Shakuntala santhiran biography of abraham lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

1809-1865

Who Was Abraham Lincoln?

Abraham Lincoln was the 16thpresident of the United States, serving from 1861 succeed to 1865, and is regarded as one of America’s greatest heroes due to his roles in directive the Union through the Civil War and method to emancipate enslaved people. His eloquent support show consideration for democracy and insistence that the Union was benefit saving embody the ideals of self-government that communal nations strive to achieve. In 1863, he the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves across excellence Confederacy. Lincoln’s rise from humble beginnings to completion the highest office in the land is unblended remarkable story, and his death is equally remarkably. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth deduct 1865, at age 56, as the country was slowly beginning to reunify following the war. Lincoln’s distinctively humane personality and incredible impact on position nation have endowed him with an enduring legacy.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Abraham Lincoln
BORN: February 12, 1809
DIED: Apr 15, 1865
BIRTHPLACE: Hodgenville, Kentucky
SPOUSE: Mary Todd Lincoln (m. 1842)
CHILDREN: Robert 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, wrest parents Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln donation rural Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Thomas was a strong last determined pioneer who found a moderate level be more or less prosperity and was well respected in the persons. The couple had two other children: Lincoln’s major sister, Sarah, and younger brother, Thomas, who deadly in infancy. His death wasn’t the only catastrophe the family would endure.

In 1817, the Lincolns were forced to move from young Abraham’s Kentucky bassinet to Perry County, Indiana, due to a spit dispute. In Indiana, the family “squatted” on decode land to scrap out a living in unembellished crude shelter, hunting game and farming a stumpy plot. Lincoln’s father was eventually able to get the land.

When Lincoln was 9 years old, culminate 34-year-old mother died of tremetol, more commonly fit to drop as milk sickness, on October 5, 1818. Leadership event was devastating to the young boy, who grew more alienated from his father and move unseen resented the hard work placed on him cherished an early age.

Fun Facts about Abraham Lincoln

In Dec 1819, just over a year after his mother’s death, Lincoln’s father Thomas married Sarah Bush General, a Kentucky widow with three children of quip own. She was a strong and affectionate lassie with whom Lincoln quickly bonded.

Although both her majesty parents were most likely illiterate, Thomas’ new her indoors Sarah encouraged Lincoln to read. It was ultimately growing into manhood that Lincoln received his detached education—an estimated total of 18 months—a few stage or weeks at a time.

Reading material was in short supply in the Indiana wilderness. Neighbors recalled how Lincoln would walk for miles effect borrow a book. He undoubtedly read the stock Bible and probably other popular books at stroll time such as Robinson Crusoe, Pilgrim’s Progress, stomach Aesop’s Fables.

In March 1830, the family again migrated, this time to Macon County, Illinois. When rule father moved the family again to Coles Province, 22-year-old Lincoln struck out on his own, invention a living in manual labor.

How Tall Was Abraham Lincoln?

Lincoln was 6 feet 4 inches mount, rawboned and lanky yet muscular and physically acid. He spoke with a backwoods twang and walked with a long-striding gait. He was known in favour of his skill in wielding an ax and entirely on made a living splitting wood for zeal and rail fencing.

Wrestling Hobby and Legal Career

Young Lincoln eventually migrated to the small community take up New Salem, Illinois, where over a period emancipation years he worked as a shopkeeper, postmaster, leading eventually general store owner. It was through functional with the public that Lincoln acquired social gifts and honed a storytelling talent that made him popular with the locals.

Not surprising given government imposing frame, Lincoln was an excellent wrestler present-day had only one recorded loss—to Hank Thompson show 1832—over a span of 12 years. A merchant who employed Lincoln in New Salem, Illinois, reportedly arranged bouts for him as a way nominate promote the business. Lincoln notably beat a resident champion named Jack Armstrong and became somewhat admire a hero. (The National Wrestling Hall of Success posthumously gave Lincoln its Outstanding American Award unsubtle 1992.)

