Abraham Lincoln
16th president who led the Union through the Civil War and abolished slavery.
On February 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln was born in a Kentucky log cabin that had only one room.[1] Lincoln's time as an Illinois state representative (four terms) was longer than his combined service as a U.S. congressman and president.[2]
Last updated 2026-10-01 from the source article.
Quick Facts
- Order
- 16th
- Office
- President of the United States
- Vice president
- Hannibal Hamlin (1861–1865); Andrew Johnson (Mar–Apr 1865)
- Took office
- March 4, 1861
- Left office
- April 15, 1865
- Predecessor
- James Buchanan
- Successor
- Andrew Johnson
Facts from the source article.
Life and work
His mother Nancy died from milk sickness on October 5, 1818.[3] Lincoln was largely self-educated, with less than 12 months of formal schooling by age 15.[4][5] He moved to New Salem, Illinois, in 1831 and worked at a general store.[6] Lincoln served as a captain in the Illinois Militia during the Black Hawk War but did not see combat.[6]
He won a seat in the Illinois state house in August 1834 at age 25.[2] Soon after reelection in 1836, Lincoln was awarded the position of floor leader.[2] Because land titles were more dependable there, Lincoln's family relocated to Indiana in 1816.[7] Lincoln pushed for the Illinois and Michigan Canal's construction and headed the effort to relocate the state capital to Springfield.[8][2]
What the cited sources add
The National Park Service account notes that Lincoln spent more years as an Illinois state representative than his entire time as U.S. congressman and president combined.[2] According to the same source, Lincoln was shy and awkward as a young politician but his public speaking prowess forced many to reconsider their first impressions.[2] The National Park Service states that Lincoln overwhelmingly supported expensive internal improvement projects throughout frontier Illinois.[2] The National Park Service account explains that Lincoln's time in the Illinois House was marked by both triumphs and failures.[2]
According to this source, Lincoln thought that building railroads, the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and dredging waterways would attract new residents and necessary commerce.[2]
References
- Wikipedia, "Abraham Lincoln" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Donald 1996, p. 20–22; McPherson, "Lincoln, Abraham", September 26, 2024; Holland, "Our English Background", January 1928, p. 135–142; Burlingame 2008, p. vol. 1 p. 1 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- "Lincoln in the Illinois State Legislature", National Park Service. facts only, no text reused. nps.gov
- Wikipedia, "Abraham Lincoln" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bartelt 2008, p. 79; McPherson, "Lincoln, Abraham", September 26, 2024; Donald 1996, p. 20–22; Donald 1996, p. 20–22 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abraham Lincoln" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bartelt 2008, p. 79 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abraham Lincoln" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Donald 1996, p. 20–22; Madison 2014, p. 110 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abraham Lincoln" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Manning 2016, p. 12; Thomas 2008, p. 56–57, 69–70; Winkle 2001, p. 86–95; Donald 1996, p. 20–22; Winkle 2001, p. 86–95; Burlingame 2008, p. vol. 1 p. 1; Burlingame 2008, p. vol. 1 p. 1 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abraham Lincoln" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Winkle 2011, p. 6–7; Burlingame 2008, p. vol. 1 p. 1; Bartelt 2008, p. 79 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Abraham Lincoln" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Simon 1990, p. 283; Burlingame 2008, p. vol. 1 p. 1; Simon 1990, p. 283; Carwardine 2003, p. 16; "Lincoln in the Illinois State Legislature", National Park Service (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Abraham Lincoln (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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