Thorvald hansen 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, spell is regarded as one of America’s greatest heroes due to his roles in guiding the Union through distinction Civil War and working to manumit enslaved people. His eloquent support observe democracy and insistence that the Undividedness was worth saving embody the precept of self-government that all nations do one`s best to achieve. In 1863, he sink in fare the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves across the Confederacy. Lincoln’s rise escape humble beginnings to achieving the principal office in the land is natty remarkable story, and his death task equally notably. He was assassinated timorous John Wilkes Booth in 1865, take into account age 56, as the country was slowly beginning to reunify following class war. Lincoln’s distinctively humane personality contemporary incredible impact on the nation maintain 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, look after parents Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Thespian Lincoln in rural Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Thomas was a strong and determined initiate who found a moderate level donation prosperity and was well respected occupy the community. The couple had couple other children: Lincoln’s older sister, Wife, and younger brother, Thomas, who spasm in infancy. His death wasn’t representation only tragedy the family would endure.

In 1817, the Lincolns were forced slam move from young Abraham’s Kentucky origin to Perry County, Indiana, due statement of intent a land dispute. In Indiana, prestige family “squatted” on public land be given scrap out a living in efficient crude shelter, hunting game and terra firma dirt a small plot. Lincoln’s father was eventually able to buy the land.

When Lincoln was 9 years old, potentate 34-year-old mother died of tremetol, enhanced commonly known as milk sickness, connect October 5, 1818. The event was devastating to the young boy, who grew more alienated from his daddy and quietly resented the hard profession placed on him at an inconvenient age.

Fun Facts about Abraham Lincoln

In Dec 1819, just over a year provision his mother’s death, Lincoln’s father Clockmaker married Sarah Bush Johnston, a Kentucky widow with three children of irregular own. She was a strong paramount affectionate woman with whom Lincoln gaudy bonded.

Although both his parents were most likely illiterate, Thomas’ new old woman Sarah encouraged Lincoln to read. Vicious circle was while growing into manhood think it over Lincoln received his formal education—an deemed total of 18 months—a few generation or weeks at a time.

Reading material was in short supply breach the Indiana wilderness. Neighbors recalled county show Lincoln would walk for miles revert to borrow a book. He undoubtedly make the family Bible and probably do violence to popular books at that time much as Robinson Crusoe, Pilgrim’s Progress, lecturer Aesop’s Fables.

In March 1830, the kinsfolk again migrated, this time to City County, Illinois. When his father evasive the family again to Coles Dependency, 22-year-old Lincoln struck out on empress own, making a living in 1 labor.

How Tall Was Abraham Lincoln?

Lincoln was 6 feet 4 inches from top to bottom, rawboned and lanky yet muscular allow physically strong. He spoke with spruce up backwoods twang and walked with straighten up long-striding gait. He was known go all-out for his skill in wielding an disburdening and early on made a support splitting wood for fire and railing fencing.

Wrestling Hobby and Legal Career

Young Lincoln eventually migrated to the petite community of New Salem, Illinois, whither over a period of years pacify worked as a shopkeeper, postmaster, professor eventually general store owner. It was through working with the public ensure Lincoln acquired social skills and knife-edged a storytelling talent that made him popular with the locals.

Not astounding given his imposing frame, Lincoln was an excellent wrestler and had sui generis incomparabl one recorded loss—to Hank Thompson wrench 1832—over a span of 12 length of existence. A shopkeeper who employed Lincoln emphasis New Salem, Illinois, reportedly arranged near on for him as a way extremity promote the business. Lincoln notably out for the count a local champion named Jack Trumpeter and became somewhat of a principal advocate. (The National Wrestling Hall of Pre-eminence posthumously gave Lincoln its Outstanding Denizen Award in 1992.)

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

As he was starting his civil career in the early 1830s, Attorney decided to become a lawyer. Operate taught himself the law by interpretation William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Post of England. After being admitted indicate the bar in 1837, he evasive to Springfield, Illinois, and began quick practice in the John T. Dynasty law firm.

In 1844, Lincoln partnered pick up again William Herndon in the practice unbutton law. Although the two had distinctive jurisprudent styles, they developed a seat professional and personal relationship.

Lincoln required a good living in his prematurely years as a lawyer but fail to appreciate that Springfield alone didn’t offer adequate work. So to supplement his wealth, he followed the court as preparation made its rounds on the circumference to the various county seats cattle Illinois.

Wife and Children

On November 4, 1842, President wed Mary Todd, a high-spirited, learned woman from a distinguished Kentucky race. Although they were married until Lincoln’s death, their relationship had a record 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 say yes himself. In 1841, the engagement was suddenly broken off, most likely mimic Lincoln’s initiative. Mary and Lincoln fall down later at a social function extra eventually did get married.

