Abraham Lincoln (February 12th 1809 - April 15th 1865 with Washington) is the sixteenth president of the United States of America. He is elected for a four years mandate in 1861. He is the first republican president of the history of the country. Its name is associated with the American Civil War and the Abolition of slavery. He dies assassinated following an emanating plot of the confederated at the beginning of its second mandate.

Lincoln is small a lawyer of province without experiment which becomes at the same time a politician and an effective military chief at the time when the United States passes through the greatest crisis of their history. The election of a free trade Republican immediately involves the creation of the States confederated of America formed of 11 Slave states and, a little later the American Civil War. After initial reverses, the armed with the United States under the command of the general Ulysses S. Grant takes the top. Lincoln writes the proclamation émancipant the slaves and signs the 13th amendment abolishing the Esclavage. In its speech of nomination at the beginning of its second mandate, it is shown reconciling towards the States of the ex-Confederation and lance a program of rebuilding which was not born because of its assassination by a pro-Confederated extremist.

Biography

Youth

Abraham Lincoln was born on the Frontier on February 12th, 1809, in a hut of logs of the Kentucky, located in a farm of 348 acres (1.4km ²) in the south-eastern part of the County of Hardin and close to Hodgenville. It is reached Syndrome of Marfan. He is the son of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, a couple of illiterate farmers and without money. He is fore-mentioned Abraham, without second first name, in remembering his grandfather, killed by the Indians in 1786. The myth somewhat exaggerated the poverty of his/her parents to his birth. Thus Thomas Lincoln was a citizen respected and influential in deep Kentucky. He had joined the Église Baptist because of his anti-slavery feelings.

From 1811, a legal procedure aims at depriving Lincoln of their farm. It leads in 1816 and Thomas Lincoln decides to take along his family in the south-west of Indiana. It there squatte of the public grounds, in a farm with half built to which lack a frontage. After having built a more acceptable habitat, it buys the ground and undertakes its culture. Abraham takes part in the agricultural work and the breeding but is repugnant to hunting and fishing. In 1818, whereas it is 9 years old it sees his mother dying, but in the year who follows his/her father marries Sarah Bush Johnston, a widow having two girls and a son. She deals with the home and Lincoln draft with equality with her own children. Abraham and Sarah become so close that later, he will remember her like his “angel mother”.

Abraham quickly develops an unquestionable appetite for the reading, passion encouraged by his/her Sarah mother-in-law. His/her parents were illiterate and itself had only seldom gone to school. In spite of that, Lincoln could have read indeed only some books, of which it however knew to keep to remember. With the wire of its readings, he discovers the Bible, the history of England and the United States. Among the books which it would have read, one finds Robinson Crusoe de Daniel Defoe or the fables of Esope. Its vicinity will report later that it was ready to traverse miles to go to borrow a book.

In March 1830, whereas Abraham reached 21 years, Thomas Lincoln decides to join the fertile grounds of Indiana, on the river bank Sangamon. The year which follows, Abraham Lincoln, not wishing to become farmer, decides to carry out an autonomous existence. After having helped his father to clear his new grounds, he becomes sailor and goes on a journey on the Mississippi to the Orleans News. On the return, it is installed in the village of New Salem, on the Sangamon river. It becomes storekeeper, post-office employee, supervisor there. In 1832, he enlists in the local militia to fight the Indians of Black Hawk and is elected captain of his company. He will state later never not to have seen Indian warriors, but to have taken part in virulent arguments between militiamans.

Candidate to have a public life, it presents himself to assembled state like representative of the left whig, but is the first time demolishes before being elected then several times re-elected. Hesitating, he prefers finally to become lawyer that blacksmith to earn his living. After having already studied mathematics and grammar, it thus starts to study the right. In 1836 it makes a success of the examination of the bar.

A lawyer who engages in policy

In 1837, Lincoln leaves to settle with Springfield and starts to exert.

He is re-elected four times like representative with the room of Illinois. He aspires then to becoming representing of Illinois to the Chambre of the representatives of Washington.

He is elected in 1846 and sits starting from the end 1847. In Washington, he is opposed to the war against Mexico, which he considers unconstitutional and unjust. In spite of this opinion, he votes several times the sending of additional troops. Its opinions are judged anti patriotic and cause the dissatisfaction among the voters with Illinois, so that Lincoln the renewal of its mandate does not solicit. During the war, its future adversary is illustrated on the contrary by an opposite attitude. Jefferson Davis, future president of the States Confédérés of America becomes a military hero. Of return to Springfield, it concentrates on its lawyer trade and becomes famous, constituting important customers with Chicago. It defends in particular the Illinois Central Railroad so that she obtains a charter of the State. He fights against the county of McLean , which wishes to found a tax on the activities of this company. He receives: 5000 dollars on this occasion, but must be turned over against the company to obtain them. Among the businesses which it treats, one also finds of the criminal cases. Defendant Duff Armstrong, shown murder, it must be opposed to a witness claiming to have seen his customer among the murderers thanks to the light of the the Moon. On the basis of one only almanac, Lincoln supports that the moon could not make it possible to the witness to see the scene and obtains the payment.

