Abraham Lincoln

Lincolns Life

Born on Feburary 12, 1809, In a log cabin on Hardin County, Kentucky, to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks.He also had 2 siblings named Sarah and Thomas. His 2 parents were born in Virgina, his mother died in his tenth year and father removed from Kentucky to Indiana. He did not know much but he did manage to read, write, and cipher but that was all.In 1942 he married Mary Todd Loncoln. They had four children but sadly 3 of them died young. Abrahman was called "Honest Abe". He went to school one year and learned to read and write and do simple math. He was also called the "Great Emancipator" because of his work to end slavery in the United States.He would walk miles and miles to borrow a book and read the family bible.

Lincolns Presidency

In 1858 Lincoln ran against Stephen A. Douglas for Senator. He lost the election, but in debating with Douglas he gained a national reputation that won him the Republican nomination for President in 1860.While he was president he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization. And on Janurary 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy. He never let the world forget that the Civil War involved an even larger issue. He stated most movingly in dedicating the military cemetary at Gettysburg: "that we have highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation,under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not periish from the Earth."

Lincolns critisisms and problems

Abe served a short presidency term. He used his term in office to speak out against the Mexican-American War and supported Zachary Taylor for president in 1848. His criticism of the war made him unpopular back home and he decided not to run for second term, but instead returned Springfield to practice law. In 1857, the Supreme Court issued its controversial decision Scott v. Sanford, declaring African Americans were not citizens and had no inherent rights. Though Abe felt African Americans were not equal to Whites, he believed the founders of America Intended that all men were created with equal rights. He then challeneged the U.S Senator Stephen Douglas for his seat. Then he criticised the president and senators saying"A house diveded cannot stand."

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Lincoln's memorial at washington

Page last updated 12/12/2011