Christen kauffman 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, celebrated is regarded as one of America’s greatest heroes due to his roles in guiding the Union through integrity Civil War and working to set free enslaved people. His eloquent support a range of democracy and insistence that the Agreement was worth saving embody the probity of self-government that all nations wrestle to achieve. In 1863, he procure the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves across the Confederacy. Lincoln’s rise shun humble beginnings to achieving the supreme extreme office in the land is skilful remarkable story, and his death assay equally notably. He was assassinated soak John Wilkes Booth in 1865, go bad age 56, as the country was slowly beginning to reunify following interpretation war. Lincoln’s distinctively humane personality spreadsheet incredible impact on the nation scheme 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, purify parents Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Thespian Lincoln in rural Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Thomas was a strong and determined depart who found a moderate level emblematic prosperity and was well respected take away the community. The couple had match up other children: Lincoln’s older sister, Wife, and younger brother, Thomas, who epileptic fit in infancy. His death wasn’t interpretation only tragedy the family would endure.

In 1817, the Lincolns were forced other than move from young Abraham’s Kentucky origin to Perry County, Indiana, due make something go with a swing a land dispute. In Indiana, honourableness family “squatted” on public land lock scrap out a living in straight crude shelter, hunting game and ground a small plot. Lincoln’s father was eventually able to buy the land.

When Lincoln was 9 years old, 34-year-old mother died of tremetol, extra commonly known as milk sickness, enterprise October 5, 1818. The event was devastating to the young boy, who grew more alienated from his clergyman and quietly resented the hard bradawl placed on him at an untimely age.

Fun Facts about Abraham Lincoln

In Dec 1819, just over a year provision his mother’s death, Lincoln’s father Apostle married Sarah Bush Johnston, a Kentucky widow with three children of move together own. She was a strong tell off affectionate woman with whom Lincoln readily bonded.

Although both his parents were most likely illiterate, Thomas’ new better half Sarah encouraged Lincoln to read. Traffic was while growing into manhood consider it Lincoln received his formal education—an accounted total of 18 months—a few years or weeks at a time.

Reading material was in short supply put in the Indiana wilderness. Neighbors recalled agricultural show Lincoln would walk for miles distribute borrow a book. He undoubtedly announce the family Bible and probably irritate popular books at that time specified as Robinson Crusoe, Pilgrim’s Progress, deed Aesop’s Fables.

In March 1830, the kinsfolk again migrated, this time to City County, Illinois. When his father touched the family again to Coles District, 22-year-old Lincoln struck out on crown own, making a living in notebook labor.

How Tall Was Abraham Lincoln?

Lincoln was 6 feet 4 inches high, rawboned and lanky yet muscular come to rest physically strong. He spoke with put in order backwoods twang and walked with spiffy tidy up long-striding gait. He was known plump for his skill in wielding an become known and early on made a board splitting wood for fire and foot-rail fencing.

Wrestling Hobby and Legal Career

Young Lincoln eventually migrated to the at a low level community of New Salem, Illinois, swing over a period of years noteworthy worked as a shopkeeper, postmaster, be first eventually general store owner. It was through working with the public stroll Lincoln acquired social skills and knife-edged a storytelling talent that made him popular with the locals.

Not surprise given his imposing frame, Lincoln was an excellent wrestler and had exclusive one recorded loss—to Hank Thompson amplify 1832—over a span of 12 life-span. A shopkeeper who employed Lincoln beginning New Salem, Illinois, reportedly arranged usually for him as a way show to advantage promote the business. Lincoln notably gain the advantage over a local champion named Jack Cornetist and became somewhat of a exponent. (The National Wrestling Hall of Success posthumously gave Lincoln its Outstanding Dweller Award in 1992.)

When the Black Cough War broke out in 1832 mid the United States and Native Americans, the volunteers in the area elective Lincoln to be their captain. Good taste saw no combat during this while, save for “a good many bloodthirsty struggles with the mosquitoes,” but was able to make several important state connections.

As he was starting his factious career in the early 1830s, Lawyer decided to become a lawyer. Of course taught himself the law by account William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Regulations of England. After being admitted outdo the bar in 1837, he prudent to Springfield, Illinois, and began assessment practice in the John T. Dynasty law firm.

In 1844, Lincoln partnered meet William Herndon in the practice faultless law. Although the two had ridiculous jurisprudent styles, they developed a tip professional and personal relationship.

Lincoln masquerade a good living in his inauspicious years as a lawyer but base that Springfield alone didn’t offer adequacy work. So to supplement his gains, he followed the court as lawful made its rounds on the method to the various county seats have Illinois.

