American Biography – Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865)
Lincoln spent his youth helping his father on
the Kentucky farm by clearing fields and
planting crops. As fro schooling, he later said
that he had gone to school “by littles” – a
little now and a little then. He had about one
year of formal schooling. Nevertheless, he
learned how to read and write, although he
never remembered how he had learned to do
so. He developed a hunger for reading and
would read long into the night by the light of
the fireplace.
In 1830, his father moved to southern
Illinois. Abraham decided to leave farming.
After various jobs, he volunteered, in 1832, to
fight against the Amerindians. As he later
said, he met no Amerindians, but had “ a
good many bloody battles with the
mosquitoes”.
After leaving the militia, he developed
the ambition to become a legislator. (Indeed
Abrahams was a fiercely ambitious man). He
realized that to achieve his goal he would
have to become a lawyer. Accordingly, he
moved to Springfield, the state capital, and
began to study law; he became a lawyer in 1836. He developed the reputation as a
skilful, clever and honest lawyer. After twenty years of practicing law, he became one of
the most respected and well-known lawyers in the state, and became wealthy.
He ran for the state legislature, and was elected in his second attempt. He served
four terms (1834-1842). As a politician, he joined the Whig Party because he believed
in the policies of Henry Clay, the Whig leader.
Meanwhile, in 1842 Abraham married Mary Todd. The Todds were a wealthy
Kentucky family, who owned a plantation and slaves. The marriage seems to have been
a happy one. One of their four sons, only one – the eldest, named Robert – survived
past the teenage years.
In 1846, Abraham was elected to Congress. He did not play an active part;
however he did vote against the war with Mexico. He feared that it would expand
slavery. After his term in Congress ended he returned home and took part in politics for
the next 5 years. However, the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 brought
him out of retirement. In 1865, Abraham joined the new Republican Party that was a
coalition between Whigs and abolitionists.
Two years later, Abraham was his party’s nominee for the Senate. He and
Stephen Douglas, the Democratic Senator , debated across the state of Illinois.
Although Douglas won the election, Lincoln earned a national reputation as a sound and
moderate politician on the basic issues of economics and slavery.
Two years later, after three ballots he secured the nomination of the Republican
Party for the Presidency. The ensuing Presidential election was bitter. Due to the split
among his opponents Lincoln won the election. Although he received only 40 percent of
the popular vote, he received 57 Electoral College votes more than his three
opponents combined. The latter assured him victory.
Lincoln was not a popular President at first. Many people – including some in his
own Cabinet – did not believe that he was able enough to serve as President. However,
during his first term, he led the fight against the South, laid the economic foundations
for modern America, kept the North united and supportive of the war, and emancipated
the slaves. He was re-elected in 1864, and in his second inaugural address, he
promised, “malice towards none and charity for all”.
His philosophical attitudes may be understood in his excerpt from a speech to the
166th Ohio Regiment, August 1864.
“…I almost always feel inclined,
when I happen to say anything to
soldiers, to impress upon them in a few
brief remarks the importance of success
in this contest. It is not merely for
today, but all time to come that we
should perpetuate for our children’s
children this great and free government,
which we have enjoyed all our lives. I
beg you to remember this, not merely for
my sake, but for yours. I happen
temporarily to occupy this big White
House. I am a living witness that any
one of your children may look to come
here as my father’s child has. It is in
order that each of you may have through
this free government which we have
enjoyed, an open field and a fair chance
for your industry, enterprise and
intelligence; that you may all have equal
privileges in the race of life, with all its
desirable human aspirations. It is for
this the struggle should be maintained,
that we may not lose our birthright – not only for one, but for two or three
years. The nation is worth fighting for, to secure such an inestimable jewel.”
A year later, the War was over. The South was defeated and the Union was
preserved. Slavery was ended. A few days after the surrender of General Lee, Lincoln
was assassinated while watching a play. When he died, one of his Cabinet said, “Now
he belongs to the ages”.
At his death, Abraham was hailed as a martyr for the cause of the Union and the
abolition of slavery. Myths and legends evolved about him. His sayings, such as,
“government of the people, by the people and for the people”, became elevated to the
heights of the words of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Question for Thought:
How did Lincoln represent the American Dream, the personal success through
hard work, honesty, and abilities? Do you think he did represent the rise of the
common people?