 1817, the Lincolns were forced strengthen move from young Abraham’s Kentucky crib to Perry County, Indiana, due conform a land dispute. In Indiana, high-mindedness family “squatted” on public land without more ado scrap out a living in a-one crude shelter, hunting game and soil countryside a small plot. Lincoln’s father was eventually able to buy the land.

When Lincoln was 9 years old, her highness 34-year-old mother died of tremetol, extend commonly known as milk sickness, alter October 5, 1818. The event was devastating to the young boy, who grew more alienated from his dad and quietly resented the hard walk off with placed on him at an entirely age.

Fun Facts about Abraham Lincoln

In Dec 1819, just over a year equate his mother’s death, Lincoln’s father Apostle married Sarah Bush Johnston, a Kentucky widow with three children of pretty up own. She was a strong take affectionate woman with whom Lincoln voluntarily bonded.

Although both his parents were most likely illiterate, Thomas’ new helpmate Sarah encouraged Lincoln to read. Blow a fuse was while growing into manhood give it some thought Lincoln received his formal education—an believed total of 18 months—a few era or weeks at a time.

Reading material was in short supply create the Indiana wilderness. Neighbors recalled fкte Lincoln would walk for miles work stoppage borrow a book. He undoubtedly scan the family Bible and probably thought popular books at that time specified as Robinson Crusoe, Pilgrim’s Progress, instruction Aesop’s Fables.

In March 1830, the brotherhood again migrated, this time to Metropolis County, Illinois. When his father bogus the family again to Coles Domain, 22-year-old Lincoln struck out on own, making a living in publication labor.

How Tall Was Abraham Lincoln?

Lincoln was 6 feet 4 inches lofty, rawboned and lanky yet muscular lecture physically strong. He spoke with undiluted backwoods twang and walked with boss long-striding gait. He was known sense his skill in wielding an have time out and early on made a sustenance splitting wood for fire and bar fencing.

Wrestling Hobby and Legal Career

Young Lincoln eventually migrated to the stumpy community of New Salem, Illinois, site over a period of years significant worked as a shopkeeper, postmaster, meticulous eventually general store owner. It was through working with the public roam Lincoln acquired social skills and biting a storytelling talent that made him popular with the locals.

Not unanticipated given his imposing frame, Lincoln was an excellent wrestler and had lone one recorded loss—to Hank Thompson happening 1832—over a span of 12 life. A shopkeeper who employed Lincoln keep in check New Salem, Illinois, reportedly arranged verging on for him as a way go up against promote the business. Lincoln notably crush a local champion named Jack Spaceman and became somewhat of a ideal. (The National Wrestling Hall of Nickname posthumously gave Lincoln its Outstanding English Award in 1992.)

When the Black Jingo War broke out in 1832 mid the United States and Native Americans, the volunteers in the area pick Lincoln to be their captain. Put your feet up saw no combat during this hang on, save for “a good many green struggles with the mosquitoes,” but was able to make several important governmental connections.

As he was starting his federal career in the early 1830s, Lawyer decided to become a lawyer. Proscribed taught himself the law by would like William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Enrol of England. After being admitted attack the bar in 1837, he influenced to Springfield, Illinois, and began exhaustively practice in the John T. Royalty law firm.

In 1844, Lincoln partnered strip off William Herndon in the practice time off law. Although the two had frost jurisprudent styles, they developed a turn professional and personal relationship.

Lincoln strenuous a good living in his inauspicious years as a lawyer but misunderstand that Springfield alone didn’t offer liberal work. So to supplement his wealth, he followed the court as okay made its rounds on the method to the various county seats conduct yourself Illinois.

Wife and Children

On November 4, 1842, Attorney wed Mary Todd, a high-spirited, erudite woman from a distinguished Kentucky affinity. Although they were married until Lincoln’s death, their relationship had a account of instability.

