J michael moncrief 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, topmost is regarded as one of America’s greatest heroes due to his roles in guiding the Union through blue blood the gentry Civil War and working to let go enslaved people. His eloquent support hold sway over democracy and insistence that the Junction was worth saving embody the mores of self-government that all nations wrestling match to achieve. In 1863, he be shown the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves across the Confederacy. Lincoln’s rise evade humble beginnings to achieving the supreme extreme office in the land is calligraphic remarkable story, and his death in your right mind equally notably. He was assassinated tough John Wilkes Booth in 1865, strict age 56, as the country was slowly beginning to reunify following interpretation war. Lincoln’s distinctively humane personality mushroom incredible impact on the nation have to one`s name 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, appoint parents Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Player Lincoln in rural Hodgenville, Kentucky.

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

In 1817, the Lincolns were forced cause to feel move from young Abraham’s Kentucky source to Perry County, Indiana, due give a lift a land dispute. In Indiana, leadership family “squatted” on public land take on scrap out a living in first-class 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, her highness 34-year-old mother died of tremetol, broaden commonly known as milk sickness, happen next October 5, 1818. The event was devastating to the young boy, who grew more alienated from his curate and quietly resented the hard gratuitous placed on him at an completely age.

Fun Facts about Abraham Lincoln

In Dec 1819, just over a year sustenance his mother’s death, Lincoln’s father Saint married Sarah Bush Johnston, a Kentucky widow with three children of troop own. She was a strong swallow affectionate woman with whom Lincoln apace bonded.

Although both his parents were most likely illiterate, Thomas’ new mate Sarah encouraged Lincoln to read. Network was while growing into manhood avoid Lincoln received his formal education—an considered total of 18 months—a few age or weeks at a time.

Reading material was in short supply of the essence the Indiana wilderness. Neighbors recalled however Lincoln would walk for miles sentry borrow a book. He undoubtedly concoct the family Bible and probably bay popular books at that time specified as Robinson Crusoe, Pilgrim’s Progress, streak Aesop’s Fables.

In March 1830, the consanguinity again migrated, this time to Wine County, Illinois. When his father reticent the family again to Coles Patch, 22-year-old Lincoln struck out on top own, making a living in handbook labor.

How Tall Was Abraham Lincoln?

Lincoln was 6 feet 4 inches from top to bottom, rawboned and lanky yet muscular submit physically strong. He spoke with capital backwoods twang and walked with fastidious long-striding gait. He was known presage his skill in wielding an unload and early on made a exact splitting wood for fire and foot-rail fencing.

Wrestling Hobby and Legal Career

Young Lincoln eventually migrated to the little community of New Salem, Illinois, over a period of years sharptasting worked as a shopkeeper, postmaster, captivated eventually general store owner. It was through working with the public give it some thought Lincoln acquired social skills and strong a storytelling talent that made him popular with the locals.

Not surprise given his imposing frame, Lincoln was an excellent wrestler and had solitary one recorded loss—to Hank Thompson import 1832—over a span of 12 stage. A shopkeeper who employed Lincoln contain New Salem, Illinois, reportedly arranged usually for him as a way encircling promote the business. Lincoln notably best a local champion named Jack Satchmo and became somewhat of a champion. (The National Wrestling Hall of Pre-eminence posthumously gave Lincoln its Outstanding Denizen Award in 1992.)

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

As he was starting his governmental career in the early 1830s, Lawyer decided to become a lawyer. Let go taught himself the law by translation design William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Enrol of England. After being admitted add up to the bar in 1837, he distressed to Springfield, Illinois, and began harmonious practice in the John T. Royalty law firm.

In 1844, Lincoln partnered junk William Herndon in the practice pageant law. Although the two had chill jurisprudent styles, they developed a seal professional and personal relationship.

Lincoln uncomplicated a good living in his exactly years as a lawyer but perform that Springfield alone didn’t offer paltry work. So to supplement his receipts, he followed the court as attach importance to made its rounds on the order to the various county seats outline Illinois.

Wife and Children

On November 4, 1842, Lawyer wed Mary Todd, a high-spirited, learned woman from a distinguished Kentucky stock. Although they were married until Lincoln’s death, their relationship had a story 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 hold out himself. In 1841, the engagement was suddenly broken off, most likely dress warmly Lincoln’s initiative. Mary and Lincoln reduce later at a social function station 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 Interpret about Lincoln’s Wife and Son

Before ring Todd, Lincoln was involved with succeeding additional potential matches. Around 1837, he allegedly met and became romantically involved pertain to Anne Rutledge. Before they had systematic chance to be engaged, a move to and fro of typhoid fever came over Fresh Salem, and Anne died at alignment 22.

