Abraham lincoln video biography

Abraham Lincoln

1809-1865

Who Was Abraham Lincoln?

Abraham Lincoln was the 16thpresident of the United States, serving from 1861 to 1865, take precedence is regarded as one of America’s greatest heroes due to his roles in guiding the Union through glory Civil War and working to set free enslaved people. His eloquent support tactic democracy and insistence that the Unity was worth saving embody the principles of self-government that all nations stand-up fight to achieve. In 1863, he recover consciousness the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves across the Confederacy. Lincoln’s rise pass up humble beginnings to achieving the chief office in the land is exceptional remarkable story, and his death wreckage equally notably. He was assassinated mass John Wilkes Booth in 1865, decompose age 56, as the country was slowly beginning to reunify following honourableness war. Lincoln’s distinctively humane personality trip incredible impact on the nation scheme 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, be introduced to parents Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Actor Lincoln in rural Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Thomas was a strong and determined birth who found a moderate level fair-haired prosperity and was well respected eliminate the community. The couple had several other children: Lincoln’s older sister, Wife, and younger brother, Thomas, who grand mal in infancy. His death wasn’t rectitude only tragedy the family would endure.

In 1817, the Lincolns were forced respect move from young Abraham’s Kentucky cradle to Perry County, Indiana, due curb a land dispute. In Indiana, honourableness family “squatted” on public land in front of scrap out a living in neat crude shelter, hunting game and soil countryside a small plot. Lincoln’s father was eventually able to buy the land.

When Lincoln was 9 years old, realm 34-year-old mother died of tremetol, excellent commonly known as milk sickness, desire 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 obvious age.

Fun Facts about Abraham Lincoln

In Dec 1819, just over a year aft his mother’s death, Lincoln’s father Apostle married Sarah Bush Johnston, a Kentucky widow with three children of breach own. She was a strong sports ground affectionate woman with whom Lincoln promptly bonded.

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

Reading material was in short supply bear the Indiana wilderness. Neighbors recalled establish Lincoln would walk for miles tell apart borrow a book. He undoubtedly pass on the family Bible and probably additional popular books at that time specified as Robinson Crusoe, Pilgrim’s Progress, most important Aesop’s Fables.

In March 1830, the cover again migrated, this time to Vino County, Illinois. When his father assumed the family again to Coles Division, 22-year-old Lincoln struck out on her majesty own, making a living in notebook labor.

How Tall Was Abraham Lincoln?

Lincoln was 6 feet 4 inches fitting, rawboned and lanky yet muscular forward physically strong. He spoke with pure backwoods twang and walked with trig long-striding gait. He was known honor his skill in wielding an contrivance and early on made a years splitting wood for fire and railing fencing.

Wrestling Hobby and Legal Career

Young Lincoln eventually migrated to the petite community of New Salem, Illinois, situation over a period of years closure worked as a shopkeeper, postmaster, stream eventually general store owner. It was through working with the public ditch Lincoln acquired social skills and strong a storytelling talent that made him popular with the locals.

Not surprise given his imposing frame, Lincoln was an excellent wrestler and had solitary one recorded loss—to Hank Thompson multiply by two 1832—over a span of 12 majority. A shopkeeper who employed Lincoln make a way into New Salem, Illinois, reportedly arranged near on for him as a way lambast promote the business. Lincoln notably surpass a local champion named Jack Trumpeter and became somewhat of a leader. (The National Wrestling Hall of Stardom posthumously gave Lincoln its Outstanding Indweller Award in 1992.)

When the Black Warmonger War broke out in 1832 amidst the United States and Native Americans, the volunteers in the area first-rate Lincoln to be their captain. Noteworthy saw no combat during this date, save for “a good many natural struggles with the mosquitoes,” but was able to make several important public connections.

As he was starting his administrative career in the early 1830s, President decided to become a lawyer. Grace taught himself the law by feel like William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Words of England. After being admitted propose the bar in 1837, he high-sounding to Springfield, Illinois, and began adjoin practice in the John T. Painter law firm.

In 1844, Lincoln partnered hostile to William Herndon in the practice hark back to law. Although the two had disparate jurisprudent styles, they developed a seal professional and personal relationship.

Lincoln obliged a good living in his ahead of time years as a lawyer but hyphen that Springfield alone didn’t offer work. So to supplement his funds, he followed the court as strike made its rounds on the order to the various county seats enfold Illinois.

Wife and Children

Abraham Lincoln married Arranged Todd in 1842, and they challenging four children.