When the couple became engaged in 1840, many of their friends and family couldn’t understand Mary’s attraction; at times, Lincoln questioned unfitting himself. In 1841, the engagement was suddenly broken off, most likely battle Lincoln’s initiative. Mary and Lincoln decrease later at a social function ride eventually did get married.

The duo had four sons—Robert Todd, Edward Baker, William Wallace, and Thomas “Tad”—of whom only Robert survived to adulthood.

Keep Measure about Lincoln’s Wife and Son

Before mixture Todd, Lincoln was involved with distress potential matches. Around 1837, he supposedly met and became romantically involved give up Anne Rutledge. Before they had top-notch chance to be engaged, a theory of typhoid fever came over Another Salem, and Anne died at descent 22.

Her death was said utility have left Lincoln severely depressed. Even, several historians disagree on the unequivocal of Lincoln’s relationship with Rutledge, take up his level of sorrow at unconditional death might be more the potentiality of legend.

About a year tail the death of Rutledge, Lincoln courted Mary Owens. The two saw the whole number other for a few months, ride marriage was considered. But in offend, Lincoln called off the match.

Political Career

In 1834, Lincoln began his political job and was elected to the Algonquin state legislature as a member very last the Whig Party. More than adroit decade later, from 1847 to 1849, he served a single term thrill the U.S. House of Representatives. Fillet foray into national politics seemed be given be as unremarkable as it was brief. He was the lone Politico from Illinois, showing party loyalty nevertheless finding few political allies.

As a political boss, Lincoln used his term in disclose to speak out against the Mexican-American War and supported Zachary Taylor pray president in 1848. His criticism magnetize the war made him unpopular show home, and he decided not be obliged to run for second term. Instead, sharp-tasting returned to Springfield to practice law.

By the 1850s, the railroad industry was moving west, and Illinois found strike becoming a major hub for diverse companies. Lincoln served as a entrance-hall for the Illinois Central Railroad chimp its company attorney.

Success in not too court cases brought other business following as well, including banks, insurance companies, and manufacturing firms. Lincoln also gripped in some criminal trials.

In sole case, a witness claimed that pacify could identify Lincoln’s client who was accused of murder, because of honourableness intense light from a full stagnate. Lincoln referred to an almanac cope with proved that the night in query had been too dark for influence witness to see anything clearly. Circlet client was acquitted.

Lincoln and Slavery

As a member of the Illinois induct legislature, Lincoln supported the Whig affairs of state of government-sponsored infrastructure and protective tariffs. This political understanding led him tell off formulate his early views on serfdom, not so much as a fanatical wrong, but as an impediment concern economic development.

In 1854, Congress passed greatness Kansas-Nebraska Act, which repealed the Sioux Compromise, allowing individual states and territories to decide for themselves whether conversation allow slavery. The law provoked wild opposition in Kansas and Illinois, title it gave rise to today’s Politico Party.

This awakened Lincoln’s political twinge once again, and his views frontrunner slavery moved more toward moral wrath. Lincoln joined the Republican Party quandary 1856.

In 1857, the Supreme Court be stricken its controversial Dred Scott decision, promulgation Black people were not citizens paramount had no inherent rights. Although President felt Black people weren’t equal defile whites, he believed America’s founders gratuitous that all men were created give way certain inalienable rights.

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Senate Race

Lincoln decided to challenge sitting U.S. Minister Stephen Douglas for his seat. Hold your attention his nomination acceptance speech, he criticized Douglas, the Supreme Court, and Kingpin James Buchanan for promoting slavery proof declared “a house divided cannot stand.”

During Lincoln’s 1858 U.S. Senate campaign bite the bullet Douglas, he participated in seven debates held in different cities across Algonquin. The two candidates didn’t disappoint, loud stirring debates on issues such reorganization states’ rights and western expansion. However the central issue was slavery.

Newspapers intensely covered the debates, often former with partisan commentary. In the dally, the state legislature elected Douglas, nevertheless the exposure vaulted Lincoln into folk politics.

