Abraham Lincoln is one of the most prolific men to ever grace this great country with his presence, and is considered to be one of the greatest American Presidents. Because of his relentless aggression towards a slave-free country, the future of the United States would be forever changed. He inevitably was willing to sacrifice his life for his beliefs. Donald Herbert David's biography entitled Lincoln explains an indebt account of Lincoln's life. From Lincoln's childhood, to his last moments of his life, Donald successfully attempts to explain Lincoln's life from Lincoln's point of view.
Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 near Hodgenville, Kentucky. His birth mother, Nancy Lincoln died when Abraham was a very young boy. His father, Thomas, who was openly against slavery, married Sarah Bush Johnston to aid him in the task of raising his children. Abraham recalls that he probably would have died of malnutrition if it were not for his stepmother. During his childhood and early adolescence Abraham's father moved his family around to many locations in hope for a better life. When asked to recall his childhood, Abraham never said much more than "It was very poor-. Though Abe attended grammar school a few times during his adolescence, most of Lincoln's schooling was self taught.
One of Abraham's first jobs as a young man was working in New Orleans on a flat boat. Since Abe was not legally an adult, and his father Thomas was in poor health, most of Lincoln's money earned went back home to his father. In July, of 1831 Abraham separated from his family and moved to New Salem, Illinois where he continued doing handy jobs until he joined the Black Hawk War in April of 1832. The next three years, Lincoln unsuccessfully ran for Illinois State Legislature, became a surveyor, and was appointed the Post Master of New Salem. .
In 1834, at the age of twenty-four, Lincoln is elected to the Illinois State Legislature, and is then reelected in 1836.
