Warm Up No Journal. Just LISTEN to one of Lincoln’s most famous speeches. This is Mr. Johnson’s single favorite piece of Americana and a great way to begin a talk about our 16 th President. We will be covering this speech in depth later

Abraham Lincoln An Overview of the Man who Held the Union Together

OBJECTIVES SWBAT (Students will be able to): Recall important events in Lincoln’s life Discuss Lincoln’s complicated nature before the war.

Before we begin! Get a sheet of lined paper (your own or we have some for you). Put your NAME, DATE, and PERIOD on top. Take notes as we go. PLEASE DON’T WRITE THIS IN YOUR JOURNAL! If you have questions, write them down. There will be time for them later.

Disclaimer This lecture is based on years of reading and trying to better understand one of our most famous presidents. There are many people out there who disagree with me on certain points and that is fine. Remember, history is not just facts. History is what we do with those facts, how we interpret them, and one tool we can use to make meaning of our world. “History According to Johnson” signifies an informed opinion that other scholars may not agree with.

Early Life Born in Kentucky to Thomas and Nancy Lincoln. In Family moved to Indiana. In Lincoln’s mother died from “milk sickness”

Family Problems Thomas and Nancy were both poorly educated. Very likely they could do little more than sign their names. Lincoln and his father never really connected. In 1851, Lincoln refused to attend his father’s funeral. "If we could meet now, it is doubtful whether it would not be more painful than pleasant"

Lincoln’s Step-Mom Late Thomas marries Sarah Bush Johnston. Sarah is a HUGE influence on Lincoln. She was a warm and caring step-mother and encouraged his studies. Lincoln spoke fondly of his step-mother throughout his life.

SHOULDER PARTNER Discuss how Lincoln’s relationship with his step-mom helped Lincoln. How different might he have been without this loving influence?

Illinois Legislature Family moved to Illinois in Lincoln ran for a seat in the Illinois Legislature in His adopted home town awarded him 92% of the vote, but he was unknown elsewhere in the county. He lost. In 1834, he runs again and is elected.

Lincoln the Scholar Lincoln really was a self-taught individual. Several people guided him (step-mom and others), but Lincoln taught himself. Lincoln spent every moment he could trying to learn. Joined the Illinois Bar in He never spent a day in law school. The next year he moved to Springfield and in 1839 he was a key player in making Springfield the state capitol. OH! An interesting bit about Springfield….

Guess who decided to show up? Springfield originally went by another name…. Any guesses?

Lincoln in Love Ann Rutledge “[S]he was a handsome girl– would have made a good loving wife… I did honestly-- & truly love the girl & think often– often of her now” Mary Todd First met in 1839 and engaged in They separated for a time before finally marrying in 1842.

Mary Todd Mary Todd Lincoln came from a respected family, was well educated, and fiercely loyal to her husband and his career. Unfortunately, she showed some instability and was in questionable health most of her life. H.a.t.J. - The Lincolns were very much in love and Mary helped Lincoln’s career.

Things to know. Lincoln was a story teller. He was a “workaholic”. He loved to read. Lincoln was extremely thoughtful, intelligent, and comfortable with “shades of gray.”

Early National Exposure Lincoln had been in the U.S. House of Representative from He ran into a big problem. Which war was taking place?

Lincoln runs for U.S. Senate. He does not make the ballot. In ’56, Lincoln helps found the Illinois Republican party.

A funny thing happened in 1858…

SHOULDER PARTNER Discuss the “what if” question. What if: Lincoln had won this campaign. How might history have been changed?

1860- Chicago, Illinois Republican Party Convention - William H. Seward vs. Salmon P. Chase vs. Edwin Stanton vs. Edward Bates vs. that rail-splitting country lawyer from Illinois. Lincoln secures nomination on the third ballot.

Election of 1860 From

Lincoln on Slavery Few question that Lincoln thought slavery was a moral wrong. Lincoln was politically opposed to the expansion of slavery. What does politically opposed mean? Today, some label Lincoln as a “racist”. This is a hard claim to make when he is compared to his contemporaries. But, there are documents to support the claim.

Two Quotes from Lincoln The following two statements from the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas Debates are often quoted by individuals trying to make an argument one way or another.

Chicago, July 1858 “Let us discard all this quibbling about this man and the other man, this race and that race and the other race being inferior, and therefore they must be placed in an inferior position. Let us discard all these things, and unite as one people throughout this land, until we shall once more stand up declaring that all men are created equal”

Charleston, Illinois September 1858 “I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races; that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people… And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together, there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race”

Who is the real Lincoln? Lincoln was a great politician, comfortable with shades of grey, and should be considered a “Moderate” Republican for his time. Lincoln was one of the great intellectuals of his time. Lincoln believed that slavery must not spread, but was not for ending it in the South (before the war) Lincoln did more than any one person to advance the cause African-Americans and to preserve the Union. “History According to Johnson”

TICKET OUT Write down three things from today’s lecture. You can include: Something new you learned about Lincoln. Something you have more questions about.