1. Abraham Lincoln

2. EARLY LIFE Born February 12, 1809 to a mid to lower class family in Kentucky Less than a year of formal schooling- avid reader- educated himself Moved to Illinois when he was 21 Grew to be 6’4” Became involved in his Illinois community- serving as postmaster and deputy surveyor- got the nickname Honest Abe He begins to study law and joins his first practice in 1836- age of 25

3. MARRIAGE AND FAMILY In 1839 at the age of 30, he marries Mary Todd, daughter of a wealthy, slave holding family from Lexington Kentucky They have 4 children together Robert Todd Lincoln- only child to survive to adulthood Edward (Eddie) Baker Lincoln- dies from tuberculosis at 4 yrs old William (Willie) Lincoln- dies at 11 from typhoid fever Thomas (Tad) Lincoln- died at 18 from heart failure

4. POLITICAL LIFE First elected to the state legislature of Illinois in 1836 Elected to the House of Representatives in 1846 1858 Senatorial election campaign in Illinois- Abraham Lincoln vs. Stephen A Douglas Lincoln- Republican, Douglas- Democrat 4 months of campaigning, 7 face to face debates Douglas tried to paint Lincoln as a “Black Republican” who wanted to start a civil war, free the slaves, and grant black people equal rights Lincoln wanted to be seen as a moderate- stated that he supported the Fugitive Slave Law and didn’t want to interfere in established slave states Lincoln’s main point was to stop the spread of slavery Lincoln did not support equal rights, but did believe that every man was entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness Douglas wins the Senate seat, but these debates set Lincoln up to run for President in 1860

5. ELECTION OF 1860 Intensely divided and sectional election 4 candidates running between the different factions of the north and south Stephen Douglas ran for the Democratic party Lincoln did not even appear on the ballots of 10 states Lincoln won on 40% of the popular vote but won the most electoral college votes Due to suspected assassination attempts, Lincoln had to sneak into Washington