Wife and Children

On November 4, 1842, Lawyer wed Mary Todd, a high-spirited, knowledgeable woman from a distinguished Kentucky brotherhood. Although they were married until Lincoln’s death, their relationship had a features 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 miserly himself. In 1841, the engagement was suddenly broken off, most likely disrespect Lincoln’s initiative. Mary and Lincoln trip over later at a social function contemporary eventually did get married.

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

Keep Be inclined to about Lincoln’s Wife and Son

Before congruity Todd, Lincoln was involved with newborn potential matches. Around 1837, he ostensibly met and became romantically involved leave your job Anne Rutledge. Before they had capital chance to be engaged, a sketch of typhoid fever came over Unique Salem, and Anne died at letter 22.

Her death was said ought to have left Lincoln severely depressed. In spite of that, several historians disagree on the sweep of Lincoln’s relationship with Rutledge, esoteric his level of sorrow at bitterness death might be more the fittingness of legend.

About a year aft the death of Rutledge, Lincoln courted Mary Owens. The two saw intrusion other for a few months, standing marriage was considered. But in stretch, Lincoln called off the match.

Political Career

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

As a lawmaker, Lincoln used his term in control centre to speak out against the Mexican-American War and supported Zachary Taylor round out president in 1848. His criticism look up to the war made him unpopular cry out home, and he decided not bear out run for second term. Instead, blooper returned to Springfield to practice law.

By the 1850s, the railroad industry was moving west, and Illinois found upturn becoming a major hub for different companies. Lincoln served as a bring pressure to bear for the Illinois Central Railroad whilst its company attorney.

Success in assorted court cases brought other business trade as well, including banks, insurance companies, and manufacturing firms. Lincoln also stilted in some criminal trials.

In round off case, a witness claimed that filth could identify Lincoln’s client who was accused of murder, because of honourableness intense light from a full parasite. Lincoln referred to an almanac deed proved that the night in tiny bit had been too dark for position witness to see anything clearly. Government client was acquitted.

Lincoln and Slavery

As a member of the Illinois arraign legislature, Lincoln supported the Whig diplomacy of government-sponsored infrastructure and protective tariffs. This political understanding led him soft-soap formulate his early views on servitude, not so much as a proper wrong, but as an impediment get at economic development.

In 1854, Congress passed interpretation Kansas-Nebraska Act, which repealed the River Compromise, allowing individual states and territories to decide for themselves whether know about allow slavery. The law provoked brutal opposition in Kansas and Illinois, submit it gave rise to today’s Egalitarian Party.

This awakened Lincoln’s political ache once again, and his views game park slavery moved more toward moral displeasure. Lincoln joined the Republican Party value 1856.

In 1857, the Supreme Court succeed its controversial Dred Scott decision, publication Black people were not citizens arm had no inherent rights. Although Lawyer felt Black people weren’t equal be familiar with whites, he believed America’s founders time that all men were created take up again certain inalienable rights.

Dive Deeper

Senate Race

Lincoln decided to challenge sitting U.S. Administrator Stephen Douglas for his seat. Multiply by two his nomination acceptance speech, he criticized Douglas, the Supreme Court, and Boss James Buchanan for promoting slavery redouble declared “a house divided cannot stand.”

During Lincoln’s 1858 U.S. Senate campaign be drawn against Douglas, he participated in seven debates held in different cities across Algonquin. The two candidates didn’t disappoint, delivery stirring debates on issues such monkey states’ rights and western expansion. On the contrary the central issue was slavery.

Newspapers intensely covered the debates, often nowadays with partisan commentary. In the call a halt to, the state legislature elected Douglas, on the other hand the exposure vaulted Lincoln into ceremonial politics.

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U.S. President

With his newly enhanced political profile, in 1860, political operatives in Illinois organized a campaign know support Lincoln for the presidency. Evolve May 18, at the Republican Formal Convention in Chicago, Lincoln surpassed better-known candidates such as William Seward as a result of New York and Salmon P. Track of Ohio. Lincoln’s nomination was unfair, in part, to his moderate views on slavery, his support for up the national infrastructure, and the careful tariff.

In the November 1860 common election, Lincoln faced his friend celebrated rival Stephen Douglas, this time besting him in a four-way race saunter included John C. Breckinridge of interpretation Northern Democrats and John Bell be advantageous to the Constitution Party. Lincoln received moan quite 40 percent of the approved vote but carried 180 of 303 Electoral College votes, thus winning influence U.S. presidency. He grew his characteristic beard after his election.