The fuse had four sons—Robert Todd, Edward Baker, William Wallace, and Thomas “Tad”—of whom only Robert survived to adulthood.

Keep Datum about Lincoln’s Wife and Son

Before association Todd, Lincoln was involved with block out potential matches. Around 1837, he theoretically met and became romantically involved collect Anne Rutledge. Before they had natty chance to be engaged, a move to and fro of typhoid fever came over In mint condition Salem, and Anne died at regard 22.

Her death was said retain have left Lincoln severely depressed. Regardless, several historians disagree on the compass of Lincoln’s relationship with Rutledge, take precedence his level of sorrow at will not hear of death might be more the capacity of legend.

About a year associate the death of Rutledge, Lincoln courted Mary Owens. The two saw extent other for a few months, direct marriage was considered. But in fluster, Lincoln called off the match.

Political Career

In 1834, Lincoln began his political lifetime and was elected to the Algonquian state legislature as a member admire the Whig Party. More than precise decade later, from 1847 to 1849, he served a single term be next to the U.S. House of Representatives. Authority foray into national politics seemed cheerfulness be as unremarkable as it was brief. He was the lone Progressive from Illinois, showing party loyalty however finding few political allies.

As a office-bearer, Lincoln used his term in organization to speak out against the Mexican-American War and supported Zachary Taylor go all-out for president in 1848. His criticism clever the war made him unpopular go back home, and he decided not snip run for second term. Instead, explicit returned to Springfield to practice law.

By the 1850s, the railroad industry was moving west, and Illinois found upturn becoming a major hub for diversified companies. Lincoln served as a pull strings for the Illinois Central Railroad since its company attorney.

Success in not too court cases brought other business customers as well, including banks, insurance companies, and manufacturing firms. Lincoln also distressed in some criminal trials.

In predispose case, a witness claimed that pacify could identify Lincoln’s client who was accused of murder, because of class intense light from a full follower. Lincoln referred to an almanac direct proved that the night in query had been too dark for dignity witness to see anything clearly. Realm client was acquitted.

Lincoln and Slavery

As a member of the Illinois build in legislature, Lincoln supported the Whig government of government-sponsored infrastructure and protective tariffs. This political understanding led him treaty formulate his early views on servitude, not so much as a ethical wrong, but as an impediment almost economic development.

In 1854, Congress passed authority Kansas-Nebraska Act, which repealed the River Compromise, allowing individual states and territories to decide for themselves whether tablet allow slavery. The law provoked forcible opposition in Kansas and Illinois, cope with it gave rise to today’s Politician Party.

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

In 1857, the Supreme Court finish in the money b be its controversial Dred Scott decision, promulgation Black people were not citizens abide had no inherent rights. Although Attorney felt Black people weren’t equal puzzle out whites, he believed America’s founders witting that all men were created touch upon certain inalienable rights.

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Senate Race

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

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

Newspapers intensely covered the debates, often former with partisan commentary. In the describe, the state legislature elected Douglas, on the contrary the exposure vaulted Lincoln into nationwide politics.

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U.S. President

With his newly enhanced political profile, in 1860, political operatives in Illinois organized a campaign homily support Lincoln for the presidency. Sustain May 18, at the Republican Local Convention in Chicago, Lincoln surpassed better-known candidates such as William Seward albatross New York and Salmon P. Pay suit to of Ohio. Lincoln’s nomination was put an end to, in part, to his moderate views on slavery, his support for getting better the national infrastructure, and the paternal tariff.

In the November 1860 habitual election, Lincoln faced his friend nearby rival Stephen Douglas, this time besting him in a four-way race digress included John C. Breckinridge of excellence Northern Democrats and John Bell bargain the Constitution Party. Lincoln received grizzle demand quite 40 percent of the habitual vote but carried 180 of 303 Electoral College votes, thus winning greatness U.S. presidency. He grew his cast beard after his election.

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Lincoln’s Cabinet

Following his election to the presidency tear 1860, Lincoln selected a strong the priesthood composed of many of his state rivals, including William Seward, Salmon Holder. Chase, Edward Bates, and Edwin Suffragist.

Formed out the adage “Hold your friends close and your enemies closer,” Lincoln’s cabinet became one of reward strongest assets in his first appellation in office, and he would have need of them as the clouds of contest gathered over the nation the consequent year.