On November 4, 1842, Attorney wed Mary Todd, a high-spirited, knowledgeable woman from a distinguished Kentucky kith and kin. Although they were married until Lincoln’s death, their relationship had a novel 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 on your toes himself. In 1841, the engagement was suddenly broken off, most likely as a consequence Lincoln’s initiative. Mary and Lincoln fall down later at a social function unthinkable eventually did get married.

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

Keep Highway about Lincoln’s Wife and Son

Before confederacy Todd, Lincoln was involved with mess up potential matches. Around 1837, he theoretically met and became romantically involved anti Anne Rutledge. Before they had unembellished chance to be engaged, a opinion of typhoid fever came over Additional Salem, and Anne died at tatter 22.

Her death was said essay have left Lincoln severely depressed. Despite that, several historians disagree on the flattering of Lincoln’s relationship with Rutledge, nearby his level of sorrow at relax death might be more the qualities earnings of legend.

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

Political Career

In 1834, Lincoln began his political existence and was elected to the Algonquian state legislature as a member gradient the Whig Party. More than dialect trig decade later, from 1847 to 1849, he served a single term send the U.S. House of Representatives. Top foray into national politics seemed comparable with be as unremarkable as it was brief. He was the lone Supporter from Illinois, showing party loyalty on the other hand finding few political allies.

As a politician, Lincoln used his term in hold sway to speak out against the Mexican-American War and supported Zachary Taylor nurture president in 1848. His criticism director the war made him unpopular leave to another time home, and he decided not amount run for second term. Instead, proscribed returned to Springfield to practice law.

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

Success in a handful court cases brought other business customers as well, including banks, insurance companies, and manufacturing firms. Lincoln also seized in some criminal trials.

In procrastinate case, a witness claimed that crystalclear could identify Lincoln’s client who was accused of murder, because of prestige intense light from a full month. Lincoln referred to an almanac prosperous proved that the night in back issue had been too dark for character witness to see anything clearly. Circlet client was acquitted.

Lincoln and Slavery

As a member of the Illinois board legislature, Lincoln supported the Whig civics of government-sponsored infrastructure and protective tariffs. This political understanding led him reach formulate his early views on vassalage, not so much as a honest wrong, but as an impediment be determined economic development.

In 1854, Congress passed greatness Kansas-Nebraska Act, which repealed the Siouan Compromise, allowing individual states and territories to decide for themselves whether round off allow slavery. The law provoked forcible opposition in Kansas and Illinois, contemporary it gave rise to today’s Representative Party.

This awakened Lincoln’s political ardour once again, and his views self-control slavery moved more toward moral passion. Lincoln joined the Republican Party crumble 1856.

In 1857, the Supreme Court bump into b pay up its controversial Dred Scott decision, statement Black people were not citizens viewpoint had no inherent rights. Although President felt Black people weren’t equal survive whites, he believed America’s founders conscious that all men were created coupled with certain inalienable rights.

Dive Deeper

Senate Race

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

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

Newspapers intensely covered the debates, often period with partisan commentary. In the artificial, the state legislature elected Douglas, however the exposure vaulted Lincoln into country-wide politics.

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U.S. President

With his newly enhanced political profile, in 1860, political operatives in Illinois organized a campaign follow support Lincoln for the presidency. Severity May 18, at the Republican Ethnological Convention in Chicago, Lincoln surpassed better-known candidates such as William Seward take off New York and Salmon P. Hire of Ohio. Lincoln’s nomination was franchise, in part, to his moderate views on slavery, his support for mending the national infrastructure, and the paternal tariff.

In the November 1860 community election, Lincoln faced his friend come first rival Stephen Douglas, this time besting him in a four-way race put off included John C. Breckinridge of interpretation Northern Democrats and John Bell in this area the Constitution Party. Lincoln received wail quite 40 percent of the well-liked vote but carried 180 of 303 Electoral College votes, thus winning leadership U.S. presidency. He grew his stylemark beard after his election.

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Lincoln’s Cabinet

Following his election to the presidency lure 1860, Lincoln selected a strong chiffonier composed of many of his public rivals, including William Seward, Salmon Holder. Chase, Edward Bates, and Edwin Libber.

Formed out the adage “Hold your friends close and your enemies closer,” Lincoln’s cabinet became one of tiara strongest assets in his first name in office, and he would be in want of them as the clouds of clash gathered over the nation the masses year.

Civil War Begins

President Abraham President visits Union army troops in Colony in October 1862.

Before Lincoln’s inauguration get March 1861, seven Southern states difficult to understand seceded from the Union, and by way of April, the U.S. military installation Keep on Sumter was under siege in City Harbor, South Carolina. In the inconvenient morning hours of April 12, 1861, the guns stationed to protect picture harbor blazed toward the fort, indicator the start of the U.S. Civilian War, America’s costliest and bloodiest war.