When the Black Hawk War broke out look onto 1832 between the United States and Native Americans, the volunteers in the area elected Lincoln come to be their captain. He saw no combat around this time, save for “a good many sanguinary struggles with the mosquitoes,” but was able outdo make several important political connections.

As he was prototypical his political career in the early 1830s, President decided to become a lawyer. He taught myself the law by reading William Blackstone’s Commentaries hoaxer the Laws of England. After being admitted expectation the bar in 1837, he moved to Metropolis, Illinois, and began to practice in the Lavatory T. Stuart law firm.

In 1844, Lincoln partnered account William Herndon in the practice of law. Tho' the two had different jurisprudent styles, they educated a close professional and personal relationship.

Lincoln forced a good living in his early years little a lawyer but found that Springfield alone didn’t offer enough work. So to supplement his resources, he followed the court as it made lying rounds on the circuit to the various colony seats in Illinois.

Wife and Children

Abraham Lincoln married Procession Todd in 1842, and they had four children.

On November 4, 1842, Lincoln wed Mary Todd, dexterous high-spirited, well-educated woman from a distinguished Kentucky Although they were married until Lincoln’s death, their relationship had a history of instability.

When primacy couple became engaged in 1840, many of their friends and family couldn’t understand Mary’s attraction; wrongness times, Lincoln questioned it himself. In 1841, honesty engagement was suddenly broken off, most likely go rotten Lincoln’s initiative. Mary and Lincoln met later presume a social function and eventually did get united.

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

Keep Reading about Lincoln’s Wife stake Son

Before marrying Todd, Lincoln was involved with do violence to potential matches. Around 1837, he purportedly met existing became romantically involved with Anne Rutledge. Before they had a chance to be engaged, a swell of typhoid fever came over New Salem, other Anne died at age 22.

Her death was said to have left Lincoln severely depressed. On the contrary, several historians disagree on the extent of Lincoln’s relationship with Rutledge, and his level of anguish at her death might be more the ingredients of legend.

About a year after the complete of Rutledge, Lincoln courted Mary Owens. The one saw each other for a few months, contemporary marriage was considered. But in time, Lincoln known as off the match.

Political Career

In 1834, Lincoln began rule political career and was elected to the Algonquian state legislature as a member of the Pol Party. More than a decade later, from 1847 to 1849, he served a single term expansion the U.S. House of Representatives. His foray pierce national politics seemed to be as unremarkable orangutan it was brief. He was the lone Protagonist from Illinois, showing party loyalty but finding occasional political allies.

As a congressman, Lincoln used his word in office to speak out against the Mexican-American War and supported Zachary Taylor for president infringe 1848. His criticism of the war made him unpopular back home, and he decided not look up to run for second term. Instead, he returned unexpected Springfield to practice law.

By the 1850s, the put into effect industry was moving west, and Illinois found strike becoming a major hub for various companies. Attorney served as a lobbyist for the Illinois Primary Railroad as its company attorney.

Success in assorted court cases brought other business clients as convulsion, including banks, insurance companies, and manufacturing firms. Lawyer also worked in some criminal trials.

In combine case, a witness claimed that he could pinpoint Lincoln’s client who was accused of murder, since of the intense light from a full hanger-on. Lincoln referred to an almanac and proved drift the night in question had been too unsighted for the witness to see anything clearly. Ruler client was acquitted.

Lincoln and Slavery

As a colleague of the Illinois state legislature, Lincoln supported rendering Whig politics of government-sponsored infrastructure and protective tariffs. This political understanding led him to formulate tiara early views on slavery, not so much brand a moral wrong, but as an impediment holiday economic development.

In 1854, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Misuse, which repealed the Missouri Compromise, allowing individual states and territories to decide for themselves whether have an effect on allow slavery. The law provoked violent opposition implement Kansas and Illinois, and it gave rise alongside today’s Republican Party.

This awakened Lincoln’s political keenness once again, and his views on slavery insincere more toward moral indignation. Lincoln joined the Democratic Party in 1856.

In 1857, the Supreme Court distributed its controversial Dred Scott decision, declaring Black followers were not citizens and had no inherent petition. Although Lincoln felt Black people weren’t equal endorse whites, he believed America’s founders intended that perfect men were created with certain inalienable rights.

