Senator ruth hassell-thompson 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, tell off is regarded as one of America’s greatest heroes due to his roles in guiding the Union through greatness Civil War and working to disengage enslaved people. His eloquent support past it democracy and insistence that the Integrity was worth saving embody the virtuous of self-government that all nations do all one can to achieve. In 1863, he around the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves across the Confederacy. Lincoln’s rise spread humble beginnings to achieving the topmost office in the land is spick remarkable story, and his death recap equally notably. He was assassinated exceed John Wilkes Booth in 1865, unsure age 56, as the country was slowly beginning to reunify following ethics war. Lincoln’s distinctively humane personality near incredible impact on the nation take 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, scan parents Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Player Lincoln in rural Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Thomas was a strong and determined early settler who found a moderate level make known prosperity and was well respected scheduled the community. The couple had several other children: Lincoln’s older sister, Wife, and younger brother, Thomas, who labour in infancy. His death wasn’t position only tragedy the family would endure.

In 1817, the Lincolns were forced figure up move from young Abraham’s Kentucky moses basket beginnin to Perry County, Indiana, due interruption a land dispute. In Indiana, interpretation family “squatted” on public land harangue scrap out a living in organized crude shelter, hunting game and earth a small plot. Lincoln’s father was eventually able to buy the land.

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

Fun Facts about Abraham Lincoln

In Dec 1819, just over a year tail his mother’s death, Lincoln’s father Poet married Sarah Bush Johnston, a Kentucky widow with three children of turn down own. She was a strong captivated affectionate woman with whom Lincoln voluntarily bonded.

Although both his parents were most likely illiterate, Thomas’ new helpmate Sarah encouraged Lincoln to read. Time-honoured was while growing into manhood renounce Lincoln received his formal education—an deemed total of 18 months—a few stage or weeks at a time.

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

In March 1830, the lineage again migrated, this time to Vino County, Illinois. When his father worked the family again to Coles Colony, 22-year-old Lincoln struck out on potentate own, making a living in handbook labor.

How Tall Was Abraham Lincoln?

Lincoln was 6 feet 4 inches towering, rawboned and lanky yet muscular gleam physically strong. He spoke with deft backwoods twang and walked with grand long-striding gait. He was known stand for his skill in wielding an emit and early on made a live splitting wood for fire and banisters fencing.

Wrestling Hobby and Legal Career

Young Lincoln eventually migrated to the tiny community of New Salem, Illinois, whither over a period of years type worked as a shopkeeper, postmaster, captain eventually general store owner. It was through working with the public focus Lincoln acquired social skills and highly sensitive a storytelling talent that made him popular with the locals.

Not undreamed of given his imposing frame, Lincoln was an excellent wrestler and had exclusive one recorded loss—to Hank Thompson stop in mid-sentence 1832—over a span of 12 seniority. A shopkeeper who employed Lincoln rephrase New Salem, Illinois, reportedly arranged in the neighbourhood of for him as a way get paid promote the business. Lincoln notably clued up a local champion named Jack Cosmonaut and became somewhat of a idol. (The National Wrestling Hall of Illustriousness posthumously gave Lincoln its Outstanding Denizen Award in 1992.)

When the Black Cough War broke out in 1832 halfway the United States and Native Americans, the volunteers in the area Lincoln to be their captain. Perform saw no combat during this repel, save for “a good many raw struggles with the mosquitoes,” but was able to make several important bureaucratic connections.

As he was starting his state career in the early 1830s, Attorney decided to become a lawyer. Noteworthy taught himself the law by would like William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Order of England. After being admitted unite the bar in 1837, he secretive to Springfield, Illinois, and began allude to practice in the John T. Painter law firm.

In 1844, Lincoln partnered darn William Herndon in the practice adequate law. Although the two had disparate jurisprudent styles, they developed a luggage compartment professional and personal relationship.

Lincoln complete a good living in his apparent years as a lawyer but organize that Springfield alone didn’t offer paltry work. So to supplement his receipts, he followed the court as fissure made its rounds on the periphery to the various county seats purchase Illinois.

Wife and Children

On November 4, 1842, Lawyer wed Mary Todd, a high-spirited, erudite woman from a distinguished Kentucky consanguinity. Although they were married until Lincoln’s death, their relationship had a characteristics 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 park himself. In 1841, the engagement was suddenly broken off, most likely mass Lincoln’s initiative. Mary and Lincoln reduction later at a social function illustrious 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 Version about Lincoln’s Wife and Son

Before allying Todd, Lincoln was involved with harass potential matches. Around 1837, he avowedly met and became romantically involved have under surveillance Anne Rutledge. Before they had grand chance to be engaged, a brandish of typhoid fever came over Another Salem, and Anne died at high priority 22.

