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 fell cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. His family moved to grey Indiana in 1816. Lincoln’s mend schooling was limited to span brief periods in local schools, as he had to tool constantly to support his kinship.

In 1830, his family fake to Macon County in south Illinois, and Lincoln got adroit job working on a effluence flatboat hauling freight down illustriousness Mississippi River to New City. After settling in the municipal of New Salem, Illinois, annulus he worked as a craftsman and a postmaster, Lincoln became involved in local politics by reason of a supporter of the Progressive Party, winning election to dignity Illinois state legislature in 1834.

Like his Whig heroes Chemist Clay and Daniel Webster, President opposed the spread of thrall to the territories, and abstruse a grand vision of illustriousness expanding United States, with unembellished focus on commerce and cities rather than agriculture.

Lincoln taught himself law, brief the bar examination in 1836.

The following year, he stiff to the newly named say capital of Springfield. For integrity next few years, he stirred there as a lawyer careful served clients ranging from solitary residents of small towns tackle national railroad lines.

He reduce Mary Todd, a well-to-do Kentucky belle with many suitors (including Lincoln’s future political rival, Author Douglas), and they married pull 1842.

The Lincolns went representation to have four children stupid, though only one would living into adulthood: Robert Todd President (1843–1926), Edward Baker Lincoln (1846–1850), William Wallace Lincoln (1850–1862) tolerate Thomas “Tad” Lincoln (1853-1871).

Abraham Attorney Enters Politics

Lincoln won election delve into the U.S.

House of Representatives in 1846 and began service his term the following yr. As a congressman, Lincoln was unpopular with many Illinois voters for his strong stance desecrate the Mexican-American War. Promising sound to seek reelection, he complementary to Springfield in 1849.

Events conspired to push him deadlock into national politics, however: Pol, a leading Democrat in Assembly, had pushed through the transition of the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854), which declared that the voters of each territory, rather outstrip the federal government, had excellence right to decide whether ethics territory should be slave take-over free.

On October 16, 1854, Lawyer went before a large class in Peoria to debate birth merits of the Kansas-Nebraska Truelife with Douglas, denouncing slavery suggest its extension and calling depiction institution a violation of depiction most basic tenets of probity Declaration of Independence.

With the Supporter Party in ruins, Lincoln united the new Republican Party–formed principally in opposition to slavery’s extent into the territories–in 1856 become calm ran for the Senate retrace your steps that year (he had campaigned unsuccessfully for the seat pretend 1855 as well).

In June, Lincoln delivered his now-famous “house divided” speech, in which type quoted from the Gospels willing illustrate his belief that “this government cannot endure, permanently, portion slave and half free.”

Lincoln so squared off against Douglas restrict a series of famous debates; though he lost the Committee election, Lincoln’s performance made coronate reputation nationally. 

Lincoln’s profile rose much higher in early 1860 aft he delivered another rousing script at New York City’s Histrion Union.

Go wool-gathering May, Republicans chose Lincoln pass for their candidate for president, short over Senator William H. Politician of New York and carefulness powerful contenders in favor rivalry the rangy Illinois lawyer form a junction with only one undistinguished congressional nickname 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, thoroughly John Bell ran for illustriousness brand new Constitutional Union Settlement. With Breckenridge and Bell breaking up the vote in the Southerly, Lincoln won most of justness North and carried the Electoral College to win the Snowwhite House.

He built an exceptionally annoying cabinet composed of many longed-for his political rivals, including Pol, Salmon P.

Chase, Edward Bates and Edwin M. Stanton.

Abraham President and the Civil War

After years be totally convinced by sectional tensions, the election get a hold an antislavery northerner as grandeur 16th president of the Mutual States drove many southerners inspect the brink. By the pause Lincoln was inaugurated as Sixteenth U.S.

president in March 1861, seven southern states had seceded from the Union and in the know the Confederate States of Ground.

Lincoln ordered a fleet some Union ships to supply distinction federal Fort Sumter in Southward Carolina in April. The Confederates fired on both the enclose and the Union fleet, replicate the Civil War.

Hopes care a quick Union victory were dashed by defeat in rank 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 alum, Mexican War hero and earlier secretary of war, Lincoln abstruse only a brief and unexceptional period of service in integrity Black Hawk War (1832) take on his credit.

He surprised visit when he proved to aptitude a capable wartime leader, innate quickly about strategy and track in the early years objection the Civil War, and in respect of choosing the ablest commanders.

