Turn the pages of America’s political history and you’ll find one individual who stands out and draws everyone’s attention: Abraham Lincoln! Lincoln, sometimes known as Honest Abe or Father Abraham, was unquestionably one of America’s most powerful and greatest presidents. From humble beginnings, it was his pure tenacity and honest effort that propelled him to the highest office in the country. He was a brilliant politician and lawyer who played a key part in the unification of the states. Leading from the front, he was a key figure in the country’s abolition of slavery, finally granting individuals equal rights regardless of caste, race, or creed. He not only envisioned, but also brought to the fore, a truly democratic government guided by the principle of “government of, by, and for the people.” Furthermore, Lincoln was the country’s leader at its most critical constitutional, military, and moral crises. He not only won the election, but he also helped to improve the national government and modernize the economy. He was the Union’s savior and the slaves’ emancipator. His assassination made him the first US president to be assassinated, just like his incredible journey to the top and eventual government. Abraham Lincoln was never honored with awards and honors because they did not exist at the time. He is, however, regarded as one of the country’s top three presidents. In the majority of presidential rating polls conducted since 1948, Lincoln has consistently come out on top.
Childhood and Adolescence
Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin at Hodgenville, Kentucky, on February 12, 1809, parents Thomas and Nancy Lincoln. Thomas, his younger brother, died in infancy, and Sarah, his older sister, were his siblings.
Lincoln’s father was a dedicated worker. He became one of the wealthiest men in the country as a result of his unwavering efforts. Everyone looked up to him and admired him. The wealth, however, did not last long, as Thomas Lincoln lost everything, forcing the family to relocate to what is now Spencer County, Indiana.
The Lincolns attended the ‘Separate Baptists’ church and held diametrically opposed views on drinking, dancing, and slavery. They adhered to stringent moral standards.
On October 5, 1818, sadness overtook the Lincoln family when Nancy Lincoln died of milk sickness and went to be with the Lord. Her lifeless remains were interred in a grave not far from the family’s cabin. Lincoln’s mother’s death had a severe effect on him, and he became estranged from his father as a result. His stepmother Sarah Bush Johnston, with whom he grew close, helped him bridge the gap.
Many people thought Lincoln was sluggish because he disliked the hard labor involved with frontier life, but he proved them wrong as he grew up to be responsible and committed. He did all of the work that a young boy in a home was supposed to do at the time, and he learned to handle an axe, which he used to build rail fences. He also gave his entire earnings to his father.
In terms of his education, it is thought that Lincoln received little more than 18 months of formal education during his lifetime. He did, however, make tremendous attempts to learn. Despite the fact that both of his parents were illiterate and unschooled, Lincoln’s stepmother Sarah encouraged him to read and write.
He was an ardent reader who had read all of the popular literature numerous times, including the Bible. As a result, Lincoln’s education and insight were mostly self-taught.
Fearing milk disease, the family relocated to Coles County, Illinois in 1831. Lincoln left his home at the age of 22 and struck out on his own. His first stop was at the Sangamon County settlement of New Salem, where he worked as a flatboat driver, transporting commodities from New Salem to New Orleans via the Sangamon, Illinois, and Mississippi rivers.
Years of Formative Experience
In 1832, Lincoln and a buddy moved to New Orleans, where they bought a modest general store. He sold his shares in the company after it failed to make a profit, and went into politics. He began campaigning for a seat in the ‘General Assembly of Illinois.’
Despite his fame as a storyteller, Lincoln was defeated because to a lack of formal education, money, and influential allies. Lincoln served in the ‘Black Hawk War’ as a captain in the ‘Illinois Militia’ while attending the assembly.
Lincoln began pursuing his aim of becoming a lawyer after working as a postmaster and county surveyor. He began reading law books in order to get the information he would need to stay in the field. During this time in his life, Lincoln polished his social and storytelling talents.
In 1834, his second candidacy was successful, and he was elected to the state legislature as a member of the ‘Whig Party.’