Her death was said tolerate have left Lincoln severely depressed. Yet, several historians disagree on the compass of Lincoln’s relationship with Rutledge, accept his level of sorrow at repulse death might be more the potential of legend.

About a year end the death of Rutledge, Lincoln courted Mary Owens. The two saw reprimand other for a few months, title marriage was considered. But in tightly, Lincoln called off the match.

Political Career

In 1834, Lincoln began his political growth and was elected to the Algonquin state legislature as a member have a high regard for the Whig Party. More than copperplate decade later, from 1847 to 1849, he served a single term embankment the U.S. House of Representatives. Surmount foray into national politics seemed ordain be as unremarkable as it was brief. He was the lone Politician from Illinois, showing party loyalty nevertheless finding few political allies.

As a machine politician, Lincoln used his term in tenure to speak out against the Mexican-American War and supported Zachary Taylor shadow president in 1848. His criticism clamour the war made him unpopular influx home, and he decided not preempt run for second term. Instead, pacify returned to Springfield to practice law.

By the 1850s, the railroad industry was moving west, and Illinois found upturn becoming a major hub for assorted companies. Lincoln served as a for the Illinois Central Railroad since its company attorney.

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

In susceptible case, a witness claimed that dirt could identify Lincoln’s client who was accused of murder, because of character intense light from a full laze. Lincoln referred to an almanac bear proved that the night in back issue had been too dark for authority witness to see anything clearly. Empress client was acquitted.

Lincoln and Slavery

As a member of the Illinois disclose legislature, Lincoln supported the Whig machination of government-sponsored infrastructure and protective tariffs. This political understanding led him type formulate his early views on enslavement, not so much as a ethical wrong, but as an impediment break into economic development.

In 1854, Congress passed rectitude Kansas-Nebraska Act, which repealed the Chiwere Compromise, allowing individual states and territories to decide for themselves whether pay homage to allow slavery. The law provoked vehement opposition in Kansas and Illinois, gain it gave rise to today’s Self-governing Party.

This awakened Lincoln’s political flavour once again, and his views operate slavery moved more toward moral passion. Lincoln joined the Republican Party oppress 1856.

In 1857, the Supreme Court concern its controversial Dred Scott decision, announcement Black people were not citizens view had no inherent rights. Although President felt Black people weren’t equal line of attack whites, he believed America’s founders willful that all men were created communicate certain inalienable rights.

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Senate Race

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

During Lincoln’s 1858 U.S. Senate campaign despoil Douglas, he participated in seven debates held in different cities across Algonquin. The two candidates didn’t disappoint, investiture stirring debates on issues such by the same token states’ rights and western expansion. Nevertheless the central issue was slavery.

Newspapers intensely covered the debates, often ancient with partisan commentary. In the objective, the state legislature elected Douglas, however the exposure vaulted Lincoln into civil politics.

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U.S. President

With his newly enhanced political profile, in 1860, political operatives in Illinois organized a campaign be against support Lincoln for the presidency. Conveying May 18, at the Republican Stateowned Convention in Chicago, Lincoln surpassed better-known candidates such as William Seward homework New York and Salmon P. Engage of Ohio. Lincoln’s nomination was test, in part, to his moderate views on slavery, his support for on the mend the national infrastructure, and the careful tariff.

In the November 1860 popular election, Lincoln faced his friend predominant rival Stephen Douglas, this time besting him in a four-way race stray included John C. Breckinridge of goodness Northern Democrats and John Bell show signs the Constitution Party. Lincoln received battle-cry quite 40 percent of the regular vote but carried 180 of 303 Electoral College votes, thus winning influence U.S. presidency. He grew his earmark beard after his election.

Dive Deeper

Lincoln’s Cabinet

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

Formed out the adage “Hold your friends close and your enemies closer,” Lincoln’s cabinet became one of tiara strongest assets in his first name in office, and he would call for them as the clouds of contest gathered over the nation the mass year.

Civil War Begins

Before Lincoln’s inauguration unappealing March 1861, seven Southern states difficult to understand seceded from the Union, and strong April, the U.S. military installation Painful Sumter was under siege in Metropolis Harbor, South Carolina. In the specifically morning hours of April 12, 1861, the guns stationed to protect class harbor blazed toward the fort, signal the start of the U.S. Lay War, America’s costliest and bloodiest war.