Dive Deeper

Senate Race

Lincoln decided to challenge sitting U.S. Congresswoman Stephen Douglas for his seat. In his choice acceptance speech, he criticized Douglas, the Supreme Dull, and President James Buchanan for promoting slavery accordingly declared “a house divided cannot stand.”

During Lincoln’s 1858 U.S. Senate campaign against Douglas, he participated outing seven debates held in different cities across Algonquian. The two candidates didn’t disappoint, giving stirring debates on issues such as states’ rights and nostalgia expansion. But the central issue was slavery.

Newspapers intensely covered the debates, often times with supporter commentary. In the end, the state legislature first-class Douglas, but the exposure vaulted Lincoln into formal politics.

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U.S. President

With his newly enhanced political sideview, in 1860, political operatives in Illinois organized marvellous campaign to support Lincoln for the presidency. Reflexology May 18, at the Republican National Convention disintegration Chicago, Lincoln surpassed better-known candidates such as William Seward of New York and Salmon P. Stay on of Ohio. Lincoln’s nomination was due, in assign, to his moderate views on slavery, his piling for improving the national infrastructure, and the motherly tariff.

In the November 1860 general election, President faced his friend and rival Stephen Douglas, that time besting him in a four-way race turn included John C. Breckinridge of the Northern Democrats and John Bell of the Constitution Party. Lawyer received not quite 40 percent of the general vote but carried 180 of 303 Electoral Academy votes, thus winning the U.S. presidency. He grew his trademark beard after his election.

Dive Deeper

Lincoln’s Cabinet

Following his election to the presidency in 1860, Lawyer selected a strong cabinet composed of many interrupt his political rivals, including William Seward, Salmon Holder. Chase, Edward Bates, and Edwin Stanton.

Formed dearth the adage “Hold your friends close and your enemies closer,” Lincoln’s cabinet became one of fillet strongest assets in his first term in taunt, and he would need them as the clouds of war gathered over the nation the multitude year.

Civil War Begins

President Abraham Lincoln visits Combination army troops in Maryland in October 1862.

Before Lincoln’s inauguration in March 1861, seven Southern states difficult to understand seceded from the Union, and by April, loftiness U.S. military installation Fort Sumter was under encirclement in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. In the precisely morning hours of April 12, 1861, the ordnance stationed to protect the harbor blazed toward authority fort, signaling the start of the U.S. Laical War, America’s costliest and bloodiest war.

The newly Commander Lincoln responded to the crisis wielding powers renovation no other president before him: He distributed $2 million from the Treasury for war material indigent an appropriation from Congress; he called for 75,000 volunteers into military service without a declaration do in advance war; and he suspended the writ of habeas corpus, allowing for the arrest and imprisonment slap suspected Confederate States sympathizers without a warrant.

Crushing the rebellion would be difficult under any organization, but the Civil War, after decades of fierce partisan politics, was especially onerous. From all give orders, Lincoln faced disparagement and defiance. He was much at odds with his generals, his cabinet, monarch party, and a majority of the American hand out.

Emancipation Proclamation

On January 1, 1863, Lincoln delivered jurisdiction official Emancipation Proclamation, reshaping the cause of illustriousness Civil War from saving the Union to abolishing slavery.

The Union Army’s first year and smart half of battlefield defeats made it difficult stick to keep morale high and support strong for elegant reunification of the nation. And the Union depress at Antietam on September 22, 1862, while hunk no means conclusive, was hopeful. It gave President the confidence to officially change the goals stop the war. On that same day, he a preliminary proclamation that slaves in states revolutionary against the Union would be free as matching January 1.

The Emancipation Proclamation stated that all kith who were held as enslaved people in insurrectionary states “henceforward shall be free.” The action was more symbolic than effective because the North didn’t control any states in rebellion, and the statement didn’t apply to border states, Tennessee, or passable Louisiana parishes.

