History About : Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln
Sixteenth President, 1861-1865

Born in a simple log cabin in Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln became the 16th President and guided this country through the most devastating experience in its history — the Civil War. Many historians consider him the greatest American President ever. Lincoln is remembered for his vital role in preserving the Union and starting the process that led to the end of slavery. Nicknamed "Honest Abe," he is also remembered for his character, his speeches, and letters. He was a man of humble origins whose determination led him to the nation's highest office.



Abraham Lincoln
Life Before the Presidency

Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a log cabin near Hodgenville, Kentucky. His family faced many hardships. They struggled to survive and to learn. The Lincolns moved to Indiana in 1816, partly because of their opposition to slavery. Lincoln took every opportunity to learn while he worked on a farm, split rails for fences, and tended a store in Illinois.

He married Mary Todd on November 4, 1842. She was from Kentucky and came from a more upper class slave owning family. The couple had four sons: Robert Todd (1843-1926), Edward Baker (1846-50), William Wallace (1850-62), and Thomas "Tad" (1853-71). Only Robert lived to adulthood. He, in fact, served on General Ulysses S. Grant's Civil War staff at City Point, Virginia.

In 1846, Lincoln ran for the United States House of Representatives and won. While in Washington, he became known for his opposition to the U.S.-Mexican War (1846-1848). He opposed this war because he saw it as a way to extend slavery. The War started when Mexico objected to the Republic of Texas becoming a U.S. state. This was the first foreign war for the U.S. and soldiers from every state served in it, including Robert E. Lee, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, and William T. Sherman. These men later played an important role in the Civil War. Lincoln became disappointed with politics and others' views on slavery and returned home to practice law.

Lincoln's interest in politics was renewed by passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854. The Act allowed people in these two territories to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. This led to bloody battles in Kansas. President Franklin Pierce sent in Federal troops to end the fighting, but the slavery debate continued.

Lincoln reentered politics and ran for the Senate in 1856, but was unsuccessful. Two years later, he ran against Stephen A. Douglas for a senate seat. He lost that election, but in a series of debates with Douglas, he gained a reputation as a skilled and passionate speaker.

As he entered the 1860 presidential election, Lincoln was not favored to win the Republican Presidential nomination, because of the South's dislike of him and his views on slavery. He was finally chosen his party's nominee with Hannibal Hamlin as his running mate. Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President on November 6, 1860, defeating Douglas, John Bell, and John C. Breckinridge. Southern voters split their votes among the four candidates, with Lincoln ultimately winning the race.

In February 1861, Lincoln and his wife, Mary, departed by train for Washington, D.C. President Lincoln was sworn in on March 4, 1861.



Abraham Lincoln
Did You Know?

When Abraham Lincoln arrived in Washington to be sworn in as the 16th President, he appeared at the Capitol with a beard, which was unusual since he had always been beardless.
Lincoln grew a beard at the suggestion of 11-year-old Grace Bedell from New York. She wrote him a letter and noted that she thought he would look better with a beard, similar to her father and brothers. Grace was present in the crowd at Lincoln's inauguration, and when he saw her, he gave her a kiss on the cheek and thanked her for her suggestion.