Abraham Lincoln is regarded as one of the greatest Presidents of the United States history from his work with the civil rights movement and his unique appearance (McPherson 94). Standing at six foot four inches, he was one of the tallest presidents in history. He is also famously known for his dealings with slavery and the abolishment of it. His independent background made him strong willed, and able to fight for what he believed in (Bio). In his Presidential acceptance speech, he criticized senator Stephen Douglas, the Supreme Court and President Buchanan for promoting slavery (Gettysburg). With Confederate states threatening to secede, Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation stating that all slaves in Confederate states would be
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His mom died when he was nine because of “milk sickness.”(Abraham) His step-mother found out about his quick wit and intellect, and encouraged him to read often (McPherson 23). Surprisingly, Abe didn’t go to college, instead became a postmaster and taught himself the law and became a lawyer (Abraham). He married Mary Todd and they had four children together (Bio). He supported the Whig party and their idea of protective tariffs. Around this time is when he decided he wanted to be a lawyer, teaching himself by reading “Commentaries on the Laws of England” by William Blackstone. In 1837 he moved to Springfield, Illinois and began his practice in the John T. Stuart law firm (Abraham). He served a single term in the House of Representatives from 1847-1849 (Bio). Being the only Whig from Illinois, he struggled to find political allies. He spent his time in office speaking out against the Mexican-American war which made him unpopular back home (Bio). So he decided not to run for a second term and continue his law practice. The Kansas-Nebraska act gave way to the rise of the Republican party, which awakened Lincoln 's political life once again (Bio). When he ran for President, he only received 40 percent of the popular votes, but received 180 out of 303 electoral votes, and his name wasn’t even on the ballot (Abraham). He selected a cabinet of many members of his political rivals (McPherson 102). And he would need his cabinet in his first year in office. Before his inauguration in 1861, seven Southern states had seceded and Fort Sumter was under siege (The Gettysburg). In his speech “The Gettysburg Address” he addresses the reason for fighting the war. Stating that they had to fight for what the Founding Fathers wanted to build this country on, and to not take those lost lives for granted. He wanted for those men to have died for a reason at Gettysburg (The Gettysburg).
His mom died when he was nine because of “milk sickness.”(Abraham) His step-mother found out about his quick wit and intellect, and encouraged him to read often (McPherson 23). Surprisingly, Abe didn’t go to college, instead became a postmaster and taught himself the law and became a lawyer (Abraham). He married Mary Todd and they had four children together (Bio). He supported the Whig party and their idea of protective tariffs. Around this time is when he decided he wanted to be a lawyer, teaching himself by reading “Commentaries on the Laws of England” by William Blackstone. In 1837 he moved to Springfield, Illinois and began his practice in the John T. Stuart law firm (Abraham). He served a single term in the House of Representatives from 1847-1849 (Bio). Being the only Whig from Illinois, he struggled to find political allies. He spent his time in office speaking out against the Mexican-American war which made him unpopular back home (Bio). So he decided not to run for a second term and continue his law practice. The Kansas-Nebraska act gave way to the rise of the Republican party, which awakened Lincoln 's political life once again (Bio). When he ran for President, he only received 40 percent of the popular votes, but received 180 out of 303 electoral votes, and his name wasn’t even on the ballot (Abraham). He selected a cabinet of many members of his political rivals (McPherson 102). And he would need his cabinet in his first year in office. Before his inauguration in 1861, seven Southern states had seceded and Fort Sumter was under siege (The Gettysburg). In his speech “The Gettysburg Address” he addresses the reason for fighting the war. Stating that they had to fight for what the Founding Fathers wanted to build this country on, and to not take those lost lives for granted. He wanted for those men to have died for a reason at Gettysburg (The Gettysburg).