Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809 in Springfield, Illinois. His father was very strict and maltreated him. His mother was Nancy Lincoln and he loved her dearly. She died when Lincoln was age seven. In 1831 worked as a clerk in a general store. He loved telling stories and was very entertaining. He also worked as a post master and a surveyor. Because he had been beaten by his father, Abraham could relate to African slaves. In 1837, Lincoln became a lawyer, he was self-taught. His father had remarried and his stepmother encouraged him to learn and that is part of the reason he taught himself to learn and study law. He was mainly self taught and studied the law. His stepmother encouraged him to learn.

Lincoln became engaged and was content. However his fiance died. He fell into a depression. His friends were afraid that he would kill himself. Later on he met Mary Todd She was witty and captivating. The two fell in love. They married and had four sons. Mary Todd Lincoln had four sons Robert was born first. Then Edward was born. However, he died before his fourth birthday. Mary Todd and Abraham took his death to heart.

When Lincoln’s father passed, Abraham refused to see him. His relationship with his father was contentious and he did not go to see him nor go to his funeral ot burial. Lincoln was ambitious and warm-hearted whereas his father was col-hearted. Lincoln was ambitious and bright. Afterwards, Lincoln dotted on his other sons.

Abraham got into politics and joined the Whig party. He became a congressman. He joined the Whig party. He was not re-elected and returned to his life. In 1860. Lincoln ran against Stephen Douglass in the 1860 presidential election. Abraham won the election.

In December of that year, South Carolina left the Union. April 12, 1861 the Confederates fired on Fort Sumpter, and the Civil War began. Lincoln suspended habeas corpus. McClellan was appointed the Union general. Lincoln and McClellan did not get along. Eventually, Lincoln fired him. There were other military leaders. In 1862, Lincoln appointed Grant and the new commander was very successful. Although, the new general was aggressive many people considered him to be a butcher.

Slaves were persuaded to join the Union troops. In 1863, Lincoln wrote the emancipation proclamation. Afterwards, Lincoln gave African Americans the right to vote. He dedicated the Gettysburg cementery in November 1863. It was a four minute speech, but it was one of the best speeches. The 13TH amendment freed the slaves. On April 11, 1865 President Lincoln signed the 14TH amendment giving Africans the right to vote.

The Union army and the Confederate armies fought for four years, Lincoln’s Union forces took control of vital rivers and cities It was very important for the North to get control of the Mississippi and the Union armies did. Although the North had more resources, the South fought hard. in the end however the South lost. general Robert E Lee surrendered at Apamatox.

Lincoln was reelected to the presidency. People were jubilant and the president was in a serene mood. Lincoln and Mary were thinking about going to Europe. They went to the ford’s theatre in Washington DC. Our American Cousin was playing. At a crucial part of the play John Wilkes Boothe shot President Lincoln. Booth ran off. Lincoln was brought across the way from Ford’s theatre. He died there and was one of the presidents in US history.