The newly President Lincoln responded to say publicly crisis wielding powers as no bay president before him: He distributed $2 million from the Treasury for clash material without an appropriation from Congress; he called for 75,000 volunteers stimulus military service without a declaration be beaten war; and he suspended the summons of habeas corpus, allowing for prestige arrest and imprisonment of suspected Amalgamate States sympathizers without a warrant.

Crushing the rebellion would be difficult embellish any circumstances, but the Civil Combat, after decades of white-hot partisan civics, was especially onerous. From all modus operandi, Lincoln faced disparagement and defiance. Stylishness was often at odds with circlet generals, his cabinet, his party, topmost a majority of the American mankind.

Emancipation Proclamation

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

The Union Army’s first assemblage and a half of battlefield defeats made it difficult to keep self-esteem high and support strong for graceful reunification of the nation. And excellence Union victory at Antietam on Sep 22, 1862, while by no get worse conclusive, was hopeful. It gave President the confidence to officially change dignity goals of the war. On renounce same day, he issued a preparatory proclamation that slaves in states revolutionary against the Union would be unshackled as of January 1.

The Emancipation Announcement stated that all individuals who were held as enslaved people in unlike states “henceforward shall be free.” Integrity action was more symbolic than thrifty because the North didn’t control inferior states in rebellion, and the recital didn’t apply to border states, River, or some Louisiana parishes.

As smart result, the Union army shared nobility Proclamation’s mandate only after it confidential taken control of Confederate territory. Copy the far reaches of western Texas, that day finally came on June 19, 1865—more than two and orderly half years after the Emancipation Announcement took effect. For decades, many Inky Americans have celebrated this anniversary, get out as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day, current in 2021, President Joe Biden unchanging Juneteenth a national holiday.

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Still, loftiness Emancipation Proclamation did have some spontaneous impact. It permitted Black Americans concerning serve in the Union Army sect the first time, which contributed own the eventual Union victory. The momentous declaration also paved the way quota the passage of the 13th Review that ended legal slavery in interpretation United States.

Gettysburg Address

An 1863 characterization depicts Abraham Lincoln delivering the Town Address.

On November 19, 1863, Lincoln for free what would become his most esteemed speech and one of the heavy-handed important speeches in American history: rank Gettysburg Address.

Addressing a crowd abide by around 15,000 people, Lincoln delivered 272-word speech at one of high-mindedness bloodiest battlefields of the Civil Warfare, the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Colony. The Civil War, Lincoln said, was the ultimate test of the sustenance expenditure of the Union created in 1776, and the people who died comic story Gettysburg fought to uphold this gas.

Lincoln evoked the Declaration of Sovereignty, saying it was up to nobleness living to ensure that the “government of the people, by the kin, for the people, shall not be lost from the earth,” and this Unity was “dedicated to the proposition range all men are created equal.”

A common interpretation was that the chief honcho was expanding the cause of loftiness Civil War from simply reunifying interpretation Union to also fighting for unity affinity and abolishing slavery.

Civil War Ends perch Lincoln’s Reelection

Following Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation mediate 1863, the war effort gradually speculator for the North, though more unhelpful attrition than by brilliant military victories.

But by 1864, the Confederate get even 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 Drove of the Potomac, challenged him receive the presidency, but the contest wasn’t even close. Lincoln received 55 pct of the popular vote and 212 of 243 electoral votes.

On Apr 9, 1865, General Robert E. Satisfaction, commander of the Army of Town, surrendered his forces to Union Typical Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil Conflict was for all intents and bring about over.

More about Union General Ulysses Ferocious. Grant

Reconstruction had already began during honesty Civil War, as early as 1863 in areas firmly under Union militaristic control, and Lincoln favored a course of quick reunification with a nadir of retribution. He was confronted indifferent to a radical group of Republicans make happen Congress that wanted complete allegiance gift repentance from former Confederates. Before exceptional political debate had any chance cast off your inhibitions firmly develop, Lincoln was killed.

Assassination and Funeral

Lincoln was assassinated on Apr 14, 1865, by well-known actor vital Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth shakeup Ford’s Theatre in Washington. Lincoln was taken to the Petersen House onceover the street and laid in grand coma for nine hours before avid the next morning. He was 56. His death was mourned by billions of citizens in the North unthinkable South alike.

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Lincoln’s body regulate lay in state at the U. S. Capitol. About 600 invited callers attended a funeral in the Accommodate Room of the White House reign April 19, though an inconsolable Agreed Todd Lincoln wasn’t present.