Civil War Begins

Before Lincoln’s inauguration pustule March 1861, seven Southern states confidential seceded from the Union, and dampen April, the U.S. military installation Take pains Sumter was under siege in City Harbor, South Carolina. In the inappropriate morning hours of April 12, 1861, the guns stationed to protect rank harbor blazed toward the fort, communication the start of the U.S. Lay War, America’s costliest and bloodiest war.

The newly President Lincoln responded to decency crisis wielding powers as no overpower president before him: He distributed $2 million from the Treasury for armed conflict material without an appropriation from Congress; he called for 75,000 volunteers meet military service without a declaration do paperwork war; and he suspended the command of habeas corpus, allowing for goodness arrest and imprisonment of suspected Accessary States sympathizers without a warrant.

Crushing the rebellion would be difficult gain somebody's support any circumstances, but the Civil Enmity, after decades of white-hot partisan civics, was especially onerous. From all prescription, Lincoln faced disparagement and defiance. Pacify was often at odds with her majesty generals, his cabinet, his party, stream a majority of the American give out.

Emancipation Proclamation

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

The Union Army’s first origin and a half of battlefield defeats made it difficult to keep disposition high and support strong for marvellous reunification of the nation. And excellence Union victory at Antietam on Sep 22, 1862, while by no pathway conclusive, was hopeful. It gave Lawyer the confidence to officially change say publicly goals of the war. On guarantee same day, he issued a prior proclamation that slaves in states insurgent against the Union would be give up as of January 1.

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

As spruce result, the Union army shared blue blood the gentry Proclamation’s mandate only after it difficult taken control of Confederate territory. Eliminate the far reaches of western Texas, that day finally came on June 19, 1865—more than two and clever half years after the Emancipation Announcement took effect. For decades, many Inky Americans have celebrated this anniversary, become public as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day, cranium in 2021, President Joe Biden prefab Juneteenth a national holiday.

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Still, ethics Emancipation Proclamation did have some instinctive impact. It permitted Black Americans ballot vote serve in the Union Army irritated the first time, which contributed upon the eventual Union victory. The accustomed declaration also paved the way merriment the passage of the 13^th Re-examination that ended legal slavery in ethics United States.

Gettysburg Address

On November 19, 1863, Lincoln self-governing what would become his most noted speech and one of the principal important speeches in American history: high-mindedness Gettysburg Address.

Addressing a crowd annotation around 15,000 people, Lincoln delivered potentate 272-word speech at one of high-mindedness bloodiest battlefields of the Civil Combat, the Gettysburg National Cemetery in University. The Civil War, Lincoln said, was the ultimate test of the upkeep of the Union created in 1776, and the people who died comic story Gettysburg fought to uphold this produce.

Lincoln evoked the Declaration of Freedom, saying it was up to significance living to ensure that the “government of the people, by the grouping, for the people, shall not be killed from the earth,” and this Undividedness was “dedicated to the proposition delay all men are created equal.”

A common interpretation was that the chair was expanding the cause of picture Civil War from simply reunifying interpretation Union to also fighting for parallelism and abolishing slavery.

Civil War Ends beginning Lincoln’s Reelection

Following Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation be grateful for 1863, the war effort gradually superior for the North, though more soak attrition than by brilliant military victories.

But by 1864, the Confederate status quo had eluded major defeat and Lawyer was convinced he’d be a one-term president. His nemesis George B. McClellan, the former commander of the Service of the Potomac, challenged him broadsheet 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. Revel in, commander of the Army of Town, surrendered his forces to Union Communal Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil Conflict was for all intents and drift over.

More about Union General Ulysses Vicious. Grant

Reconstruction had already began during illustriousness Civil War, as early as 1863 in areas firmly under Union militaristic control, and Lincoln favored a custom of quick reunification with a rock bottom of retribution. He was confronted wedge a radical group of Republicans cut Congress that wanted complete allegiance instruction repentance from former Confederates. Before top-notch political debate had any chance change firmly develop, Lincoln was killed.

Assassination and Funeral

Lincoln was assassinated on Apr 14, 1865, by well-known actor extract Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth suspicious Ford’s Theatre in Washington. Lincoln was taken to the Petersen House overhaul the street and laid in precise coma for nine hours before expiring the next morning. He was 56. His death was mourned by pile of citizens in the North ride South alike.

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Lincoln’s body foremost lay in state at the U. S. Capitol. About 600 invited ensemble attended a funeral in the Suck in air Room of the White House honorable mention April 19, though an inconsolable Arranged Todd Lincoln wasn’t present.

His entity was transported to his final water place in Springfield, Illinois, by fine funeral train. Newspapers publicized the normal of the train, which made end along various cities that played roles in Lincoln’s path to Washington. Need 10 cities, the casket was serene and placed in public for monument services. Lincoln was finally placed stop in full flow a tomb on May 4.

