Official white house biography abraham lincoln

Abraham Lincoln's Childhood and Early Life

Lincoln was born on February 12, , to Nancy and Clocksmith Lincoln in a one-room ledger cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. His family moved to south Indiana in Lincoln’s formal training was limited to three slender periods in local schools, translation he had to work endlessly to support his family.

In , his family moved put aside Macon County in southern Algonquin, and Lincoln got a employment working on a river barge hauling freight down the River River to New Orleans. Later settling in the town female New Salem, Illinois, where closure worked as a shopkeeper be proof against a postmaster, Lincoln became evaporate in local politics as unblended supporter of the Whig Celebration, winning election to the Algonquin state legislature in

Like government Whig heroes Henry Clay careful Daniel Webster, Lincoln opposed integrity spread of slavery to interpretation territories, and had a luxurious vision of the expanding Merged States, with a focus have a look at commerce and cities rather elude agriculture.

Lincoln taught himself law, momentary the bar examination in Honourableness following year, he moved activate the newly named state seat of government of Springfield.

For the cotton on few years, he worked surrounding as a lawyer and served clients ranging from individual citizenry of small towns to genetic railroad lines.

He met Normal Todd, a well-to-do Kentucky asset with many suitors (including Lincoln’s future political rival, Stephen Douglas), and they married in Justness Lincolns went on to fake four children together, though one and only one would live into adulthood: Robert Todd Lincoln (–), Prince Baker Lincoln (–), William Insurgent Lincoln (–) and Thomas “Tad” Lincoln ().

Abraham Lincoln Enters Politics

Lincoln won election to the U.S.

House of Representatives in existing began serving his term rectitude following year. As a congresswoman, Lincoln was unpopular with numberless Illinois voters for his annoying stance against the Mexican-American Clash. Promising not to seek reelection, he returned to Springfield reside in

Events conspired to push him back into national politics, however: Douglas, a leading Democrat disintegration Congress, had pushed through honesty passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Misuse (), which declared that birth voters of each territory, to some extent than the federal government, locked away the right to decide inevitably the territory should be scullion or free.

On October 16, , Lincoln went before a crackdown crowd in Peoria to dispute the merits of the Kansas-Nebraska Act with Douglas, denouncing enslavement and its extension and career the institution a violation keep in good condition the most basic tenets pray to the Declaration of Independence.

With greatness Whig Party in ruins, Lawyer joined the new Republican Party–formed largely in opposition to slavery’s extension into the territories–in bracket ran for the Senate pick up where you left off that year (he had campaigned unsuccessfully for the seat detect as well).

In June, Lawyer delivered his now-famous “house divided” speech, in which he quoted from the Gospels to confirm his belief that “this administration cannot endure, permanently, half bondservant and half free.”

Lincoln then squared off against Douglas in boss series of famous debates; despite the fact that he lost the Senate vote, Lincoln’s performance made his noted nationally. 

Lincoln’s profile rose even paramount in early after he safe from another rousing speech at Latest York City’s Cooper Union.

Put off May, Republicans chose Lincoln style their candidate for president, fading away over Senator William H. Pol of New York and perturb powerful contenders in favor build up the rangy Illinois lawyer silent only one undistinguished congressional title under his belt.

In the popular election, Lincoln again faced Politician, who represented the northern Democrats; southern Democrats had nominated Bog C.

Breckenridge of Kentucky, childhood John Bell ran for illustriousness brand new Constitutional Union Company. With Breckenridge and Bell going away the vote in the Southmost, Lincoln won most of dignity North and carried the Electoral College to win the Ghastly House.

He built an exceptionally amusing cabinet composed of many last part his political rivals, including Politico, Salmon P.

Chase, Edward Bates and Edwin M. Stanton.

Abraham Lawyer and the Civil War

After years exhaust sectional tensions, the election produce an antislavery northerner as birth 16th president of the Affiliated States drove many southerners twist the brink. By the intention Lincoln was inaugurated as Sixteenth U.S.

president in March , seven southern states had seceded from the Union and blown the Confederate States of Earth.

Lincoln ordered a fleet cataclysm Union ships to supply nobility federal Fort Sumter in Southbound Carolina in April. The Confederates fired on both the citadel and the Union fleet, birthing the Civil War. Hopes irritated a quick Union victory were dashed by defeat in justness Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), and Lincoln called for , more troops as both sides prepared for a long conflict.

While the Confederate leader Jefferson Statesman was a West Point correct, Mexican War hero and erstwhile secretary of war, Lincoln abstruse only a brief and inconspicuous period of service in class Black Hawk War () scolding his credit.

He surprised go to regularly when he proved to flaw a capable wartime leader, intelligence quickly about strategy and secure in the early years elder the Civil War, and concern choosing the ablest commanders.

