1. ABRAHAM LINCOLN A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE GREATEST PRESIDENT IN OUR NATION’S HISTORY BY ERIC J. DEMICHELE

2. The Early Years Born February 12 th, 1809 In a log cabin near Hodgenville, Kentucky Son of Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln Moved to Indiana at age 7 Mother dies in 1818 from milk sickness Father remarries to Sarah Bush Johnston

3. Lincoln loved to read Preferred reading to working in the fields Led to difficult relationship with his father Borrowed books from neighbors

4. The Lincolns moved again in 1830 Illinois Lived in New Salem, Illinois until 1837 Worked odd jobs – store clerk, surveying, and postmaster Impressed residents with his character Earned nickname “Honest Abe”

5. Lincoln in Politics

6. Serving the State of Illinois 1832 – Lincoln unsuccessful in run for Illinois legislature 1834, 1836, 1838, 1840 – won these races for Illinois legislature Member of the Whig party (remained a Whig until 1856) Studied law in spare time, became lawyer in 1836

7. Lincoln and His Family Met Mary Todd in Springfield, IL in 1839 Married her in 1842 Next eleven years 4 children Robert, Edward, William, and Thomas

8. Lincoln Goes to Washington

9. Congress 1846 – Lincoln elected to the House of Representatives Opposed the Mexican War Opposed slavery After his term was over, he returned to Illinois to practice law

10. Washington Cont’d Made unsuccessful attempt for seat in the Senate in 1854 1856 – received support for Republican Vice-Presidential nomination Opposed the Dred Scott decision

11. 1858 – Engaged in a series of debates with Stephen A. Douglas Lincoln was against the spread of slavery, but was not an abolitionist Lost 1858 Senate race to Douglas, but gained national recognition because of his speeches Sought Republican Presidential nomination in 1860 – Beats out William Seward Elected 16 th President on Nov. 6 th 1860

12. The Presidency Trouble from the start Past Presidents leave a mess Slavery Divides the nation After Lincoln elected – Southern States secede from the union

13. Lincoln faced the greatest internal crisis of any president in our country’s history- Civil War Also faced – Enormous pressure, loss of life, battlefield defeats, incompetent generals, and assassination threats Lincoln’s number one goal was to “preserve the Union” Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1 st 1863 declared freedom for all slaves in the Confederacy not under Union control Nov. 19 th, 1863 gave Gettysburg Address – Most famous speech

14. Presidency Cont’d Homestead Act – Domestic policy that allowed poor people in the East to obtain Land in the West Signed tariff legislation to protect American Industry Signed a bill that chartered the first transcontinental railroad. Foreign policy was to prevent outside intervention in the Civil War

15. 1864 – Ulysses S. Grant was named general-in-chief of the armies of the U.S. 1864 – Lincoln was re-elected with running mate Andrew Johnson, defeating his former general George McClellan 1865 – April 9 th, Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy Surrenders to Grant at Appomattox courthouse in Virginia

16. Lincoln Assassination 5 days after Lee surrendered, Lincoln shot by John Wilkes Booth Ford’s Theatre Our American Cousin Booth killed and co- conspirators found guilty

17. Famous Lincoln Quotes

18. “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved – I do not expect the house to fall – but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all the one thing or all the other.” House Divided Speech in Springfield, IL 3-4-1858

19. “In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free – honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth. Other means may succeed; this could not fail. The way is plain, peaceful, generous, just – a way which, if followed, the world will forever applaud, and God must forever bless.” Second Annual Message to Congress, 12-1- 1862

20. “Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Gettysburg Address, 11-19-1863

21. “Whenever I hear one arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.” Speech to 114 th Indiana Regiment, 3-17- 1865

22. “The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me.” Speech on the Sub-Treasury, IL House of Representatives 12-26-1839