Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth president of the United States. He served as president from 1861 until 1865. He was one of the greatest leaders in American History. A civilized, far-sighted statesman in his lifetime, he became a legend and a folk hero after his death.
Soon after Lincoln was elected president of the United States, seven southern states seceded because they thought he would abolish slavery. Four more states followed after he gave his first inaugural address on March 4, 1861.
Lincoln arose from humble backwoods origins to become one of the great presidents of the United States. In his effort to preserve the Union during the Civil War, he assumed more power than any preceding president. As a superb politician, he persuaded the people with reasoned word and thoughtful deed to look to him for leadership. He had a lasting influence on American political institutions, most importantly in setting the precedent of vigorous executive action in time of national emergency.
Early Life.
Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, near Hodgenville, Kentucky. He was born in a small cabin, which now stands in the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in Kentucky.
As a young boy, one of Lincoln's jobs was clearing the forest. He quickly became skilled with an axe. Until he was about twenty three he was almost constantly handling an axe. One of his chores was to make fence rails by splitting poles. Later, as a president candidate, he became known as the Railsplitter.
Reading by firelight, Lincoln's desire to learn and his efforts to educate himself have become legendary. Lincoln grew up in poverty, where he had little formal education and minimal access to books. As a boy, he would often read at night by the light of the fire in his family's cabin.
When his father could spare him chores, he would attend ABC school. Held in log cabins, the teachers often were barely more educated than their pupils.