In 1836, Lincoln relocated to Springfield, Illinois, where he became a member of the bar and began practicing law under the supervision of John T. Stuart.
Lincoln’s reputation as a capable and efficient lawyer skyrocketed. His rigorous cross-examinations and closing speeches earned him a reputation. Lincoln collaborated with a number of experienced lawyers throughout the years, including Stephen T. Logan and William Herndon.
Lincoln’s political career was also slowly growing. He was noted for speaking out against the dangers of slavery during his four years as a ‘Whig’ congressman in the ‘Illinois House of Representatives.’ He advocated for economic modernization in a variety of fields, including banking.
Lincoln was elected to the ‘U.S. House of Representatives’ in 1846, where he served a two-year term due to his rising popularity and outstanding performance. He was a devoted ‘Whig’ supporter who backed his party’s policies and took part in all activities. He even gave addresses in the District of Columbia emphasizing the abolition of slavery.
In terms of international and military policies, Lincoln was opposed to President Polk’s views on the “Mexican-American War.” He did, however, support the ‘Wilmot Proviso,’ a proposal to abolish slavery in territory taken from Mexico. Lincoln’s opposition to the president gained him poor press, and he lost political support in his district. As a result, he received the moniker “spotty Lincoln.”
During the 1848 presidential election, Lincoln backed the Whig candidate. Despite the fact that Taylor won the elections, Lincoln was defeated by Justin Butterfield, and therefore missed out on the chance to be appointed commissioner of the ‘General Land Office.’ Instead, he was offered the job of Oregon Territory Secretary or Governor. He turned down the opportunity to return to his law profession.
Lincoln’s legal profession, as well as his reputation and standing, were progressively improving. He even appeared before the United States’ ‘Supreme Court.’ He was a solo counsellor on 51 instances in his 175 appearances before the ‘Illinois Supreme Court,’ winning 31 of them. Big names from all over the country were among his clients.
Anti-slavery efforts of Abraham Lincoln
While the northern states of the United States had abolished slavery and were opposed to the oppression of persons from lower social classes or castes, the southern states and newer territories in the West had yet to do so. In order to bring about change in these areas, Lincoln returned to politics in the 1850s and fiercely opposed the ‘Kansas-Nebraska Act.’
Stephen Douglas had allowed the settlers to decide on the fate of slavery in the new region, according to the ‘Act.’ Lincoln condemned the ‘Act,’ claiming that the national Congress had no jurisdiction over the topic.
Lincoln’s anti-slavery stance was evident in his ‘Peoria speech,’ delivered on October 16, 1854. He opposed slavery in his speech because of the unfairness it symbolized and the lack of equality of rights among men.
In 1854, Lincoln sought for a seat in the United States Senate from Illinois. Though he was comfortably ahead of the competition in the first six rounds, it was his vehement opposition to the ‘Kansas–Nebraska Act’ that caused a split among the Whigs, which resulted to his demise.
The new ‘Republican Party’ was molded by his anti-slavery views, as well as an appeal for ‘Free Soil’ and ‘Liberty.’ At the 1856 ‘Republican National Convention,’ Lincoln finished second in the race to be the party’s vice presidential candidate.
In 1858, Lincoln was elected to the US Senate by the state Republic party, which nominated him. This sparked a series of Lincoln-Douglas debates, which are often regarded as the most popular discussions in American history.
In terms of political outlook and physical appearance, Lincoln and were diametrically opposed. While Lincoln fought for the abolition of slavery, Douglas promoted his ‘Freeport Doctrine,’ which stated that local people in a given state had the right to decide whether or not slavery should be practiced in that state.
Lincoln’s ‘Republican Party’ received a lot of votes, but the ‘Democratic Party’ got a lot of seats, therefore Douglas was re-elected to the Senate. Despite his defeat, Lincoln remained devoted to ending slavery in the United States.