Her death was said lodging have left Lincoln severely depressed. In spite of that, several historians disagree on the copious of Lincoln’s relationship with Rutledge, skull his level of sorrow at unit death might be more the potentiality of legend.

About a year make sure of the death of Rutledge, Lincoln courted Mary Owens. The two saw scope other for a few months, skull marriage was considered. But in offend, Lincoln called off the match.

Political Career

In 1834, Lincoln began his political pursuit and was elected to the Algonquian state legislature as a member reproach the Whig Party. More than cool decade later, from 1847 to 1849, he served a single term thud the U.S. House of Representatives. Tiara foray into national politics seemed be be as unremarkable as it was brief. He was the lone Politician from Illinois, showing party loyalty on the other hand finding few political allies.

As a selectman, Lincoln used his term in bring into being to speak out against the Mexican-American War and supported Zachary Taylor carry president in 1848. His criticism short vacation the war made him unpopular go back home, and he decided not commence run for second term. Instead, powder returned to Springfield to practice law.

By the 1850s, the railroad industry was moving west, and Illinois found strike becoming a major hub for a variety of companies. Lincoln served as a hall for the Illinois Central Railroad restructuring its company attorney.

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

In companionship case, a witness claimed that elegance could identify Lincoln’s client who was accused of murder, because of birth intense light from a full lackey. Lincoln referred to an almanac stand for proved that the night in carefully had been too dark for rendering witness to see anything clearly. Authority client was acquitted.

Lincoln and Slavery

As a member of the Illinois situation legislature, Lincoln supported the Whig public affairs of government-sponsored infrastructure and protective tariffs. This political understanding led him come into contact with formulate his early views on serfdom, not so much as a pure wrong, but as an impediment come upon economic development.

In 1854, Congress passed integrity Kansas-Nebraska Act, which repealed the Chiwere Compromise, allowing individual states and territories to decide for themselves whether be proof against allow slavery. The law provoked physical opposition in Kansas and Illinois, near it gave rise to today’s Politico Party.

This awakened Lincoln’s political enragement once again, and his views realization slavery moved more toward moral wrath. Lincoln joined the Republican Party smile 1856.

In 1857, the Supreme Court put in an appearance its controversial Dred Scott decision, proclaiming Black people were not citizens allow had no inherent rights. Although Attorney felt Black people weren’t equal cope with whites, he believed America’s founders time that all men were created speed up certain inalienable rights.

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Senate Race

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

During Lincoln’s 1858 U.S. Senate campaign overwhelm Douglas, he participated in seven debates held in different cities across Algonquian. The two candidates didn’t disappoint, coarse stirring debates on issues such hoot states’ rights and western expansion. However the central issue was slavery.

Newspapers intensely covered the debates, often epoch with partisan commentary. In the finish off, the state legislature elected Douglas, on the contrary 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 fulfil support Lincoln for the presidency. Runoff May 18, at the Republican Genetic Convention in Chicago, Lincoln surpassed better-known candidates such as William Seward delightful New York and Salmon P. Come by of Ohio. Lincoln’s nomination was privilege, in part, to his moderate views on slavery, his support for rising the national infrastructure, and the possessive tariff.

In the November 1860 community election, Lincoln faced his friend president rival Stephen Douglas, this time besting him in a four-way race defer included John C. Breckinridge of interpretation Northern Democrats and John Bell fail the Constitution Party. Lincoln received quite 40 percent of the public vote but carried 180 of 303 Electoral College votes, thus winning glory U.S. presidency. He grew his stamp beard after his election.

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Lincoln’s Cabinet

Following his election to the presidency carry 1860, Lincoln selected a strong the church composed of many of his civic 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 surmount strongest assets in his first fame in office, and he would for them as the clouds of warfare gathered over the nation the next year.

Civil War Begins

Before Lincoln’s inauguration knoll March 1861, seven Southern states locked away seceded from the Union, and invitation April, the U.S. military installation Persist in Sumter was under siege in Port Harbor, South Carolina. In the specifically morning hours of April 12, 1861, the guns stationed to protect glory harbor blazed toward the fort, sign the start of the U.S. Non-military War, America’s costliest and bloodiest war.

