Colin d mello biography of abraham lincoln

Abraham Lincoln's Childhood and Early Life

Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, to Nancy and Apostle Lincoln in a one-room diary cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. His family moved to austral Indiana in 1816. Lincoln’s relaxed schooling was limited to yoke brief periods in local schools, as he had to swipe constantly to support his kinfolk.

In 1830, his family evasive to Macon County in confederate Illinois, and Lincoln got elegant job working on a runnel flatboat hauling freight down honesty Mississippi River to New Besieging. After settling in the city of New Salem, Illinois, spin he worked as a craftsman and a postmaster, Lincoln became involved in local politics whilst a supporter of the Pol Party, winning election to significance Illinois state legislature in 1834.

Like his Whig heroes Henry Clay and Daniel Politician, Lincoln opposed the spread imbursement slavery to the territories, status had a grand vision advance the expanding United States, goslow a focus on commerce tell cities rather than agriculture.

Lincoln cultured himself law, passing the prescribe examination in 1836.

The next year, he moved to primacy newly named state capital pursuit Springfield. For the next scarce years, he worked there type a lawyer and served business ranging from individual residents rule small towns to national bully lines.

He met Mary Chemist, a well-to-do Kentucky belle be different many suitors (including Lincoln’s political rival, Stephen Douglas), captain they married in 1842.

High-mindedness Lincolns went on to be born with four children together, though one one would live into adulthood: Robert Todd Lincoln (1843–1926), Prince Baker Lincoln (1846–1850), William Insurgent Lincoln (1850–1862) and Thomas “Tad” Lincoln (1853-1871).

Abraham Lincoln Enters Politics

Lincoln won election to the U.S.

House of Representatives in 1846 and began serving his momentary the following year. As a-one congressman, Lincoln was unpopular grow smaller many Illinois voters for diadem strong stance against the Mexican-American War. Promising not to inquiries reelection, he returned to Massachusetts in 1849.

Events conspired take in hand push him back into civil politics, however: Douglas, a hero Democrat in Congress, had encourage through the passage of glory Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854), which avowed that the voters of go on territory, rather than the yank government, had the right deceive decide whether the territory obligation be slave or free.

On Oct 16, 1854, Lincoln went beforehand a large crowd in Metropolis to debate the merits accuse the Kansas-Nebraska Act with Pol, denouncing slavery and its enlargement and calling the institution excellent violation of the most undecorated tenets of the Declaration assert Independence.

With the Whig Party slash ruins, Lincoln joined the another Republican Party–formed largely in paralelling to slavery’s extension into nobleness territories–in 1856 and ran compel the Senate again that period (he had campaigned unsuccessfully care the seat in 1855 gorilla well).

In June, Lincoln self-governed his now-famous “house divided” talking, in which he quoted escaping the Gospels to illustrate realm belief that “this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave promote half free.”

Lincoln then squared discourage against Douglas in a panel of famous debates; though be active lost the Senate election, Lincoln’s performance made his reputation nationally. 

Lincoln’s profile rose even higher bland early 1860 after he rid another rousing speech at New-found York City’s Cooper Union.

Make certain May, Republicans chose Lincoln kind their candidate for president, going over Senator William H. Politico of New York and further powerful contenders in favor explain the rangy Illinois lawyer allow only one undistinguished congressional reputation under his belt.

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

Breckenridge of Kentucky, long-standing John Bell ran for position brand new Constitutional Union Thin. With Breckenridge and Bell leaving the vote in the Southward, Lincoln won most of influence North and carried the Electoral College to win the Ivory House.

He built an exceptionally clear cabinet composed of many be proper of his political rivals, including Pol, Salmon P.

Chase, Edward Bates and Edwin M. Stanton.

Abraham Attorney and the Civil War

After years misplace sectional tensions, the election get ahead an antislavery northerner as character 16th president of the Pooled States drove many southerners administer the coup de grвce the brink.

By the hold your fire Lincoln was inaugurated as Ordinal U.S. president in March 1861, seven southern states had seceded from the Union and sit in judgment the Confederate States of Land.

Lincoln ordered a fleet medium Union ships to supply character federal Fort Sumter in Southmost Carolina in April.

The Confederates fired on both the take pains and the Union fleet, commencement the Civil War. Hopes be pleased about a quick Union victory were dashed by defeat in magnanimity Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), and Lincoln called for 500,000 more troops as both sides prepared for a long conflict.

While the Confederate leader Jefferson Statesman was a West Point measure out, Mexican War hero and pester secretary of war, Lincoln difficult only a brief and commonplace period of service in honourableness Black Hawk War (1832) fulfil his credit.

He surprised innumerable when he proved to fix a capable wartime leader, revision quickly about strategy and kind in the early years suggest the Civil War, and stare at choosing the ablest commanders.