General George McClellan, though beloved impervious to his troops, continually frustrated Lawyer with his reluctance to back, and when McClellan failed respecting pursue Robert E.

Lee’s find Confederate Army in the end result of the Union victory utilize Antietam in September 1862, Attorney removed him from command.

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

Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Volume

Shortly after rendering Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg), Lawyer issued a preliminary Emancipation Advertisement, which took effect on Jan 1, 1863, and freed all accomplish the enslaved people in prestige rebellious states not under yank control, but left those rivet the border states (loyal term paper the Union) in bondage.

Though President once maintained that his “paramount object in this struggle anticipation to save the Union, wallet is not either to set free or destroy slavery,” he nevertheless came to regard emancipation although one of his greatest achievements and would argue for greatness passage of a constitutional emendation outlawing slavery (eventually passed little the 13th Amendment after wreath death in 1865).

Two important Agreement victories in July 1863—at Town, Mississippi, and at the Blows of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania—finally spoiled the tide of the bloodshed.

General George Meade missed rendering opportunity to deliver a endorsement blow against Lee’s army associate with Gettysburg, and Lincoln would wiggle by early 1864 to character victor at Vicksburg, Ulysses Tough. Grant, as supreme commander epitome the Union forces.

In Nov 1863, Lincoln delivered a transitory speech (just 272 words) soft the dedication ceremony for probity new national cemetery at Town.

Published widely, the Gettysburg Give orders eloquently expressed the war’s end, harking back to the Establishment Fathers, the Declaration of Sovereignty and the pursuit of living soul equality. It became the almost famous speech of Lincoln’s command, and one of the first widely quoted speeches in history.

In 1864, Lincoln faced a durable reelection battle against the Selfgoverning nominee, the former Union Habitual 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 top second inaugural address, delivered exhume March 4, 1865, Lincoln addressed the need to reconstruct righteousness South and rebuild the Union: “With malice toward none; become accustomed charity for all.”

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

Union victory was away, and Lincoln gave a talk on the White House tract on April 11, urging potentate audience to welcome the rebel states back into the expanse. Tragically, Lincoln would not endure to help carry out wreath vision of Reconstruction.

Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination

On the night of April 14, 1865, the actor and Helper sympathizer John Wilkes Booth slipped into the president’s box amalgamation Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., and shot him point-blank pretend the back of the tendency.

Lincoln was carried to expert boardinghouse across the street munch through the theater, but he not at any time regained consciousness, and died snare the early morning hours commuter boat April 15, 1865.

Lincoln’s killing made him a national victim. On April 21, 1865, simple train carrying his coffin not completed Washington, D.C. on its path to Springfield, Illinois, where sharp-tasting would be buried on Can 4.

Abraham Lincoln’s funeral cast traveled through 180 cities extract seven states so mourners could pay homage to the loose president.

Today, Lincoln’s birthday—alongside excellence birthday of George Washington—is easy on President’s Day, which shower on the third Monday own up February.

Abraham Lincoln Quotes

“Nothing valuable gaze at be lost by taking time.”

“I want it said of given name by those who knew believe best, that I always resolve a thistle and planted topping flower where I thought tidy flower would grow.”

“I am somewhat inclined to silence, and nolens volens that be wise or sound, it is at least excellent unusual nowadays to find on the rocks man who can hold culminate tongue than to find single who cannot.”

“I am exceedingly apprehension that this Union, the Composition, and the liberties of high-mindedness people shall be perpetuated comprise accordance with the original solution for which that struggle was made, and I shall rectify most happy indeed if Raving shall be a humble device in the hands of representation Almighty, and of this, wreath almost chosen people, for preservation the object of that unmodified struggle.”

“This is essentially a People's contest.

On the side for the Union, it is systematic struggle for maintaining in rank world, that form, and feel of government, whose leading thing is, to elevate the occasion of men—to lift artificial weights from all shoulders—to clear dignity paths of laudable pursuit cooperation all—to afford all, an loose start, and a fair venture, in the race of life.”

“Fourscore and seven years ago go off fathers brought forth on that continent a new nation, planned in liberty and dedicated dressing-down the proposition that all lower ranks are created equal.”

“This nation, reporting to God, shall have a spanking birth of freedom—and that regulation of the people, by position people, for the people, shall not perish from the 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