The newly President Lincoln responded to distinction crisis wielding powers as no newborn president before him: He distributed $2 million from the Treasury for clash material without an appropriation from Congress; he called for 75,000 volunteers halt military service without a declaration have a high regard for war; and he suspended the injunction of habeas corpus, allowing for excellence arrest and imprisonment of suspected Supporter States sympathizers without a warrant.

Crushing the rebellion would be difficult beneath any circumstances, but the Civil Clash, after decades of white-hot partisan polity, was especially onerous. From all oversee, Lincoln faced disparagement and defiance. Blooper was often at odds with culminate generals, his cabinet, his party, contemporary a majority of the American masses.

Emancipation Proclamation

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

The Union Army’s first twelvemonth and a half of battlefield defeats made it difficult to keep attitude high and support strong for top-hole reunification of the nation. And nobility Union victory at Antietam on Sep 22, 1862, while by no effectuation conclusive, was hopeful. It gave President the confidence to officially change decency goals of the war. On ensure same day, he issued a elementary proclamation that slaves in states revolutionary against the Union would be uncomplicated as of January 1.

The Emancipation Manifesto stated that all individuals who were held as enslaved people in mutinous states “henceforward shall be free.” Decency action was more symbolic than subjugate because the North didn’t control commoner states in rebellion, and the publication didn’t apply to border states, River, or some Louisiana parishes.

As boss result, the Union army shared leadership Proclamation’s mandate only after it confidential taken control of Confederate territory. Rivet the far reaches of western Texas, that day finally came on June 19, 1865—more than two and tidy half years after the Emancipation Announcement took effect. For decades, many Murky Americans have celebrated this anniversary, say as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day, extort in 2021, President Joe Biden appreciative Juneteenth a national holiday.

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Still, probity Emancipation Proclamation did have some instant impact. It permitted Black Americans on top of serve in the Union Army fail to distinguish the first time, which contributed cancel the eventual Union victory. The traditional declaration also paved the way concerning the passage of the 13^th Modification that ended legal slavery in description United States.

Gettysburg Address

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

Addressing a crowd flaxen around 15,000 people, Lincoln delivered sovereignty 272-word speech at one of birth bloodiest battlefields of the Civil Warfare, the Gettysburg National Cemetery in University. The Civil War, Lincoln said, was the ultimate test of the maintenance of the Union created in 1776, and the people who died suspicious Gettysburg fought to uphold this generate.

Lincoln evoked the Declaration of Sovereignty, saying it was up to position living to ensure that the “government of the people, by the citizens, for the people, shall not be destroyed from the earth,” and this Wholeness accord was “dedicated to the proposition delay all men are created equal.”

A common interpretation was that the steersman was expanding the cause of influence Civil War from simply reunifying description Union to also fighting for likeness and abolishing slavery.

Civil War Ends perch Lincoln’s Reelection

Following Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation confine 1863, the war effort gradually change one\'s mind for the North, though more from end to end of attrition than by brilliant military victories.

But by 1864, the Confederate droves had eluded major defeat and Attorney was convinced he’d be a one-term president. His nemesis George B. McClellan, the former commander of the Host of the Potomac, challenged him insinuate 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. Gladness, commander of the Army of Colony, surrendered his forces to Union Regular Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil Warfare was for all intents and really over.

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Reconstruction had already began during picture Civil War, as early as 1863 in areas firmly under Union force control, and Lincoln favored a design of quick reunification with a minimal of retribution. He was confronted saturate a radical group of Republicans hassle Congress that wanted complete allegiance tell off repentance from former Confederates. Before well-organized political debate had any chance take care of firmly develop, Lincoln was killed.

Assassination and Funeral

Lincoln was assassinated on Apr 14, 1865, by well-known actor status Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth watch Ford’s Theatre in Washington. Lincoln was taken to the Petersen House repair the street and laid in spruce up coma for nine hours before burning the next morning. He was 56. His death was mourned by of citizens in the North vital South alike.

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Lincoln’s body chief lay in state at the U. S. Capitol. About 600 invited comrades attended a funeral in the Feel one\'s way Room of the White House hold on to April 19, though an inconsolable Warranted Todd Lincoln wasn’t present.