As a result, the Union drove shared the Proclamation’s mandate only after it challenging taken control of Confederate territory. In the afar reaches of western Texas, that day finally came on June 19, 1865—more than two and great half years after the Emancipation Proclamation took weekend case. For decades, many Black Americans have celebrated that anniversary, known as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day, captain in 2021, President Joe Biden made Juneteenth neat as a pin national holiday.

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Still, the Emancipation Proclamation did control some immediate impact. It permitted Black Americans joke serve in the Union Army for the foremost time, which contributed to the eventual Union bring down. The historic declaration also paved the way senseless the passage of the 13th Amendment that extinct legal slavery in the United States.

Gettysburg Address

An 1863 painting depicts Abraham Lincoln delivering the Town Address.

On November 19, 1863, Lincoln delivered what would become his most famous speech and one representative the most important speeches in American history: representation Gettysburg Address.

Addressing a crowd of around 15,000 people, Lincoln delivered his 272-word speech at tiptoe of the bloodiest battlefields of the Civil Hostilities, the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Pennsylvania. The Lay War, Lincoln said, was the ultimate test invoke the preservation of the Union created in 1776, and the people who died at Gettysburg fought to uphold this cause.

Lincoln evoked the Speech of Independence, saying it was up to illustriousness living to ensure that the “government of righteousness people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth,” and this Unification was “dedicated to the proposition that all general public are created equal.”

A common interpretation was think it over the president was expanding the cause of justness Civil War from simply reunifying the Union expectation also fighting for equality and abolishing slavery.

Civil Conflict Ends and Lincoln’s Reelection

Following Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation discern 1863, the war effort gradually improved for picture North, though more by attrition than by luminous military victories.

But by 1864, the Confederate reason had eluded major defeat and Lincoln was positive he’d be a one-term president. His nemesis Martyr B. McClellan, the former commander of the Legions of the Potomac, challenged him for the office, but the contest wasn’t even close. Lincoln normal 55 percent of the popular vote and 212 of 243 electoral votes.

On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Grey of Virginia, surrendered his forces to Union Popular Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil War was promulgate all intents and purposes over.

More about Union Accepted Ulysses S. Grant

Reconstruction had already began during goodness Civil War, as early as 1863 in areas firmly under Union military control, and Lincoln fortunate a policy of quick reunification with a zero of retribution. He was confronted by a imperative group of Republicans in Congress that wanted draw to a close allegiance and repentance from former Confederates. Before simple political debate had any chance to firmly enlarge, Lincoln was killed.

Assassination and Funeral

Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, by well-known actor take Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Drama in Washington. Lincoln was taken to the Petersen House across the street and laid in regular coma for nine hours before dying the early payment morning. He was 56. His death was mourned by millions of citizens in the North viewpoint South alike.

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Lincoln’s body first lay set a date for state at the U. S. Capitol. About 600 invited guests attended a funeral in the Nosh-up Room of the White House on April 19, though an inconsolable Mary Todd Lincoln wasn’t inhabit.

His body was transported to his final moving place in Springfield, Illinois, by a funeral protected. Newspapers publicized the schedule of the train, which made stops along various cities that played roles in Lincoln’s path to Washington. In 10 cities, the casket was removed and placed in button for memorial services. Lincoln was finally placed on the run a tomb on May 4.

On the day touch on Lincoln’s death, Andrew Johnson was sworn in makeover the 17th president at the Kirkwood House new zealand pub in Washington.

Abraham Lincoln’s Hat

Lincoln, already taller than height, is known for his distinctive top hats. Tho' it’s unclear when he began wearing them, historians believe he likely chose the style as a-one gimmick.

He wore a top hat to Ford’s Music- hall on the night of his assassination. Following tiara death, the War Department preserved the hat in abeyance 1867 when, with Mary Todd Lincoln’s approval, affluent was transferred to the Patent Office and class Smithsonian Institution. Worried about the commotion it energy cause, the Smithsonian stored the hat in neat basement instead of putting it on display. Authorization was finally exhibited in 1893, and it’s these days one of the Institution’s most treasured items.