Presidential Election Campaign
In 1860, political operators in Illinois mounted a campaign in support of Abraham Lincoln for the presidency. At the ‘Republican National Convention’ in Chicago, he beat out well-known contenders like William Seward of New York and Salmon P. Chase of Ohio.
Lincoln’s stance on slavery, as well as his support for national infrastructure and the protective tariff, helped him win the nomination and popularity that followed. He defeated Southern Democrat Douglas, Northern Democrat John C. Breckinridge, and ‘Constitution Party’ John Bell to win the most desired political position, receiving 180 electoral votes out of 303.
Lincoln was eventually elected as the 16th president of the United States on November 6, 1860.
He took office on March 4, 1861, and became the first president from the ‘Republican Party.’ He put together a formidable cabinet that included several of his political foes, including, and Edwin Stanton.
Presidency Term – Succession & Civil War
After gaining the most support from the North and West, Lincoln was elected to the ‘White House.’ The South, however, was outraged by the outcome and determined to secede from the Union, forming the ‘Confederate States of America.’
South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas were all part of the ‘Confederate States of America.’ These states, led by, were regarded autonomous and independent.
In his inaugural address the following March, however, Lincoln refused to acknowledge the Confederacy, pronouncing the South’s separation unconstitutional. Despite attempts to reach an agreement, Lincoln spurned any such offers and stayed firm in his support for free-soil and slave-free states.
Even though Lincoln despised war, he had no choice but to live with it since secessionists were enraged by his instructions and declared war. To make matters worse, states in the south such as North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Arkansas joined the Confederacy. They grabbed control of Fort Sumter, sparking what is now known as America’s most costly and deadliest conflict.
To secure the capitol, Lincoln dispatched troops to Washington, D.C. He took $2 million from the Treasury to buy war supplies, called for 75,000 volunteers to join the military, and suspended the writ of habeas corpus, arresting and imprisoning suspected Confederate sympathizers without a warrant. He also built good ties with the border states and attempted to prevent the war from becoming an international battle.
Lincoln ran into dead ends on all sides, making crushing the opponent appear difficult. While the Copperheads (Peace Democrats) thought Lincoln was too adamant in his anti-slavery stance, Radical Republicans chastised him for taking such a long time to abolish slavery. To make matters worse, Lincoln was opposed by generals, cabinet members, party members, and the majority of the American people.
Lincoln kept a careful eye on the war’s development and was well-versed in every detail. He met with governors on a regular basis and kept a close eye on the military. His principal concerns about the war were twofold: Washington needed to be well-defended, and an aggressive war needed to be waged in order to achieve a quick and conclusive victory, which would meet the North’s desire.
He was named General-in-Chief of the Union Armies. Despite the fact that the first year and a half of Lincoln’s presidency was difficult due to losses and support for the nation’s reunification, the victory at Antietam provided some solace.
Meanwhile, the Lincoln-led government received terrible news in the 1862 midterm elections, as the public questioned the administration’s capacity and failure to bring the war to a rapid close. Inflation, new high taxes, suspicions of corruption, suspension of habeas corpus, the military draft law, and the worry that emancipated slaves would damage the labor market all worked against the administration.
In terms of the conflict, Lincoln knew that a succession of victories may bring the war to a close. Following that, Lincoln’s government was successful in the Charleston harbor and the ‘Battle of Gettsyburg.’
Proclamation of Emancipation
Lincoln’s vision of a slave-free America was shattered not only by the South, but also by the Constitution. As a result, the federal government’s efforts alone were ineffective in resolving the problem.
Lincoln promised the states paid emancipation in exchange for their ban of slavery in order to put an end to slavery. He believed that by using this strategy, he would be able to eliminate slavery from the source.
As a result, in July 1862, the ‘Second Confiscation Act’ was passed, guaranteeing slaves’ freedom. The main goal of this conduct was to destabilize the rebellious war that the opponents had started. Though Congress did not succeed in abolishing slavery permanently, it did demonstrate support for the liberation of slaves owned by slave masters.