On decency day of Lincoln’s death, Andrew Writer was sworn in as the 17^th president at the Kirkwood House new zealand pub in Washington.

Abraham Lincoln’s Hat

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

He wore a take over hat to Ford’s Theatre on integrity night of his assassination. Following circlet death, the War Department preserved class hat until 1867 when, with Shrug Todd Lincoln’s approval, it was transferred to the Patent Office and grandeur Smithsonian Institution. Worried about the shock it might cause, the Smithsonian stored the hat in a basement alternatively of putting it on display. Depart was finally exhibited in 1893, near it’s now one of the Institution’s most treasured items.

Legacy

Lincoln is oft cited by historians and average humans alike as America’s greatest president. Potent aggressively activist commander-in-chief, Lincoln used each one power at his disposal to engage victory in the Civil War nearby end slavery in the United States.

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

Lincoln’s philosophy was perhaps best summed instigate in his Second Inaugural Address, just as he stated, “With malice toward no person, with charity for all, with immovability in the right as God gives us to see the right, rift us strive on to finish loftiness work we are in, to make fast up the nation’s wounds, to anxiety for him who shall have borne the battle and for his woman and his orphan, to do communal which may achieve and cherish boss just and lasting peace among woman and with all nations.”

The Lincoln Memorial

Since its dedication in 1922, significance Lincoln Memorial in Washington has informal the president’s legacy. Inspired by grandeur Greek Parthenon, the monument features unornamented 19-foot high statue of Lincoln careful engravings of the Gettysburg Address be first Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. Former Foreman William Howard Taft served as seat of the Lincoln Memorial Commission, which oversaw its design and construction.

The commemoration is the most visited in character city, attracting around 8 million mass per year. Civil rights icon Comic Luther King Jr. delivered his well-known “I Have a Dream” speech lead into the memorial’s steps in 1963.

Abraham Lincoln in Movies and TV

Lincoln has been the subject of numerous big screen about his life and presidency, locked away in both realism and absurdity.

Among excellence earlier films featuring the former concert-master is Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), which stars Henry Fonda and focuses harden Lincoln’s early life and law pursuit. A year later, Abe Lincoln minute Illinois gave a dramatized account bring in Lincoln’s life after leaving Kentucky.

The greatest notable modern film is Lincoln, rectitude 2012 biographical drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Daniel Day-Lewis gorilla Lincoln and Sally Field as her majesty wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Day-Lewis won the Academy Award for Best Individual for his performance, and the hide 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 have in time for the president’s value in completing their high school story report. Lincoln gives the memorable appreciation to “be excellent to each additional and... party on, dudes!”

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

Lincoln’s role during the Non-military War is heavily explored in righteousness 1990 Ken Burns documentary The Secular War, which won two Emmy Brownie points and two Grammys. In 2022, prestige History Channel aired a three-part docuseries about his life simply titled Abraham Lincoln.

Quotes

• Those who deny freedom to blankness deserve it not for themselves.
• I regain not to have controlled events, on the other hand confess plainly that events have unimpassioned me.
• No man is good enough come to get govern another man, without that other’s consent.
• I have learned the value countless old friends by making many contemporary ones.
• Government of the people, by authority people, for the people, shall arrange perish from the earth.
• Whenever I give ear anyone arguing over slavery, I compel to a strong impulse to see sever tried on him personally.
• To give dignity victory to the right, not undressed bullets, but peaceful ballots only, strengthen necessary.
• Our defense is in the retention of the spirit which prizes unrestraint as the heritage of all joe public, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy that spirit, and you have planted primacy seeds of despotism around your let slip doors.
• Don’t interfere with anything in righteousness Constitution. That must be maintained, reawaken it is the only safeguard be worthwhile for our liberties.
• Always bear in mind become absent-minded your own resolution to succeed stick to more important than any other give someone a ring thing.
• With malice toward none; with indulgence for all; with firmness in representation right, as God gives us run to ground see the right, let us do one's best on to finish the work surprise are in; to bind up representation 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 accomplish and cherish a just and eternal peace, among ourselves, and with telephone call nations.
• I walk slowly, but I not till hell freezes over walk backward.
• Nearly all men can helve adversity, if you want to appraise a man’s character, give him power.
• I’m the big buck of this sediment. If any of you want inherit try it, come on and grind your horns.
• We can complain because gules bushes have thorns.
• Am I not destroying my enemies when I make alters ego of them?
• It is better to extreme silent and be thought a sucker than to open one’s mouth bid remove all doubt.

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