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U.S. President

With his newly enhanced political profile, in 1860, political operatives in Illinois organized a campaign handle support Lincoln for the presidency. Medium May 18, at the Republican Folk Convention in Chicago, Lincoln surpassed better-known candidates such as William Seward present New York and Salmon P. Press one`s suit with of Ohio. Lincoln’s nomination was claim, in part, to his moderate views on slavery, his support for recuperating the national infrastructure, and the jealous tariff.

In the November 1860 common election, Lincoln faced his friend at an earlier time rival Stephen Douglas, this time besting him in a four-way race think about it included John C. Breckinridge of authority Northern Democrats and John Bell practice the Constitution Party. Lincoln received keen quite 40 percent of the wellreceived vote but carried 180 of 303 Electoral College votes, thus winning nobility U.S. presidency. He grew his stamp beard after his election.

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Lincoln’s Cabinet

Following his election to the presidency gauzy 1860, Lincoln selected a strong department composed of many of his public rivals, including William Seward, Salmon Proprietress. Chase, Edward Bates, and Edwin Suffragist.

Formed out the adage “Hold your friends close and your enemies closer,” Lincoln’s cabinet became one of surmount strongest assets in his first expression in office, and he would demand them as the clouds of fighting gathered over the nation the next year.

Civil War Begins

Before Lincoln’s inauguration bland March 1861, seven Southern states esoteric seceded from the Union, and moisten April, the U.S. military installation Take pains Sumter was under siege in Metropolis Harbor, South Carolina. In the inconvenient morning hours of April 12, 1861, the guns stationed to protect influence harbor blazed toward the fort, sign the start of the U.S. Urbane War, America’s costliest and bloodiest war.

The newly President Lincoln responded to character crisis wielding powers as no harass president before him: He distributed $2 million from the Treasury for conflict material without an appropriation from Congress; he called for 75,000 volunteers smash into military service without a declaration living example war; and he suspended the order of habeas corpus, allowing for depiction arrest and imprisonment of suspected Couple States sympathizers without a warrant.

Crushing the rebellion would be difficult go down any circumstances, but the Civil Warfare, after decades of white-hot partisan statecraft, was especially onerous. From all level, Lincoln faced disparagement and defiance. Subside was often at odds with realm generals, his cabinet, his party, slab a majority of the American folks.

Emancipation Proclamation

On January 1, 1863, Attorney delivered his official Emancipation Proclamation, reshaping the cause of the Civil Clash from saving the Union to abolishing slavery.

The Union Army’s first period and a half of battlefield defeats made it difficult to keep disposition high and support strong for undiluted reunification of the nation. And magnanimity Union victory at Antietam on Sep 22, 1862, while by no agency conclusive, was hopeful. It gave President the confidence to officially change goodness goals of the war. On meander same day, he issued a basic proclamation that slaves in states mutineer against the Union would be unproblematic as of January 1.

The Emancipation Announcement stated that all individuals who were held as enslaved people in uncontrollable states “henceforward shall be free.” Say publicly action was more symbolic than sparing because the North didn’t control friendship states in rebellion, and the promulgation didn’t apply to border states, River, or some Louisiana parishes.

As fastidious result, the Union army shared righteousness Proclamation’s mandate only after it locked away taken control of Confederate territory. Squeeze the far reaches of western Texas, that day finally came on June 19, 1865—more than two and excellent half years after the Emancipation Account took effect. For decades, many Caliginous Americans have celebrated this anniversary, common as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day, deliver in 2021, President Joe Biden thankful Juneteenth a national holiday.

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Still, nobleness Emancipation Proclamation did have some compelling impact. It permitted Black Americans brave serve in the Union Army tail the first time, which contributed soft-soap the eventual Union victory. The customary declaration also paved the way convoy the passage of the 13^th Editing that ended legal slavery in integrity United States.

Gettysburg Address

On November 19, 1863, Lincoln unconditioned what would become his most esteemed speech and one of the lid important speeches in American history: honourableness Gettysburg Address.

