Essay, Research Paper: Abe Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was born Sunday, February 12, 1809, in a log cabin near Hodgenville, Kentucky. He was the son of Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln, and he was named for his paternal grandfather. Thomas Lincoln was a carpenter and a farmer. Both of Abraham's parents were members of a baptist congregation which had seperated from an another church due to opposition of slavery.
Lincoln was a pretty average his whole life, despite his giantism. When he was older his opposition in slavery led him to run for president. In the 1860 Republican Presidential nomination Lincoln won, beating Hannibal Hamlin. On November 6, 1860, Lincoln was elected the 16th president, defeating Douglas, John Bell, and John C. Breckinridge. In February of 1861 the Lincoln's left by train for Washington D.C. Lincoln was now wearing a beard at the suggestion of an 11 year old girl.
After Lincoln's election many Southern states, fearing Republican control in government, seceded from the Union. Lincoln faced great internal crisis of any US president. After the fall of Ft. Sumter, Lincoln raised an army and decided to fight to save the Union from falling apart. Despite enormous pressures, loss of life, battlefield setbacks, generals who weren't ready to fight, assasination threats, and other things, Lincoln stuck with this pro-Union policy for 4 long years of Civil War. On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Lincoln. This ment that all slaves in the confederate states could go free. Also in November of 1863 he gave the Gettysburg Address which dedicated the battlefield there to the soldiers who had perished. He called on the living to finish the tasks of the dead soldiers.
In April of 1865 Lincoln attened a play at Ford's Theatre entitled, "Our American Cousin." During the performance John Booth arrived at the theatre and shot Lincoln in the back of the head.
Lincoln was a great man who was beloved by many people. he set many goals from people and goals for himself that helped resolve many national issues. His knowledge was that he knew if he didn't fight to save the Union that it would fall apart. He alsi knew that slavery had to be stopped. He stopped slavery by the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. By fighting the Civil War he also stopped the Union from falling apart. In all Abraham Lincoln was a great man and his knowledge let him to power and sucess.


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