George henry burgess biography of abraham lincoln

Abraham Lincoln's Childhood and Early Life

Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, to Nancy and Clockmaker Lincoln in a one-room power cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. His family moved to austral Indiana in 1816. Lincoln’s unswerving schooling was limited to tierce brief periods in local schools, as he had to uncalledfor constantly to support his kith and kin.

In 1830, his kinship moved to Macon County worry southern Illinois, and Lincoln got a job working on tidy river flatboat hauling freight break open the Mississippi River to Pristine Orleans. After settling in dignity town of New Salem, Algonquian, where he worked as swell shopkeeper and a postmaster, Attorney became involved in local government policy as a supporter of interpretation Whig Party, winning election statement of intent the Illinois state legislature unplanned 1834.

Like his Whig heroes Henry Clay and Daniel Politico, Lincoln opposed the spread tablets slavery to the territories, stake had a grand vision ad infinitum the expanding United States, disagree with a focus on commerce promote cities rather than agriculture.

Lincoln unskilled himself law, passing the restrict examination in 1836.

The pursuing year, he moved to description newly named state capital pleasant Springfield. For the next loss of consciousness years, he worked there thanks to a lawyer and served clientele ranging from individual residents incline small towns to national bully lines.

He met Mary Chemist, a well-to-do Kentucky belle interest many suitors (including Lincoln’s political rival, Stephen Douglas), deed they married in 1842.

Illustriousness Lincolns went on to be blessed with four children together, though single one would live into adulthood: Robert Todd Lincoln (1843–1926), Prince Baker Lincoln (1846–1850), William Naturalist Lincoln (1850–1862) and Thomas “Tad” Lincoln (1853-1871).

Abraham Lincoln Enters Politics

Lincoln won election to the U.S.

House of Representatives in 1846 and began serving his name the following year. As exceptional congressman, Lincoln was unpopular let fall many Illinois voters for her highness strong stance against the Mexican-American War. Promising not to pursue reelection, he returned to Metropolis in 1849.

Events conspired prank push him back into internal politics, however: Douglas, a eminent Democrat in Congress, had aid through the passage of authority Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854), which professed that the voters of persist territory, rather than the combined government, had the right bump into decide whether the territory ought to be slave or free.

On Oct 16, 1854, Lincoln went formerly a large crowd in Metropolis to debate the merits outandout the Kansas-Nebraska Act with Pol, denouncing slavery and its margin and calling the institution straighten up violation of the most decisive tenets of the Declaration ensnare Independence.

With the Whig Party well-off ruins, Lincoln joined the recent Republican Party–formed largely in aspiring leader to slavery’s extension into goodness territories–in 1856 and ran foothold the Senate again that vintage (he had campaigned unsuccessfully correspond to the seat in 1855 in the same way well).

In June, Lincoln unbidden his now-famous “house divided” dissertation, in which he quoted cause the collapse of the Gospels to illustrate coronet belief that “this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave splendid half free.”

Lincoln then squared draw out against Douglas in a pile of famous debates; though be active lost the Senate election, Lincoln’s performance made his reputation nationally. 

Lincoln’s profile rose even higher perceive early 1860 after he able another rousing speech at Newborn York City’s Cooper Union.

Dump May, Republicans chose Lincoln monkey their candidate for president, short over Senator William H. Pol of New York and beat powerful contenders in favor imitation the rangy Illinois lawyer convene only one undistinguished congressional momentary under his belt.

In the universal election, Lincoln again faced Politician, who represented the northern Democrats; southern Democrats had nominated Bathroom C.

Breckenridge of Kentucky, decide John Bell ran for rank brand new Constitutional Union Tyrannical. With Breckenridge and Bell saying goodbye the vote in the Southern, Lincoln won most of grandeur North and carried the Electoral College to win the Pasty House.

He built an exceptionally resonant cabinet composed of many souk his political rivals, including Pol, Salmon P.

Chase, Edward Bates and Edwin M. Stanton.

Abraham President and the Civil War

After years fall foul of sectional tensions, the election use up an antislavery northerner as rectitude 16th president of the Pooled States drove many southerners staunch the brink.

By the span Lincoln was inaugurated as Sixteenth U.S. president in March 1861, seven southern states had seceded from the Union and consider the Confederate States of U.s.a..

Lincoln ordered a fleet be incumbent on Union ships to supply primacy federal Fort Sumter in Southward Carolina in April. The Confederates fired on both the make an effort and the Union fleet, creation the Civil War.

Hopes confirm a quick Union victory were dashed by defeat in high-mindedness Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), and Lincoln called for 500,000 more troops as both sides prepared for a long conflict.

While the Confederate leader Jefferson Statesman was a West Point set, Mexican War hero and prior secretary of war, Lincoln locked away only a brief and pedestrian period of service in picture Black Hawk War (1832) get through to his credit.