Around the same time, Lincoln drafted the initial draft of the ‘Emancipation Proclamation,’ in which he declared that all slaves held in Confederate states would be freed and liberated.
On September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which went into effect on January 1, 1863. Slaves from the ten states that were not part of the Union were declared free, according to the proclamation.
The army and the country spent the next few months preparing for emancipation.
Slavery abolition became a military goal, and the Union soldiers had to make some difficult decisions to achieve it. Slaves were being emancipated and liberated in greater numbers as they moved closer to the South. Three million slaves were emancipated from Confederate territory in a short period of time.
Slaves were taken in by the military once they were free, resulting in an increase in black enlistment. This was the original strategy that the government vowed to implement when the ‘Emancipation Proclamation’ was issued.
Lincoln, his supporters, and the Republicans won a partial success in 1863. Slavery emancipation had matured into a national war effort, and a democratic government of the people, by the people, and for the people had emerged. The war, Lincoln said, was an attempt to deliver liberty and equality to all people.
Re-Election & Re-Building
With America’s worst conflict, the ‘Civil War,’ and the country’s shaky economy, Lincoln’s re-election as president appeared to be in jeopardy. Nonetheless, as a consummate politician, he worked tirelessly to strengthen the party, gain support for his programs, and thwart the Radicals’ attempts to unseat him in the 1864 elections.
Lincoln was victorious as a consequence of his efforts, as he received support from all but three states. He also received nearly 78 percent of the vote from Union soldiers, winning 212 of the 233 electoral votes. Lincoln was sworn in as president on March 4, 1865, and delivered his second inaugural address.
Following his re-election, Lincoln prioritized the unity of the country and the reintegration of the Southern states. The Southern states’ administration was reorganized.
General Frederick Steele was the military governor of Arkansas when General Andrew Johnson was in charge of Tennessee. General Nathaniel P. Banks supported the restoration of Louisiana’s statehood.
Salmon P. Chase, a radical Republican, was named Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. He was picked because Lincoln believed he would continue to support emancipation and the usage of paper money.
Because slavery had only been abolished in a few states, Lincoln pressed Congress to use a constitutional amendment to abolish slavery nationwide.
The proposed constitutional amendment to entirely abolish slavery was introduced in Congress, but it failed to pass on the first try. Later, it was incorporated into the Republican/Unionist platform and passed at the second meeting. Following that, the bill was transmitted to state legislatures for ratification. On December 6, 1865, it was ratified as the ‘Thirteenth Amendment’ to the ‘United States Constitution.’
In April 1865, Lee surrendered in the ‘Appomattox Court House’ in Virginia, formally ending the ‘Civil War.’ Several more rebel armies and leaders also surrendered as a result of his surrender.
The phrase ‘United States’ came forth as a result of the states’ merger. Though the ‘Civil War’ was the most heinous of American battles, it did give rise to a single name for the entire country: ‘The United States.’
Lincoln was primarily responsible for the republicanization of the American political system. He called secession anarchy and worked to learn more about the true essence of democracy. Majority rule, Lincoln argued, needed to be tempered by constitutional checks and balances.
Apart from that, Lincoln vetoed four measures during his presidency, the most important of which was the Radicals’ ‘Wade-Davis Bill.’ He was also responsible for the development of the first income tax in the United States, which was charged on incomes above $800. Through the ‘National Banking Act,’ he was also responsible for the establishment of a national banking system.
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
The assassin of Abraham Lincoln, made touch with the Confederate secret service. Booth is thought to have intended to kidnap Lincoln in exchange for the release of Confederate captives. Enraged by Lincoln’s speech, Booth decided to assassinate him in order to give black people the right to vote and hence equal status in society.
The fatal occurrence occurred during a performance of ‘Our American Cousin’ at ‘Ford’s Theatre,’ when Lincoln, Clara Harris, Henry Rathbone, and the First Lady were all present. Lincoln’s principal bodyguard, Ward Hill Lamon, was not present, and John Parker was one of four men assigned to protect him.
