Abraham Lincoln: A Legacy of Leadership and Emancipation

Early Life

• Born in a log cabin in Kentucky to Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln.
• Had an older sister, Sarah, and a younger brother, Thomas Jr., who died in infancy.
• Moved to southern Indiana with family; faced harsh winters.
• Built a log cabin and farm with his father.
• Mother died when Lincoln was 9, straining his relationship with his father.
• Stepmother Sarah Bush Johnston encouraged his intellect and love for reading.
• Self-taught with minimal formal schooling.

Early Career

• Family moved to Illinois when Lincoln was 21; explored various jobs including railsplitter, flatboatman, storekeeper, postman, and surveyor.
• Led volunteers in the Black Hawk War, gaining political connections.
• Elected to Illinois state legislature as a member of the Whig Party.
• Advocated for infrastructure development and expansion of commerce.
• Taught himself law, passed the bar in 1836, and moved to Springfield, Illinois.

Political Rise

• Married Mary Todd; had four children, with one son, Edward, dying young.
• Served a term as a U.S. Congressman, then returned to law practice.
• Re-entered politics amid national tensions over slavery and state rights.
• Opposed Kansas-Nebraska Act and joined the Republican Party.
• Gained national recognition despite losing a Senate race to Stephen A. Douglas.
• Delivered the famous "house divided" speech.

Presidency and Civil War

• Elected 16th President of the United States in 1860.
• Faced a nation divided over slavery; several Southern states seceded to form the Confederacy.
• Civil War began with the attack on Fort Sumter in 1861.
• Lincoln blockaded Southern ports and called for troops.

Military Leadership

• Despite limited military experience, learned tactics and selected effective generals.
• Faced personal tragedy with the death of his son William during the war.

Key Battles

• Battle of Antietam (1862): Union victory and bloodiest single-day battle.
• Announced Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves in rebellious states.
• Battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg (1863) marked turning points for the Union.

Emancipation and Legacy

• Emancipation Proclamation inspired former slaves to join the Union army.
• Delivered the Gettysburg Address, emphasizing human equality and the war's purpose.
• Re-elected in 1864 during a challenging period.
• Advocated for reunification and reconstruction without malice.
• Proposed the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery nationwide.

Assassination and Impact

• Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865.
• Death occurred shortly after the Civil War ended, leaving the nation in mourning.
• Lincoln’s legacy includes significant contributions to ending slavery and preserving the Union.
• Honored through memorials, currency, and historical remembrance.