The story of 16th president of the United State

Abraham Lincoln, born on February 12, 1809, was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman. He served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln played a crucial role in leading the Union during the American Civil War, where he aimed to protect the nation as a constitutional union. His efforts resulted in the defeat of the insurgent Confederacy, the abolition of slavery, the expansion of federal government power, and the modernization of the U.S. economy.

Despite being born into poverty in a log cabin in Kentucky, Lincoln grew up on the frontier, primarily in Indiana. He was self-taught and eventually became a lawyer, leader of the Whig Party, Illinois state legislator, and U.S. congressman from Illinois. After a successful law practice, he returned to Springfield, Illinois in 1849. The passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, which allowed slavery in certain territories, reignited Lincoln's political career. He emerged as a prominent figure in the newly formed Republican Party and gained national attention through his debates against Stephen A. Douglas during the 1858 Senate campaign.

In 1860, Lincoln ran for president and secured victory by sweeping the North. However, his election posed a threat to pro-slavery factions in the South, leading to the secession of Southern states from the Union. The Confederate States of America, a newly formed entity, began seizing federal military bases in the South. Just over a month into his presidency, Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina. In response, Lincoln mobilized forces to suppress the rebellion and restore the unity of the nation.

Lincoln, a moderate Republican, skillfully navigated a complex landscape of factions that included friends and opponents from both the Democratic and Republican parties. In order to manage these factions, he cleverly exploited their mutual animosity, strategically distributed political favors, and appealed to the American people. The War Democrats and Radical Republicans, who were his allies, demanded severe punishment for the Southern Confederates. However, Lincoln faced opposition from anti-war Democrats, known as "Copperheads," who despised him. In fact, there were even pro-Confederate elements that plotted his assassination due to their irreconcilable differences. Despite these challenges, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address emerged as a remarkable testament to American national purpose, gaining immense influence.

Lincoln took a hands-on approach to the war effort, closely supervising strategy and tactics, including the selection of generals. He also implemented a naval blockade to disrupt the South's trade. In order to maintain control, he suspended habeas corpus in Maryland and other areas, effectively managing potential threats. Additionally, Lincoln skillfully defused the Trent Affair, preventing British intervention. In 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared freedom for slaves in rebellious states. This proclamation directed the Army and Navy to recognize and protect the freedom of these individuals, even allowing them to join the armed service of the United States. Lincoln exerted pressure on border states to abolish slavery and actively supported the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which ultimately abolished slavery, except as a form of punishment for a crime.

Lincoln skillfully orchestrated his own triumphant re-election campaign. His primary objective was to mend the wounds of a nation torn apart by war, advocating for reconciliation. Tragically, on April 14, 1865, a mere five days following the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, Lincoln's life was abruptly cut short. While attending a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., alongside his wife, Mary, he fell victim to a fatal gunshot inflicted by John Wilkes Booth, a sympathizer of the Confederate cause. Lincoln's legacy endures as that of a martyr and a revered national hero, celebrated for his exceptional leadership during the war and his unwavering commitment to preserving the Union and eradicating slavery. Consistently hailed as one of the greatest presidents in American history, Lincoln's impact resonates in both popular opinion and scholarly assessments.

Family and childhood

Abraham Lincoln, the second child of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln, was born on February 12, 1809, in a log cabin on Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky. His ancestry can be traced back to Samuel Lincoln, an Englishman who migrated from Hingham, Norfolk, to Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1638. From there, the family journeyed westward, passing through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Lincoln was also a descendant of the Harrison family of Virginia. His paternal grandfather, Captain Abraham Lincoln, along with his wife Bathsheba (née Herring), moved the family from Virginia to Jefferson County, Kentucky. Tragically, the captain lost his life in an Indian raid in 1786, an event witnessed by Thomas, who was only eight years old at the time. Following the attack, Thomas worked various odd jobs in Kentucky and Tennessee before eventually settling with his family in Hardin County, Kentucky, in the early 1800s.