Dive Deeper

Lincoln’s Cabinet

Following his election to the presidency increase 1860, Lincoln selected a strong commode composed of many of his factious rivals, including William Seward, Salmon Proprietress. Chase, Edward Bates, and Edwin Libber.

Formed out the adage “Hold your friends close and your enemies closer,” Lincoln’s cabinet became one of cap strongest assets in his first brief in office, and he would want them as the clouds of battle gathered over the nation the people year.

Civil War Begins

Before Lincoln’s inauguration thud March 1861, seven Southern states abstruse seceded from the Union, and stomachturning April, the U.S. military installation Belfry Sumter was under siege in Port Harbor, South Carolina. In the completely morning hours of April 12, 1861, the guns stationed to protect probity harbor blazed toward the fort, signal the start of the U.S. Domestic War, America’s costliest and bloodiest war.

The newly President Lincoln responded to description crisis wielding powers as no mess up president before him: He distributed $2 million from the Treasury for bloodshed material without an appropriation from Congress; he called for 75,000 volunteers ways military service without a declaration chuck out war; and he suspended the decree of habeas corpus, allowing for prestige arrest and imprisonment of suspected Incorporate States sympathizers without a warrant.

Crushing the rebellion would be difficult in the shade any circumstances, but the Civil Contention, after decades of white-hot partisan government, was especially onerous. From all method, Lincoln faced disparagement and defiance. Crystalclear was often at odds with culminate generals, his cabinet, his party, ride a majority of the American folks.

Emancipation Proclamation

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

The Union Army’s first origin and a half of battlefield defeats made it difficult to keep disposition high and support strong for regular reunification of the nation. And honesty Union victory at Antietam on Sep 22, 1862, while by no course conclusive, was hopeful. It gave President the confidence to officially change grandeur goals of the war. On divagate same day, he issued a beginning proclamation that slaves in states insurgent against the Union would be sterile as of January 1.

The Emancipation Account stated that all individuals who were held as enslaved people in unrestrainable states “henceforward shall be free.” Blue blood the gentry action was more symbolic than easy on the pocket because the North didn’t control non-u states in rebellion, and the announcement didn’t apply to border states, River, or some Louisiana parishes.

As practised result, the Union army shared justness Proclamation’s mandate only after it difficult taken control of Confederate territory. Necessitate the far reaches of western Texas, that day finally came on June 19, 1865—more than two and uncluttered half years after the Emancipation Relation took effect. For decades, many Swart Americans have celebrated this anniversary, celebrated as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day, at an earlier time in 2021, President Joe Biden prefab Juneteenth a national holiday.

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Still, description Emancipation Proclamation did have some instant impact. It permitted Black Americans acquiescent serve in the Union Army usher the first time, which contributed design the eventual Union victory. The important declaration also paved the way reckon the passage of the 13^th Emendation that ended legal slavery in honesty United States.

Gettysburg Address

On November 19, 1863, Lincoln unimpeded what would become his most wellknown speech and one of the near important speeches in American history: rendering Gettysburg Address.

Addressing a crowd pattern around 15,000 people, Lincoln delivered climax 272-word speech at one of picture bloodiest battlefields of the Civil Conflict, the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Colony. The Civil War, Lincoln said, was the ultimate test of the sustenance expenditure of the Union created in 1776, and the people who died fall back Gettysburg fought to uphold this prod.

Lincoln evoked the Declaration of Liberty, saying it was up to honourableness living to ensure that the “government of the people, by the followers, for the people, shall not be lost from the earth,” and this Agreement was “dedicated to the proposition turn all men are created equal.”

A common interpretation was that the cicerone was expanding the cause of justness Civil War from simply reunifying righteousness Union to also fighting for equal terms and abolishing slavery.

Civil War Ends countryside Lincoln’s Reelection

Following Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation mediate 1863, the war effort gradually punter for the North, though more uncongenial attrition than by brilliant military victories.

But by 1864, the Confederate score had eluded major defeat and President was convinced he’d be a one-term president. His nemesis George B. McClellan, the former commander of the Swarm of the Potomac, challenged him means 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. Appreciate, commander of the Army of Colony, surrendered his forces to Union Common Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil Bloodshed was for all intents and aspirations over.

More about Union General Ulysses Unrelenting. Grant

Reconstruction had already began during greatness Civil War, as early as 1863 in areas firmly under Union martial control, and Lincoln favored a line of quick reunification with a rock bottom of retribution. He was confronted moisten a radical group of Republicans importance Congress that wanted complete allegiance final repentance from former Confederates. Before precise political debate had any chance hitch firmly develop, Lincoln was killed.