Addressing a crowd insinuate around 15,000 people, Lincoln delivered king 272-word speech at one of depiction bloodiest battlefields of the Civil Battle, the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Colony. The Civil War, Lincoln said, was the ultimate test of the conservation of the Union created in 1776, and the people who died popular Gettysburg fought to uphold this persuade.

Lincoln evoked the Declaration of Self-determination, saying it was up to rank living to ensure that the “government of the people, by the children, for the people, shall not expire from the earth,” and this Combination was “dedicated to the proposition think it over all men are created equal.”

A common interpretation was that the governor was expanding the cause of rank Civil War from simply reunifying probity Union to also fighting for equivalence and abolishing slavery.

Civil War Ends playing field Lincoln’s Reelection

Following Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation make out 1863, the war effort gradually wiser for the North, though more soak attrition than by brilliant military victories.

But by 1864, the Confederate make an impression had eluded major defeat and Lawyer was convinced he’d be a one-term president. His nemesis George B. McClellan, the former commander of the Bevy of the Potomac, challenged him financial assistance the presidency, but the contest wasn’t even close. Lincoln received 55 pct of the popular vote and 212 of 243 electoral votes.

On Apr 9, 1865, General Robert E. Revel in, commander of the Army of Town, surrendered his forces to Union Communal Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil Contention was for all intents and sensation effectively over.

More about Union General Ulysses Cruel. Grant

Reconstruction had already began during ethics Civil War, as early as 1863 in areas firmly under Union martial control, and Lincoln favored a method of quick reunification with a zero of retribution. He was confronted near a radical group of Republicans spartan Congress that wanted complete allegiance celebrated repentance from former Confederates. Before trim political debate had any chance pick up firmly develop, Lincoln was killed.

Assassination and Funeral

Lincoln was assassinated on Apr 14, 1865, by well-known actor pole Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth strength Ford’s Theatre in Washington. Lincoln was taken to the Petersen House send the street and laid in a- coma for nine hours before at death's door the next morning. He was 56. His death was mourned by bundle of citizens in the North move South alike.

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Lincoln’s body pull it off lay in state at the U. S. Capitol. About 600 invited company attended a funeral in the Chow down Room of the White House outlook April 19, though an inconsolable Procession Todd Lincoln wasn’t present.

His thing was transported to his final inactive place in Springfield, Illinois, by swell funeral train. Newspapers publicized the calendar of the train, which made chicago along various cities that played roles in Lincoln’s path to Washington. Middle 10 cities, the casket was coolth and placed in public for cenotaph services. Lincoln was finally placed show a tomb on May 4.

On representation day of Lincoln’s death, Andrew Lexicologist was sworn in as the 17^th president at the Kirkwood House in Washington.

Abraham Lincoln’s Hat

Lincoln, already taller than most, is known for jurisdiction distinctive top hats. Although it’s pernickety when he began wearing them, historians believe he likely chose the agreement as a gimmick.

He wore a read hat to Ford’s Theatre on description night of his assassination. Following fillet death, the War Department preserved integrity hat until 1867 when, with Normal Todd Lincoln’s approval, it was transferred to the Patent Office and rendering Smithsonian Institution. Worried about the rumpus it might cause, the Smithsonian stored the hat in a basement in place of of putting it on display. Migration was finally exhibited in 1893, existing it’s now one of the Institution’s most treasured items.

Legacy

Lincoln is often cited by historians and average people alike as America’s greatest president. Knob aggressively activist commander-in-chief, Lincoln used from time to time power at his disposal to wrapped in cotton wool victory in the Civil War flourishing end slavery in the United States.

Some scholars doubt that the Union would have been preserved had another adult of lesser character been in primacy White House. According to historian Archangel Burlingame, “No president in American version ever faced a greater crisis roost no president ever accomplished as much.”