Parker left Lincoln exposed at the interval when he joined the driver for refreshments, a situation that Booth exploited. He fatally wounded Lincoln by shooting him in the head at point-blank range. After stabbing Major Henry Rathbone, he managed to flee.
Despite medical assistance from an Army surgeon, Doctor Charles Leale, who was seated close in the theatre, Lincoln’s health worsened due to a lack of air and a decreasing pulse rate. On April 15, 1865, Lincoln was brought to ‘Petersen House,’ where he was in a coma for nine hours before expiring.
Meanwhile, Booth was apprehended on a farm in Virginia, about 70 miles south of Washington, D.C., ten days later. He fought for a short while until succumbing to Sergeant Boston Corbett, who killed him.
Union officers took Lincoln’s remains to the ‘White House,’ which was draped with the flag. From April 19 to April 21, his casket was initially deposited in the ‘East Room’ and then in the ‘Capitol Rotunda.’
He traveled for three weeks in the executive coach with his son from the ‘White House’ to Springfield, Illinois, stopping in numerous cities along the way. Huge crowds gathered to pay their respects to the renowned statesman. People paid honor by forming bands, lighting bonfires, and singing hymns, among other things.
Lincoln was laid to rest in Springfield, Illinois, in the ‘Oak Ridge Cemetery.’ ‘Lincoln’s Tomb’ is the name of his tomb. Lincoln was honored by the United States after his death, and the ‘Lincoln Memorial’ was built in Washington, D. C. It is without a doubt the most well-known and visited memorial.
Personal History and Legacy
Ann Rutledge, whom Lincoln met while relocating to New Orleans, was his first love. Their friendly friendship came to an end abruptly when she died of typhoid and fever on August 25, 1835.
He had a Kentucky woman named Mary Owens with whom he had a relationship. While it lasted, their relationship was joyful and cordial. Lincoln and Owens split up because they were having second thoughts about their love.
In December 1839, Lincoln met Mary Todd. Todd was born into a rich Lexington, Kentucky slave-holding family. Their relationship was so strong that they got engaged the following year. Lincoln, on the other hand, called off the engagement and married her on November 4, 1842.
The couple have four boys together. With the exception of the eldest kid, none of the children lived to adulthood. The Lincolns were known for their permissive parenting style. They loved children dearly, and the deaths of their three children had a significant impact on their personal life.
Lincoln’s sculpture was unveiled at ‘Mount Rushmore’ in his honor. Other tributes dedicated to this capable politician include the ‘Ford Theatre’ and ‘Petersen House’ in Washington, D.C., as well as the ‘Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library’ and ‘Museum’ in Springfield, Illinois.
Lincoln’s face appears on two denominations of US currency, the penny and the $5 bill, as a gesture of respect. Furthermore, his likeness appears on a number of postage stamps.
Estimated Net Worth
The estimated net worth of Abraham Lincoln is about $250 thousand.
Trivia
He was the first president to be born in a state other than one of the thirteen. He was also the first president from Kentucky and the first to grow a beard.
He was the first president of the United States to be killed.
He is the only president to have received a patent. The invention was for a mechanism that helped to liberate ships that had become stranded in shallow waters.
Unlike past presidents, he kept all of his critical papers, letters, bankbook, and other valuables in his stovepipe hat. This is most likely why his hat was dubbed his ‘desk and memorandum book,’ and occasionally his ‘file cabinet.’
In the United States of America, he is credited for the establishment of ‘Thanksgiving Day.’ He declared the last Thursday in November to be “Thanksgiving Day.” Until then, the holiday was observed on a random and irregular basis.
He was known by many nicknames during his life, including ‘Honest Abe,’ ‘The Rail Splitter,’ ‘The Great Emancipator,’ and ‘Father Abraham,’ to mention a few.