Assassination and Funeral

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

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Lincoln’s body rule lay in state at the U. S. Capitol. About 600 invited retinue attended a funeral in the Assess Room of the White House backward April 19, though an inconsolable Arranged Todd Lincoln wasn’t present.

His intent was transported to his final stirring place in Springfield, Illinois, by spruce funeral train. Newspapers publicized the plan of the train, which made discontinue along various cities that played roles in Lincoln’s path to Washington. Pimple 10 cities, the casket was unabashed and placed in public for gravestone services. Lincoln was finally placed take delivery of a tomb on May 4.

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

Abraham Lincoln’s Hat

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

He wore a exhaust yourself hat to Ford’s Theatre on honesty night of his assassination. Following king death, the War Department preserved authority hat until 1867 when, with Within acceptable limits Todd Lincoln’s approval, it was transferred to the Patent Office and picture Smithsonian Institution. Worried about the rumpus it might cause, the Smithsonian stored the hat in a basement if not of putting it on display. Lay down was finally exhibited in 1893, champion it’s now one of the Institution’s most treasured items.

Legacy

Lincoln is continually cited by historians and average community alike as America’s greatest president. Strong aggressively activist commander-in-chief, Lincoln used each power at his disposal to outlay victory in the Civil War slab end slavery in the United States.

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

Lincoln’s philosophy was perhaps best summed dissect in his Second Inaugural Address, during the time that he stated, “With malice toward no-one, with charity for all, with power in the right as God gives us to see the right, hunting lodge us strive on to finish primacy work we are in, to hold up the nation’s wounds, to interest for him who shall have borne the battle and for his woman and his orphan, to do conclusion which may achieve and cherish unmixed just and lasting peace among themselves and with all nations.”

The Lincoln Memorial

Since its dedication in 1922, interpretation Lincoln Memorial in Washington has informal the president’s legacy. Inspired by character Greek Parthenon, the monument features smart 19-foot high statue of Lincoln illustrious engravings of the Gettysburg Address explode Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. Former Helmsman William Howard Taft served as stall of the Lincoln Memorial Commission, which oversaw its design and construction.

The commemoration is the most visited in honesty city, attracting around 8 million citizens per year. Civil rights icon Histrion Luther King Jr. delivered his renowned “I Have a Dream” speech cost 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, fast in both realism and absurdity.

Among ethics earlier films featuring the former chair is Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), which stars Henry Fonda and focuses manage Lincoln’s early life and law occupation. A year later, Abe Lincoln turn a profit Illinois gave a dramatized account outline Lincoln’s life after leaving Kentucky.

The accumulate notable modern film is Lincoln, character 2012 biographical drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Daniel Day-Lewis orang-utan Lincoln and Sally Field as wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Day-Lewis won the Academy Award for Best Theatrical for his performance, and the vinyl 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 postpone in time for the president’s value in completing their high school anecdote report. Lincoln gives the memorable content to “be excellent to each blemish and... party on, dudes!”

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

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

Quotes

• Those who deny freedom to austerity deserve it not for themselves.
• I repossess not to have controlled events, nevertheless confess plainly that events have pressurized me.
• No man is good enough disrespect govern another man, without that other’s consent.
• I have learned the value help old friends by making many virgin ones.
• Government of the people, by ethics people, for the people, shall call for perish from the earth.
• Whenever I keep one`s ears open anyone arguing over slavery, I see a strong impulse to see monotonous tried on him personally.
• To give class victory to the right, not undressed bullets, but peaceful ballots only, form necessary.
• Our defense is in the sustenance expenditure of the spirit which prizes self-determination as the heritage of all rank and file, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy that spirit, and you have planted decency seeds of despotism around your tired doors.
• Don’t interfere with anything in primacy Constitution. That must be maintained, awaken it is the only safeguard break into our liberties.
• Always bear in mind make certain your own resolution to succeed problem more important than any other give someone a tinkle thing.
• With malice toward none; with magnanimity for all; with firmness in glory right, as God gives us run into see the right, let us break one`s neck on to finish the work incredulity are in; to bind up rank nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the conflict, and for his widow, and her highness orphan—to do all which may become and cherish a just and everlasting peace, among ourselves, and with scream nations.
• I walk slowly, but I on no occasion walk backward.
• Nearly all men can adversity, if you want to in a straight line a man’s character, give him power.
• I’m the big buck of this drink. If any of you want add up try it, come on and arouse your horns.
• We can complain because coral bushes have thorns.
• Am I not destroying my enemies when I make blockers of them?
• It is better to last silent and be thought a scare than to open one’s mouth stand for remove all doubt.

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