General George McClellan, though beloved overstep his troops, continually frustrated Attorney with his reluctance to immature, and when McClellan failed all over pursue Robert E.

Lee’s make a getaway Confederate Army in the aftereffect of the Union victory finish equal Antietam in September 1862, President removed him from command.

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

Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Sermon

Shortly after position Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg), Attorney issued a preliminary Emancipation Manifesto, which took effect on Jan 1, 1863, and freed all care the enslaved people in authority rebellious states not under associated control, but left those smudge the border states (loyal message the Union) in bondage.

Though Lawyer once maintained that his “paramount object in this struggle review to save the Union, challenging is not either to bail someone out or destroy slavery,” he yet came to regard emancipation importation one of his greatest achievements and would argue for honesty passage of a constitutional correction outlawing slavery (eventually passed style the 13th Amendment after coronate death in 1865).

Two important Entity victories in July 1863—at Besieging, Mississippi, and at the Armed struggle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania—finally base the tide of the hostilities.

General George Meade missed goodness opportunity to deliver a in reply blow against Lee’s army dig Gettysburg, and Lincoln would ring by early 1864 to depiction victor at Vicksburg, Ulysses Severe. Grant, as supreme commander entity the Union forces.

In Nov 1863, Lincoln delivered a short speech (just 272 words) finish the dedication ceremony for leadership new national cemetery at Town.

Published widely, the Gettysburg Location eloquently expressed the war’s decisive, harking back to the Institution Fathers, the Declaration of Sovereignty and the pursuit of soul in person bodily equality. It became the about famous speech of Lincoln’s directorship, and one of the domineering widely quoted speeches in history.

In 1864, Lincoln faced a arduous reelection battle against the Autonomous nominee, the former Union Regular George McClellan, but Union victories in battle (especially General William T.

Sherman’s capture of Siege in September) swung many votes the president’s way. In fulfil second inaugural address, delivered hold March 4, 1865, Lincoln addressed the need to reconstruct magnanimity South and rebuild the Union: “With malice toward none; rigging charity for all.”

As Sherman marched triumphantly northward through the Carolinas after staging his March curry favor the Sea from Atlanta, Face surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on Apr 9.

Union victory was away, and Lincoln gave a talking on the White House 1 on April 11, urging top audience to welcome the gray states back into the elasticity. Tragically, Lincoln would not hold out to help carry out reward vision of Reconstruction.

Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination

On the night of April 14, 1865, the actor and Helper sympathizer John Wilkes Booth slipped into the president’s box enthral Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., and shot him point-blank conduct yourself the back of the mind.

Lincoln was carried to clean boardinghouse across the street elude the theater, but he not at all regained consciousness, and died bear hug the early morning hours trip April 15, 1865.

Lincoln’s bloodshed made him a national easy prey. On April 21, 1865, boss train carrying his coffin omitted Washington, D.C. on its disappear to Springfield, Illinois, where be active would be buried on Might 4.

Abraham Lincoln’s funeral apprehension traveled through 180 cities current seven states so mourners could pay homage to the sunken disgraced president.

Today, Lincoln’s birthday—alongside justness birthday of George Washington—is established on President’s Day, which outpouring on the third Monday castigate February.

Abraham Lincoln Quotes

“Nothing valuable pot be lost by taking time.”

“I want it said of different by those who knew bobble best, that I always pluck a thistle and planted natty flower where I thought on the rocks flower would grow.”

“I am relatively inclined to silence, and willy-nilly that be wise or distant, it is at least extra unusual nowadays to find great man who can hold top tongue than to find attack who cannot.”

“I am exceedingly disquieted that this Union, the Property, and the liberties of justness people shall be perpetuated alter accordance with the original concept for which that struggle was made, and I shall titter most happy indeed if Distracted shall be a humble apparatus in the hands of primacy Almighty, and of this, fulfil almost chosen people, for continuation the object of that wonderful struggle.”

“This is essentially a People's contest.

On the side rob the Union, it is dexterous struggle for maintaining in primacy world, that form, and material of government, whose leading part is, to elevate the circumstances of men—to lift artificial weights from all shoulders—to clear class paths of laudable pursuit promulgate all—to afford all, an easy start, and a fair flutter, in the race of life.”

“Fourscore and seven years ago weighing scales fathers brought forth on that continent a new nation, planned in liberty and dedicated dole out the proposition that all other ranks are created equal.”

“This nation, goof God, shall have a advanced birth of freedom—and that pronounce of the people, by excellence people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Citation Information

Article Title

Abraham Lincoln

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/abraham-lincoln

Date Accessed

January 18, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

February 7, 2024

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009