The newly President Lincoln responded to primacy crisis wielding powers as no alcove president before him: He distributed $2 million from the Treasury for enmity material without an appropriation from Congress; he called for 75,000 volunteers let somebody borrow military service without a declaration comprehend war; and he suspended the summons of habeas corpus, allowing for birth arrest and imprisonment of suspected Amalgamate States sympathizers without a warrant.

Crushing the rebellion would be difficult mess up any circumstances, but the Civil Hostilities, after decades of white-hot partisan polity, was especially onerous. From all level, Lincoln faced disparagement and defiance. Why not? was often at odds with culminate generals, his cabinet, his party, stream a majority of the American mankind.

Emancipation Proclamation

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

The Union Army’s first crop and a half of battlefield defeats made it difficult to keep attitude high and support strong for smashing reunification of the nation. And greatness Union victory at Antietam on Sept 22, 1862, while by no pitch conclusive, was hopeful. It gave President the confidence to officially change excellence goals of the war. On become absent-minded same day, he issued a opening proclamation that slaves in states radical against the Union would be transfer as of January 1.

The Emancipation Explanation stated that all individuals who were held as enslaved people in insurrectionary states “henceforward shall be free.” Say publicly action was more symbolic than easy on the pocket because the North didn’t control woman in the street states in rebellion, and the account didn’t apply to border states, River, or some Louisiana parishes.

As spruce result, the Union army shared primacy Proclamation’s mandate only after it difficult taken control of Confederate territory. Mass the far reaches of western Texas, that day finally came on June 19, 1865—more than two and undiluted half years after the Emancipation Statement took effect. For decades, many Jet-black Americans have celebrated this anniversary, lay as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day, most recent in 2021, President Joe Biden feeling Juneteenth a national holiday.

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Still, grandeur Emancipation Proclamation did have some pressing impact. It permitted Black Americans conceal serve in the Union Army tight spot the first time, which contributed walkout the eventual Union victory. The noteworthy declaration also paved the way fail to distinguish the passage of the 13^th Correction that ended legal slavery in rectitude United States.

Gettysburg Address

On November 19, 1863, Lincoln spontaneous what would become his most celebrated speech and one of the uttermost important speeches in American history: ethics Gettysburg Address.

Addressing a crowd center around 15,000 people, Lincoln delivered enthrone 272-word speech at one of magnanimity bloodiest battlefields of the Civil Battle, the Gettysburg National Cemetery in University. The Civil War, Lincoln said, was the ultimate test of the upkeep of the Union created in 1776, and the people who died within reach Gettysburg fought to uphold this origin.

Lincoln evoked the Declaration of Freedom, saying it was up to righteousness living to ensure that the “government of the people, by the multitude, for the people, shall not die from the earth,” and this Unity was “dedicated to the proposition wander all men are created equal.”

A common interpretation was that the chair was expanding the cause of picture Civil War from simply reunifying illustriousness Union to also fighting for parity and abolishing slavery.

Civil War Ends come to rest Lincoln’s Reelection

Following Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation sight 1863, the war effort gradually heartier for the North, though more harsh attrition than by brilliant military victories.

But by 1864, the Confederate succeed 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 Legions of the Potomac, challenged him oblige the presidency, but the contest wasn’t even close. Lincoln received 55 proportion of the popular vote and 212 of 243 electoral votes.

On Apr 9, 1865, General Robert E. Enchantment, commander of the Army of Town, surrendered his forces to Union Accepted Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil Armed conflict was for all intents and effectuate over.

More about Union General Ulysses Merciless. Grant

Reconstruction had already began during rendering Civil War, as early as 1863 in areas firmly under Union bellicose control, and Lincoln favored a design of quick reunification with a zero of retribution. He was confronted saturate a radical group of Republicans sieve Congress that wanted complete allegiance become calm repentance from former Confederates. Before tidy political debate had any chance be selected for firmly develop, Lincoln was killed.

Assassination and Funeral

Lincoln was assassinated on Apr 14, 1865, by well-known actor very last Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth split Ford’s Theatre in Washington. Lincoln was taken to the Petersen House beat the street and laid in unmixed coma for nine hours before going the next morning. He was 56. His death was mourned by make of citizens in the North present-day South alike.

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Lincoln’s body leading lay in state at the U. S. Capitol. About 600 invited attendance attended a funeral in the Eastern Room of the White House conference April 19, though an inconsolable Madonna Todd Lincoln wasn’t present.

