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Birth
Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin in Hardin Country, Kentucky. His parents are Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln. He had an older sister named Sarah and a younger brother named Thomas, who died in infancy. -
Start of Political Career
After the Black Hawk War, he began his political career. He was elected to the Illinois state legislature. He was elected as a member of the Whig Party. Only gave me the year. -
Practice of Law
Abraham Lincoln partnered with William Herndon in the practice of law. Though the two had different styles, they developed a close professional and personal relationship. Lincoln made a good living in his early years as a lawyer. Only gave me the year. -
U.S. House of Representatives
Lincoln won election to the U.S. House of Representatives. He began serving his term the following year. As a congressman, Lincoln was unpopular with Illinois voters for his strong stance against the U.S. war with Mexico. Only gave me the year. -
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Abraham Lincoln vs. Stephen Douglas
From August 21 until October 15, Stephen Douglas battled Abraham Lincoln in face to face debates around the state. The prize they sought was a seat in the Senate. Even though Douglas won, Lincoln was being known around the nation. -
Election of 1860
Lincoln was running up against Stephen Douglas, John C. Breckinridge, and John Bell. Even though Lincoln only got about 40% of the popular vote, he won majority of the electrical votes. Lincoln was instantly favorved by the North, but the South did not like him and started seceding. Only gave me the year. -
First Battle of the Civil War
On April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter was attacked by the Confederate army. After about 34 hours, the Confederates won that battle with no deaths except a horse. After the battle, Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers into military service without a declaration of war. -
Emancipation Proclamation
With the hopeful, but by no means conclusive Union victory at Antietam on September 22, 1862, Lincoln felt confident enough to reshape the cause of the war from saving the union to abolishing slavery. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which stated that all individuals who were held as slaves in rebellious states "henceforward shall be free." -
Gettysburg Address
A couple of months after the battle at Gettysburg, Lincoln arrived at Gettysburg and gave a speech. One of his most known lines in that speech is "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." This speech inspired the people in the Union to help the army. -
Death
While Lincoln was sitting in the presidential box at Ford's Theatre, John Wilkes Booth enter the box and shot Lincoln on the side of the head. Lincoln was taken over to the Petersen's house across the street. The next day, April 15, 1865, Abraham Lincoln died in the Petersen's house. He will be remembered as one of the best presidents ever.
