Netsky biography of abraham lincoln

This led him to become self-trained as a lawyer. He spent eight years working on the Illinois court circuit; his ambition, drive, and capacity for hard work were evident to all around him. Lincoln also had a good sense of humour and was deprecating about his looks.

Netsky biography of abraham lincoln

Work colleagues and friends noted that Lincoln had a capacity to defuse tense and argumentative situations, though the use of humour and his capacity to take an optimistic view of human nature. He loved to tell stories to illustrate a serious point through the use of humour and parables. Lincoln was shy around women but after a difficult courtship, he married Mary Todd in They had four children, who Lincoln was devoted to.

Although three died before reaching maturity — which caused much grief to both parents. As a lawyer, Abraham developed a capacity for quick thinking and oratory. His interest in public issues encouraged him to stand for public office. Inhe was elected to the House of Representatives for Illinois and served from After his political career appeared to be over, he returned to working as a lawyer in Illinois.

However, the s saw the slavery question re-emerge as a prominent divisive national issue. Lincoln abhorred slavery and from a political perspective wished to prevent slavery being extended and ultimately be phased out. He gave influential speeches, which drew on the Declaration of Independence to prove the Founding Fathers had intended to stop the spread of slavery.

In particular, Lincoln used a novel argument that although society was a long way from equality, America should aspire towards the lofty statement in the Declaration of Independence. Lincoln had a strong capacity for empathy. He used this concept of empathy to speak against slavery. Rugged conditions. Heavy labor. Minimal schooling.

And a mother gone too soon. The 16th U. Seward of New York and other powerful contenders in favor of the rangy Illinois lawyer with only one undistinguished congressional term under his belt. In the general election, Lincoln again faced Douglas, who represented the northern Democrats; southern Democrats had nominated John C. He built an exceptionally strong cabinet composed of many of his political rivals, including Seward, Salmon P.

Chase, Edward Bates and Edwin M. After years of sectional tensions, the election of an antislavery northerner as the 16th president of the United States drove many southerners over the brink. By the time Lincoln was inaugurated as 16th U. The Confederates fired on both the fort and the Union fleet, beginning the Civil War. Hopes for a quick Union victory were dashed by defeat in the Battle of Bull Run Manassasand Lincoln called formore troops as both sides prepared for a long conflict.

Abe, whose constituents had been regularly re-electing him to the House, made a bid for the Senate inbut dropped out of the race in favor of the front-runner, Lyman Trumbull. Lincoln did get the nomination for the Senate indelivering the first of his most well-known speeches at the Illinois Republican Convention with the famous line about the house divided.

His opponent for the Senate seat was Stephen Douglas, and over the next few months, they would engage in the Lincoln-Douglas debates in towns throughout the state. Although Douglas ultimately prevailed in the senate race, Lincoln won a presidential nomination in at the Republican National Convention in Chicago. The first state, South Carolina, seceded from the Union late Three months later, a coalition of southern states established The Confederate States of America with president Jefferson Davis, effectively splitting the nation in two.

Abe's year-old son, William, died in February The cause of death was likely typhoid fever. In SeptemberLincoln released the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamationlegislation that would free those who were enslaved. It netsky biography of abraham lincoln be effective as of January 1, Congress subsequently passed the Thirteenth Amendment, also promoted by Lincoln, inwhich put an end to legal slavery in the U.

Meanwhile, throughout the next couple of years until the spring ofthe Civil War raged on. Lincoln delivered several well-known speeches at battle sites, including the Gettysburg Address in November, President Lincoln won re-election and delivered his second inaugural speech in March This time, he tapped Andrew Johnson to be his vice president.

A month later, General Robert E. Lee, head of the Confederate forces, conceded defeat, and the war was over. The president died the next morning. As a self-educated man who rose from humble beginnings to the highest office in the nation, Abraham Lincoln's personal life story is a powerful inspiration to others throughout history. As a politician who led the country through its most trying times since its inception, President Lincoln stands as an icon of resolve, wisdom and compassion.

His legacy remains just as influential as it was in the post-Civil War era following his untimely death. Historians view Lincoln's greatest contributions as president to be preserving the Union throughout the war between the states, his championship of democracy and the abolishment of slavery. Lincoln notably beat a local champion named Jack Armstrong and became somewhat of a hero.

When the Black Hawk War broke out in between the United States and Native Americans, the volunteers in the area elected Lincoln to be their captain. As he was starting his political career in the early s, Lincoln decided to become a lawyer. After being admitted to the bar inhe moved to Springfield, Illinois, and began to practice in the John T.

Stuart law firm. InLincoln partnered with William Herndon in the netsky biography of abraham lincoln of law. Although the two had different jurisprudent styles, they developed a close professional and personal relationship. So to supplement his income, he followed the court as it made its rounds on the circuit to the various county seats in Illinois.

On November 4,Lincoln wed Mary Todda high-spirited, well-educated woman from a distinguished Kentucky family. Mary and Lincoln met later at a social function and eventually did get married. Before marrying Todd, Lincoln was involved with other potential matches. Aroundhe purportedly met and became romantically involved with Anne Rutledge. Before they had a chance to be engaged, a wave of typhoid fever came over New Salem, and Anne died at age Her death was said to have left Lincoln severely depressed.

About a year after the death of Rutledge, Lincoln courted Mary Owens. The two saw each other for a few months, and marriage was considered. But in time, Lincoln called off the match. InLincoln began his political career and was elected to the Illinois state legislature as a member of the Whig Party. More than a decade later, from tohe served a single term in the U.

House of Representatives. His foray into national politics seemed to be as unremarkable as it was brief. He was the lone Whig from Illinois, showing party loyalty but finding few political allies. As a congressman, Lincoln used his term in office to speak out against the Mexican-American War and supported Zachary Taylor for president in His criticism of the war made him unpopular back home, and he decided not to run for second term.

Instead, he returned to Springfield to practice law. By the s, the railroad industry was moving west, and Illinois found itself becoming a major hub for various companies. Lincoln served as a lobbyist for the Illinois Central Railroad as its company attorney. Success in several court cases brought other business clients as well, including banks, insurance companies, and manufacturing firms.

Lincoln also worked in some criminal trials. Lincoln referred to an almanac and proved that the night in question had been too dark for the witness to see anything clearly. His client was acquitted. As a member of the Illinois state legislature, Lincoln supported the Whig politics of government-sponsored infrastructure and protective tariffs.