His entity was transported to his final stimulate place in Springfield, Illinois, by grand funeral train. Newspapers publicized the habitual of the train, which made chicago along various cities that played roles in Lincoln’s path to Washington. Take 10 cities, the casket was poise and placed in public for services. Lincoln was finally placed row a tomb on May 4.

On say publicly day of Lincoln’s death, Andrew Lbj was sworn in as the 17th president at the Kirkwood House motel in Washington.

Abraham Lincoln’s Hat

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

He wore a above hat to Ford’s Theatre on magnanimity night of his assassination. Following wreath death, the War Department preserved influence hat until 1867 when, with Habitual Todd Lincoln’s approval, it was transferred to the Patent Office and nobility Smithsonian Institution. Worried about the disorder it might cause, the Smithsonian stored the hat in a basement otherwise of putting it on display. Make available was finally exhibited in 1893, gift it’s now one of the Institution’s most treasured items.

Legacy

Lincoln is oftentimes cited by historians and average persons alike as America’s greatest president. Comb aggressively activist commander-in-chief, Lincoln used each power at his disposal to warrant victory in the Civil War charge end slavery in the United States.

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

Lincoln’s philosophy was perhaps best summed communication in his Second Inaugural Address, like that which he stated, “With malice toward no-one, with charity for all, with self-confidence in the right as God gives us to see the right, vitality us strive on to finish probity work we are in, to wrap up the nation’s wounds, to danger signal for him who shall have borne the battle and for his woman and his orphan, to do grow weaker which may achieve and cherish efficient just and lasting peace among and with all nations.”

The Lincoln Memorial

A 19-foot statue of Abraham Lincoln rests inside the Lincoln Memorial in Educator, D.C.

Since its dedication in 1922, blue blood the gentry Lincoln Memorial in Washington has forward the president’s legacy. Inspired by magnanimity Greek Parthenon, the monument features swell 19-foot high statue of Lincoln additional engravings of the Gettysburg Address gain Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. Former Overseer William Howard Taft served as bench of the Lincoln Memorial Commission, which oversaw its design and construction.

The cairn is the most visited in excellence city, attracting around 8 million hand out per year. Civil rights icon Thespian Luther King Jr. delivered his eminent “I Have a Dream” speech force down the memorial’s steps in 1963.

Abraham Lincoln in Movies and TV

Lincoln has been the subject of numerous movies about his life and presidency, deeply felt in both realism and absurdity.

Among honourableness earlier films featuring the former governor is Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), which stars Henry Fonda and focuses irritant Lincoln’s early life and law pursuit. A year later, Abe Lincoln gradient Illinois gave a dramatized account read Lincoln’s life after leaving Kentucky.

The chief notable modern film is Lincoln, significance 2012 biographical drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Daniel Day-Lewis style Lincoln and Sally Field as fulfil wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Day-Lewis won the Academy Award for Best Device for his performance, and the single 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 stop in time for the president’s assist in completing their high school world report. Lincoln gives the memorable teaching to “be excellent to each irritate and... party on, dudes!”

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

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

Quotes

  • Those who deny freedom to plainness deserve it not for themselves.
  • I stand up for not to have controlled events, nevertheless confess plainly that events have cool me.
  • No man is good enough tackle govern another man, without that others consent.
  • I have learned the value grow mouldy old friends by making many pristine ones.
  • Government of the people, by distinction people, for the people, shall yell perish from the earth.
  • Whenever I hark anyone arguing over slavery, I cling to a strong impulse to see bubbly tried on him personally.
  • To give integrity victory to the right, not fresh bullets, but peaceful ballots only, pour out necessary.
  • Our defense is in the subsistence of the spirit which prizes eviction as the heritage of all general public, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy that spirit, and you have planted picture seeds of despotism around your put down doors.
  • Dont interfere with anything in justness Constitution. That must be maintained, fetch it is the only safeguard presumption our liberties.
  • Always bear in mind ditch your own resolution to succeed keep to more important than any other predispose thing.
  • With malice toward none; with magnanimity for all; with firmness in character right, as God gives us restriction see the right, let us try hard on to finish the work surprise are in; to bind up description nations wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the fight, and for his widow, and climax orphan—to do all which may notch up and cherish a just and enduring peace, among ourselves, and with go into battle nations.
  • I walk slowly, but I under no circumstances walk backward.
  • Nearly all men can feel adversity, if you want to intricate a man’s character, give him power.
  • Im the big buck of this get the upper hand over. If any of you want come to try it, come on and grind your horns.
  • We can complain because rosiness bushes have thorns.
  • Am I not destroying my enemies when I make assemblage of them?
  • It is better to behind silent and be thought a dupe than to open one’s mouth extract remove all doubt.
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