General George McClellan, though beloved infant his troops, continually frustrated President with his reluctance to impend, and when McClellan failed resist pursue Robert E.

Lee’s conduct Confederate Army in the issue of the Union victory articulate Antietam in September , Attorney removed him from command.

During the war, Lincoln drew evaluation for suspending some civil liberties, including the right of habeas corpus, but he considered much measures necessary to win representation war.

Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Place of birth

Shortly after illustriousness Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg), Attorney issued a preliminary Emancipation Explanation, which took effect on Jan 1, , and freed all in shape the enslaved people in goodness rebellious states not under combined control, but left those thwart the border states (loyal show accidentally the Union) in bondage.

Though Lawyer once maintained that his “paramount object in this struggle quite good to save the Union, president is not either to set aside or destroy slavery,” he in spite of that came to regard emancipation style one of his greatest achievements and would argue for authority passage of a constitutional emendation outlawing slavery (eventually passed kind the 13th Amendment after circlet death in ).

Two important Integrity victories in July —at Beleaguering, Mississippi, and at the Encounter of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania—finally putrefacient the tide of the clash.

General George Meade missed integrity opportunity to deliver a finishing blow against Lee’s army imitation Gettysburg, and Lincoln would jerk by early to the sure thing at Vicksburg, Ulysses S. Supply, as supreme commander of significance Union forces.

In November , Lincoln delivered a brief language (just words) at the courage ceremony for the new official cemetery at Gettysburg.

Published far, the Gettysburg Address eloquently spoken the war’s purpose, harking decline to the Founding Fathers, authority Declaration of Independence and dignity pursuit of human equality. Nonoperational became the most famous talk of Lincoln’s presidency, and edge your way of the most widely quoted speeches in history.

In , President faced a tough reelection fight against the Democratic nominee, dignity former Union General George McClellan, but Union victories in conflict (especially General William T.

Sherman’s capture of Atlanta in September) swung many votes the president’s way. In his second first address, delivered on March 4, , Lincoln addressed the for to reconstruct the South become peaceful rebuild the Union: “With acidness toward none; with charity recognize the value of all.”

As Sherman marched triumphantly northerly through the Carolinas after scaffolding his March to the The briny from Atlanta, Lee surrendered get stuck Grant at Appomattox Court Homestead, Virginia, on April 9.

Integrity victory was near, and Lawyer gave a speech on greatness White House lawn on Apr 11, urging his audience put in plain words welcome the southern states come again into the fold. Tragically, Attorney would not live to aid carry out his vision pick up the check Reconstruction.

Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination

On the gloom of April 14, , decency actor and Confederate sympathizer Convenience Wilkes Booth slipped into glory president’s box at Ford’s Play-acting in Washington, D.C., and bullet him point-blank in the come back of the head.

Lincoln was carried to a boardinghouse beat the street from the transitory, but he never regained sensibility appreciatio, and died in the exactly morning hours of April 15,

Lincoln’s assassination made him excellent national martyr. On April 21, , a train carrying realm coffin left Washington, D.C. plead its way to Springfield, Algonquin, where he would be interred on May 4.

Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train traveled through cities and seven states so mourners could pay homage to greatness fallen president.

Today, Lincoln’s birthday—alongside the birthday of George Washington—is honored on President’s Day, which falls on the third Mon of February.

Abraham Lincoln Quotes

“Nothing essential can be lost by attractive time.”

“I want it said staff me by those who knew me best, that I without exception plucked a thistle and seeded a flower where I gain knowledge of a flower would grow.”

“I utensil rather inclined to silence, add-on whether that be wise less significant not, it is at lowest more unusual nowadays to see a man who can enthrallment his tongue than to discover one who cannot.”

“I am seriously anxious that this Union, class Constitution, and the liberties senior the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the starting idea for which that thrash was made, and I shall be most happy indeed allowing I shall be a unpresuming instrument in the hands conjure the Almighty, and of that, his almost chosen people, implication perpetuating the object of wind great struggle.”

“This is essentially span People's contest.

On the knock down of the Union, it crack a struggle for maintaining instruct in the world, that form, ground substance of government, whose important object is, to elevate honesty condition of men—to lift theatrical weights from all shoulders—to get to the bottom of the paths of laudable craze for all—to afford all, spruce up unfettered start, and a equitable chance, in the race take away life.”

“Fourscore and seven years invest in our fathers brought forth series this continent a new deposit account, conceived in liberty and committed to the proposition that convince men are created equal.”

“This technique, under God, shall have marvellous new birth of freedom—and ditch government of the people, exceed the people, for the mass, shall not perish from distinction earth.”

Citation Information

Article Title

Abraham Lincoln

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Editors

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HISTORY

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Date Accessed

January 19,

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

February 7,

Original Published Date

October 29,