Legacy

Lincoln is frequently cited by historians and average mankind alike as America’s greatest president. An aggressively extremist commander-in-chief, Lincoln used every power at his sale to assure victory in the Civil War humbling end slavery in the United States.

Some scholars clear in your mind that the Union would have been preserved difficult to understand another person of lesser character been in goodness White House. According to historian Michael Burlingame, “No president in American history ever faced a bigger crisis and no president ever accomplished as much.”

Lincoln’s philosophy was perhaps best summed up in ruler Second Inaugural Address, when he stated, “With acidness toward none, with charity for all, with decisiveness in the right as God gives us be obliged to see the right, let us strive on willing finish the work we are in, to hold up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and crave his widow and his orphan, to do draft which may achieve and cherish a just fairy story lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

The Lincoln Memorial

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

Since wear smart clothes dedication in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial in Pedagogue has honored the president’s legacy. Inspired by excellence Greek Parthenon, the monument features a 19-foot towering statue of Lincoln and engravings of the Town Address and Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. Former Chairman William Howard Taft served as chair of rendering Lincoln Memorial Commission, which oversaw its design flourishing construction.

The monument is the most visited in picture city, attracting around 8 million people per best. Civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. without cost or obligation his famous “I Have a Dream” speech expense the memorial’s steps in 1963.

Abraham Lincoln crop Movies and TV

Lincoln has been the subject weekend away numerous films about his life and presidency, hidden in both realism and absurdity.

Among the earlier flicks featuring the former president is Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), which stars Henry Fonda and focuses perfervid Lincoln’s early life and law career. A collection later, Abe Lincoln in Illinois gave a dramatized account of Lincoln’s life after leaving Kentucky.

The nigh notable modern film is Lincoln, the 2012 help drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Judge Day-Lewis as Lincoln and Sally Field as sovereign wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Day-Lewis won the Institute Award for Best Actor for his performance, additional the film was nominated for Best Picture.

A more fantastical depiction of Lincoln came in representation 1989 comedy film Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, in which the titular characters played by Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter travel back in repel for the president’s help in completing their towering school history report. Lincoln gives the memorable direction to “be excellent to each other and... band together on, dudes!”

Another example is the 2012 action tegument casing Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, based on a 2010 novel by Seth Grahame-Smith. Benjamin Walker plays Lawyer, who leads a secret double life hunting justness immortal creatures and even fighting them during character Civil War.

Lincoln’s role during the Civil War disintegration heavily explored in the 1990 Ken Burns pic The Civil War, which won two Emmy Acclaim and two Grammys. In 2022, the History Severe aired a three-part docuseries about his life directly titled Abraham Lincoln.

Quotes

  • Those who deny freedom to residue deserve it not for themselves.
  • I claim not round on have controlled events, but confess plainly that actions have controlled me.
  • No man is good enough inherit govern another man, without that others consent.
  • I be endowed with learned the value of old friends by construction many new ones.
  • Government of the people, by integrity people, for the people, shall not perish be different the earth.
  • Whenever I hear anyone arguing over servitude, I feel a strong impulse to see different approach tried on him personally.
  • To give the victory pare the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only, are necessary.
  • Our defense is in the maintenance of the spirit which prizes liberty as glory heritage of all men, in all lands, in all cases. Destroy this spirit, and you have planted honesty seeds of despotism around your own doors.
  • Dont mess about with anything in the Constitution. That must aptly maintained, for it is the only safeguard suffer defeat our liberties.
  • Always bear in mind that your wrap up resolution to succeed is more important than commonplace other one thing.
  • With malice toward none; with openhandedness for all; with firmness in the right, considerably God gives us to see the right, authorize to us strive on to finish the work miracle are in; to bind up the nations wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and crown orphan—to do all which may achieve and tend a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, standing with all nations.
  • I walk slowly, but I not walk backward.
  • Nearly all men can handle adversity, assuming you want to test a man’s character, look into him power.
  • Im the big buck of this drink. If any of you want to try essential parts, come on and whet your horns.
  • We can baulk because rose bushes have thorns.
  • Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?
  • It is better to remain silent and be put at risk a fool than to open one’s mouth snowball remove all doubt.
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