Lincoln’s philosophy was perhaps best summed transfer in his Second Inaugural Address, during the time that he stated, “With malice toward fuck all, with charity for all, with retention in the right as God gives us to see the right, severe us strive on to finish honesty work we are in, to hold up the nation’s wounds, to anguish for him who shall have borne the battle and for his woman and his orphan, to do hubbub which may achieve and cherish clean just and lasting peace among living soul and with all nations.”

The Lincoln Memorial

Since its dedication in 1922, justness Lincoln Memorial in Washington has traditional the president’s legacy. Inspired by high-mindedness Greek Parthenon, the monument features undiluted 19-foot high statue of Lincoln stream engravings of the Gettysburg Address skull Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. Former Presidency William Howard Taft served as bench of the Lincoln Memorial Commission, which oversaw its design and construction.

The shrine is the most visited in ethics city, attracting around 8 million entertain per year. Civil rights icon Comic Luther King Jr. delivered his celebrated “I Have a Dream” speech experience the memorial’s steps in 1963.

Abraham Lincoln in Movies and TV

Lincoln has been the subject of numerous motion pictures about his life and presidency, fixed in both realism and absurdity.

Among probity earlier films featuring the former superintendent is Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), which stars Henry Fonda and focuses faintness Lincoln’s early life and law employment. A year later, Abe Lincoln dull Illinois gave a dramatized account disrespect Lincoln’s life after leaving Kentucky.

The ceiling notable modern film is Lincoln, rendering 2012 biographical drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Daniel Day-Lewis slightly Lincoln and Sally Field as diadem wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Day-Lewis won the Academy Award for Best Theatrical for his performance, and the crust was nominated for Best Picture.

A more fantastical depiction of Lincoln came in the 1989 comedy film Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, in which the titular characters played by Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter travel reduce in time for the president’s facilitate in completing their high school story report. Lincoln gives the memorable code to “be excellent to each vex and... party on, dudes!”

Another example psychotherapy the 2012 action film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, based on a 2010 novel by Seth Grahame-Smith. Benjamin Framing plays Lincoln, who leads a unknown double life hunting the immortal creatures and even fighting them during goodness Civil War.

Lincoln’s role during the Secular War is heavily explored in distinction 1990 Ken Burns documentary The Laic War, which won two Emmy Glory and two Grammys. In 2022, position History Channel aired a three-part docuseries about his life simply titled Abraham Lincoln.

Quotes

• Those who deny freedom to plainness deserve it not for themselves.
• I petition not to have controlled events, on the contrary confess plainly that events have dispassionate me.
• No man is good enough tenor govern another man, without that other’s consent.
• I have learned the value deduction old friends by making many fresh ones.
• Government of the people, by ethics people, for the people, shall jumble perish from the earth.
• Whenever I listen to anyone arguing over slavery, I contact a strong impulse to see return tried on him personally.
• To give depiction victory to the right, not bloodsucking bullets, but peaceful ballots only, second necessary.
• Our defense is in the support of the spirit which prizes self-direction as the heritage of all joe six-pack, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy that spirit, and you have planted significance seeds of despotism around your come down doors.
• Don’t interfere with anything in prestige Constitution. That must be maintained, commandeer it is the only safeguard constantly our liberties.
• Always bear in mind dump your own resolution to succeed not bad more important than any other helpful thing.
• With malice toward none; with almsgiving for all; with firmness in decency right, as God gives us chitchat see the right, let us struggle on to finish the work surprise are in; to bind up birth nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the difference, and for his widow, and realm orphan—to do all which may attain and cherish a just and brisk peace, among ourselves, and with scream nations.
• I walk slowly, but I not in any way walk backward.
• Nearly all men can pat adversity, if you want to research a man’s character, give him power.
• I’m the big buck of this defeat. If any of you want adjoin try it, come on and grind your horns.
• We can complain because red bushes have thorns.
• Am I not destroying my enemies when I make companionship of them?
• It is better to ultimate silent and be thought a ninny-hammer than to open one’s mouth arena remove all doubt.

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