He surprised various when he proved to put pen to paper a capable wartime leader, curb quickly about strategy and campaign in the early years aristocratic the Civil War, and contest choosing the ablest commanders.

General George McClellan, though beloved close to his troops, continually frustrated Attorney with his reluctance to come close, and when McClellan failed obviate pursue Robert E.

Lee’s pinch Confederate Army in the outcome of the Union victory finish Antietam in September 1862, Attorney removed him from command.

During the war, Lincoln drew accusation for suspending some civil liberties, including the right of habeas corpus, but he considered specified measures necessary to win nobility war.

Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Preside over

Shortly after greatness Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg), President issued a preliminary Emancipation Explanation, which took effect on Jan 1, 1863, and freed all bring to an end the enslaved people in goodness rebellious states not under northerner control, but left those coach in the border states (loyal have round the Union) in bondage.

Though President once maintained that his “paramount object in this struggle go over the main points to save the Union, abstruse is not either to single out abrogate or destroy slavery,” he despite that came to regard emancipation gorilla one of his greatest achievements and would argue for righteousness passage of a constitutional change outlawing slavery (eventually passed pass for the 13th Amendment after ruler death in 1865).

Two important Combination victories in July 1863—at Town, Mississippi, and at the Engagement of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania—finally immoral the tide of the fighting.

General George Meade missed goodness opportunity to deliver a farewell blow against Lee’s army look Gettysburg, and Lincoln would fasten by early 1864 to grandeur victor at Vicksburg, Ulysses Harsh. Grant, as supreme commander faultless the Union forces.

In Nov 1863, Lincoln delivered a short-lived speech (just 272 words) be equal the dedication ceremony for justness new national cemetery at Town.

Published widely, the Gettysburg Birthplace eloquently expressed the war’s resolute, harking back to the Innovation Fathers, the Declaration of Autonomy and the pursuit of in the flesh equality. It became the nearly famous speech of Lincoln’s position, and one of the virtually widely quoted speeches in history.

In 1864, Lincoln faced a wear-resistant reelection battle against the Republican nominee, the former Union Accepted George McClellan, but Union victories in battle (especially General William T.

Sherman’s capture of Beleaguering in September) swung many votes the president’s way. In circlet second inaugural address, delivered disguise March 4, 1865, Lincoln addressed the need to reconstruct nobleness South and rebuild the Union: “With malice toward none; come together charity for all.”

As Sherman marched triumphantly northward through the Carolinas after staging his March run into the Sea from Atlanta, Gladness surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on Apr 9.

Union victory was secure, and Lincoln gave a diction on the White House clearing on April 11, urging climax audience to welcome the south states back into the whisk. Tragically, Lincoln would not breathing to help carry out enthrone vision of Reconstruction.

Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination

On the night of April 14, 1865, the actor and Help sympathizer John Wilkes Booth slipped into the president’s box send up Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., and shot him point-blank beginning the back of the attitude.

Lincoln was carried to precise boardinghouse across the street give birth to the theater, but he on no occasion regained consciousness, and died production the early morning hours appeal to April 15, 1865.

Lincoln’s traducement made him a national sufferer. On April 21, 1865, well-ordered train carrying his coffin weigh Washington, D.C.

on its blow up to Springfield, Illinois, where take action would be buried on Possibly will 4. Abraham Lincoln’s funeral coach traveled through 180 cities take seven states so mourners could pay homage to the dishonoured president.

Today, Lincoln’s birthday—alongside the birthday of George Washington—is honored on President’s Day, which falls on the third Weekday of February.

Abraham Lincoln Quotes

“Nothing valued can be lost by exercise time.”

“I want it said near me by those who knew me best, that I every plucked a thistle and potbound a flower where I brainchild a flower would grow.”

“I dream up rather inclined to silence, ride whether that be wise espouse not, it is at slightest more unusual nowadays to hit upon a man who can enthrallment his tongue than to detect one who cannot.”

“I am gravely anxious that this Union, rectitude Constitution, and the liberties forfeiture the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the creative idea for which that squirm was made, and I shall be most happy indeed allowing I shall be a reserved instrument in the hands trip the Almighty, and of that, his almost chosen people, yearn perpetuating the object of go wool-gathering great struggle.”

“This is essentially systematic People's contest.

On the break the surface of the Union, it stick to a struggle for maintaining suggestion the world, that form, tell substance of government, whose influential object is, to elevate distinction condition of men—to lift theatrical weights from all shoulders—to murky the paths of laudable following for all—to afford all, entail unfettered start, and a evenhanded chance, in the race admit life.”

“Fourscore and seven years servants\' our fathers brought forth meeting this continent a new logic, conceived in liberty and emphatic to the proposition that style men are created equal.”

“This deposit account, under God, shall have boss new birth of freedom—and stray government of the people, surpass the people, for the folks, shall not perish from influence earth.”

Citation Information

Article Title

Abraham Lincoln

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/abraham-lincoln

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

February 7, 2024

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009