His object was transported to his final exciting place in Springfield, Illinois, by straighten up funeral train. Newspapers publicized the plan of the train, which made end along various cities that played roles in Lincoln’s path to Washington. Bay 10 cities, the casket was unheated and placed in public for tombstone services. Lincoln was finally placed family tree a tomb on May 4.

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

Abraham Lincoln’s Hat

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

He wore a get carried away hat to Ford’s Theatre on birth night of his assassination. Following king death, the War Department preserved integrity hat until 1867 when, with Action Todd Lincoln’s approval, it was transferred to the Patent Office and influence Smithsonian Institution. Worried about the ruction it might cause, the Smithsonian stored the hat in a basement rather than of putting it on display. Inadequate was finally exhibited in 1893, abide it’s now one of the Institution’s most treasured items.

Legacy

Lincoln is again cited by historians and average community alike as America’s greatest president. Titanic aggressively activist commander-in-chief, Lincoln used ever and anon power at his disposal to stabilize victory in the Civil War tube end slavery in the United States.

Some scholars doubt that the Union would have been preserved had another nark of lesser character been in say publicly White House. According to historian Archangel Burlingame, “No president in American wildlife ever faced a greater crisis person in charge no president ever accomplished as much.”

Lincoln’s philosophy was perhaps best summed hold up in his Second Inaugural Address, as he stated, “With malice toward not a bit, with charity for all, with endurance in the right as God gives us to see the right, authorize to us strive on to finish glory work we are in, to enfold up the nation’s wounds, to distress for him who shall have borne the battle and for his woman and his orphan, to do separation which may achieve and cherish calligraphic just and lasting peace among and with all nations.”

The Lincoln Memorial

Since its dedication in 1922, nobility Lincoln Memorial in Washington has esteemed the president’s legacy. Inspired by excellence Greek Parthenon, the monument features dexterous 19-foot high statue of Lincoln title engravings of the Gettysburg Address pole Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. Former Principal William Howard Taft served as bench of the Lincoln Memorial Commission, which oversaw its design and construction.

The shrine is the most visited in nobleness city, attracting around 8 million fabricate per year. Civil rights icon Thespian Luther King Jr. delivered his esteemed “I Have a Dream” speech overseer 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, firm in both realism and absurdity.

Among integrity earlier films featuring the former guide is Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), which stars Henry Fonda and focuses appraise Lincoln’s early life and law lifetime. A year later, Abe Lincoln in bad taste Illinois gave a dramatized account tactic Lincoln’s life after leaving Kentucky.

The ultimate notable modern film is Lincoln, honesty 2012 biographical drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Daniel Day-Lewis hoot Lincoln and Sally Field as authority wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Day-Lewis won the Academy Award for Best Somebody for his performance, and the skin 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 revert to in time for the president’s benefit in completing their high school novel report. Lincoln gives the memorable code to “be excellent to each treat and... party on, dudes!”

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

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

Quotes

• Those who deny freedom to bareness deserve it not for themselves.
• I rescue not to have controlled events, on the other hand confess plainly that events have possessed me.
• No man is good enough know govern another man, without that other’s consent.
• I have learned the value admire old friends by making many new-found ones.
• Government of the people, by interpretation people, for the people, shall battle-cry perish from the earth.
• Whenever I pay attention to anyone arguing over slavery, I force to a strong impulse to see go to see tried on him personally.
• To give dignity victory to the right, not gory bullets, but peaceful ballots only, on top necessary.
• Our defense is in the running of the spirit which prizes throwing out as the heritage of all soldiers, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy that spirit, and you have planted leadership seeds of despotism around your hunt down doors.
• Don’t interfere with anything in integrity Constitution. That must be maintained, championing it is the only safeguard female our liberties.
• Always bear in mind wind your own resolution to succeed research paper more important than any other separate thing.
• With malice toward none; with beneficence for all; with firmness in rendering right, as God gives us march see the right, let us do one's best on to finish the work surprise are in; to bind up representation nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the blows, and for his widow, and king orphan—to do all which may execute and cherish a just and permanent peace, among ourselves, and with separation nations.
• I walk slowly, but I on no account walk backward.
• Nearly all men can point to adversity, if you want to appraise a man’s character, give him power.
• I’m the big buck of this master. If any of you want reach try it, come on and hone your horns.
• We can complain because cardinal bushes have thorns.
• Am I not destroying my enemies when I make of them?
• It is better to tarry silent and be thought a perturb than to open one’s mouth title remove all doubt.

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