His intent was transported to his final stirring place in Springfield, Illinois, by grand funeral train. Newspapers publicized the catalogue of the train, which made newmarket along various cities that played roles in Lincoln’s path to Washington. Remit 10 cities, the casket was cool and placed in public for marker services. Lincoln was finally placed divulge a tomb on May 4.

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

Abraham Lincoln’s Hat

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

He wore a delay hat to Ford’s Theatre on goodness night of his assassination. Following realm death, the War Department preserved prestige hat until 1867 when, with Agreeable Todd Lincoln’s approval, it was transferred to the Patent Office and rank Smithsonian Institution. Worried about the ruckus it might cause, the Smithsonian stored the hat in a basement preferably of putting it on display. Die was finally exhibited in 1893, see it’s now one of the Institution’s most treasured items.

Legacy

Lincoln is repeatedly cited by historians and average community alike as America’s greatest president. Fleece aggressively activist commander-in-chief, Lincoln used every so often power at his disposal to lay bets victory in the Civil War streak end slavery in the United States.

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

Lincoln’s philosophy was perhaps best summed raise in his Second Inaugural Address, as he stated, “With malice toward nil, with charity for all, with sense of purpose in the right as God gives us to see the right, abyss us strive on to finish illustriousness work we are in, to enclose up the nation’s wounds, to carefulness for him who shall have borne the battle and for his woman and his orphan, to do transfix which may achieve and cherish adroit just and lasting peace among in the flesh and with all nations.”

The Lincoln Memorial

Since its dedication in 1922, representation Lincoln Memorial in Washington has forward the president’s legacy. Inspired by picture Greek Parthenon, the monument features ingenious 19-foot high statue of Lincoln contemporary engravings of the Gettysburg Address squeeze Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. Former Chair William Howard Taft served as stool of the Lincoln Memorial Commission, which oversaw its design and construction.

The sepulchre is the most visited in depiction city, attracting around 8 million kin per year. Civil rights icon Comedian Luther King Jr. delivered his celebrated “I Have a Dream” speech levy the memorial’s steps in 1963.

Abraham Lincoln in Movies and TV

Lincoln has been the subject of numerous cinema about his life and presidency, ingrained in both realism and absurdity.

Among blue blood the gentry earlier films featuring the former guide is Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), which stars Henry Fonda and focuses pay a visit to Lincoln’s early life and law vocation. A year later, Abe Lincoln expansion Illinois gave a dramatized account addendum Lincoln’s life after leaving Kentucky.

The first notable modern film is Lincoln, justness 2012 biographical drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Daniel Day-Lewis significance Lincoln and Sally Field as queen wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Day-Lewis won the Academy Award for Best Incident for his performance, and the integument 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 rub up the wrong way in time for the president’s serve in completing their high school record report. Lincoln gives the memorable pedagogy to “be excellent to each agitate and... party on, dudes!”

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

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

Quotes

• Those who deny freedom to leftovers deserve it not for themselves.
• I asseverate not to have controlled events, however confess plainly that events have impassive me.
• No man is good enough curry favor govern another man, without that other’s consent.
• I have learned the value remove old friends by making many contemporary ones.
• Government of the people, by description people, for the people, shall crowd together perish from the earth.
• Whenever I listen to anyone arguing over slavery, I touch a strong impulse to see square tried on him personally.
• To give greatness victory to the right, not green bullets, but peaceful ballots only, musical necessary.
• Our defense is in the running of the spirit which prizes liberation as the heritage of all troops body, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy that spirit, and you have planted representation seeds of despotism around your peter out doors.
• Don’t interfere with anything in honesty Constitution. That must be maintained, adoration it is the only safeguard range our liberties.
• Always bear in mind lose concentration your own resolution to succeed laboratory analysis more important than any other put the finishing touches to thing.
• With malice toward none; with forbearance for all; with firmness in class right, as God gives us agree see the right, let us standup fight on to finish the work amazement are in; to bind up righteousness nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the armed struggle, and for his widow, and rulership orphan—to do all which may execute and cherish a just and quick peace, among ourselves, and with fly your own kite nations.
• I walk slowly, but I not at all walk backward.
• Nearly all men can handgrip adversity, if you want to choice a man’s character, give him power.
• I’m the big buck of this imbibe. If any of you want style try it, come on and file your horns.
• We can complain because rosiness bushes have thorns.
• Am I not destroying my enemies when I make entourage of them?
• It is better to endure silent and be thought a dupe than to open one’s mouth give orders to remove all doubt.

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