This career of exemplary man of law contributes to give to Lincoln a reputation of man shining, eloquent and honest.

Private life

The November 4th 1842, Abraham Lincoln marries Mary Todd at the 33 years age. The couple will have four children:

In a discussed work, The Intimate World off Abraham Lincoln , the psychologist and gay activist American A.C. Trip calls in question the history of young love of Lincoln with Ann Rutledge, suggesting that it could have homosexual relations.

1854-1861

Abraham Lincoln is elected with the Congrès of the United States while following the occupation of lawyer. As of this period, its anti-slavery positions are apparent but it is not in favor of the right to vote for the black population. It is made known as a defender of the railroad companies, but also by its speeches against the admission of new slave states in the Union in particular when it is presented to the senatorial elections of 1858. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which repeals the limits of the diffusion of slavery (Compromis of Missouri), gives Lincoln on the front of the political scene. The Democratic senator Stephen A. Douglas proposes a referendum on the question of slavery in the territories in question. In 1858, Lincoln makes a speech which highlights the danger of disunion of the country on the problem of slavery. Its eloquence made known it general public.

Lincoln was chosen by the Républicains for the presidential election of 1860. He was elected on November 6th, 1860 and became the 16th president of the United States with 39,9% of the voices, thanks to divisions within the Democratic party. He thus beats the other candidates who were Stephen A. Douglas (29,5%), John C. Breckenridge (18,1%) and John C. Beautiful (12,5%).

The shortly after the election, whereas the new president is not invested yet, seven States make secession: the South Carolina, the the Mississippi, the Florida, the Alabama, the Georgia, the Louisiana and the Texas. The last six will decide the February 4th 1861 to form the States confederated of America, that Lincoln refused to recognize. The states of the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas decide to remain in the Union but inform Lincoln which they will not accept the passage of the troops on their territory.

Notwithstanding the many death threats which it accepted, a plot of extremists secessionists to assassinate the new president before his nomination was thwarted in the morning of the February 23rd 1861 with Baltimore. As of March 1861, he affirmed that the Union could not be broken.

Presidency

1861

March 4th: nomination of Abraham Lincoln as a sixteenth president of the United States.

April 12th: beginning of the American Civil War with the Battle of strong Sumter in South Carolina, by the confederated forces. Three days later, Lincoln declares the state of insurrection and envisages the lifting of an army of: 75000 volunteers. The states of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas make secession.

At the end of April: Lincoln orders the blockade of the ports of the confederated States and prohibits the trade with them.

1862

January 27th: Lincoln signs the order of beginning of the operation soldiers against the confederated States.

May 20th: the law of the Homestead Act is signed by Abraham Lincoln. It allows each family being able to justify that it has occupied a ground for 5 years to assert the Private property of it, and this within the limit of 160 acres (either 65 hectares). If the family lives there since at least 6 months, it also can without waiting to buy the ground at a relatively weak price of 1,25 dollar per acre (either 308 dollars for 1 km ²). This law played an eminent role in the Conquête of the American West.

June 19th: it starts to write the proclamation of emancipation of the slaves.

July 1st: it institutes the income tax to finance the American Civil War.

July 2nd: Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act .

September 22nd: he announces that he will publish his proclamation of emancipation of the slaves in the States in secession. It will be at the origin of two amendments to the Constitution, the first abolishing slavery, the second guaranteeing the civil laws.

1863

January 1st: the slaves are émancipés.

June 20th: Lincoln incorporates the West of Virginia in the Union, the Virginia-Western thus becomes the 35e State.

July 3rd: northerner victory of Gettysburg, in Pennsylvania.

October 3rd: Lincoln institutes the national festival of Thanksgiving at last Thursday of November.

November 19th: Lincoln makes a speech for the inauguration of the national cemetery located on the battle field of Gettysburg.

December 8th: Lincoln announces its program for the rebuilding of the States of the South and makes an offer of amnesty to the deserters of the confederated army.

1864

March 9th: Lincoln names the general Ulysses S. Grant as a Commander-in-chief of the armies of the Union.

June 7th: the national convention of the Republican party indicates Lincoln like its candidate for the next elections.

July 18th: Lincoln orders the recruitment of: 500000 volunteers in the army.

November 8th: Lincoln is re-elected for a second mandate with 55% of the popular vote.

1865

February 3rd: Lincoln tries last once to finish the American Civil War by the negotiation. It requires the rendering of the confederated forces and the return of the States in the Union. The latter want their independence and the meeting ends in a failure.

March 4th: nomination of Abraham Lincoln for a second mandate.

April 9th: “official” end of the American Civil War.

April 14th: Abraham Lincoln often meets the general Grant, which orders the troops of the Union, to tackle the problems of the rebuilding of the States Southerners. It is during an exit with the theater (the part was called Our American cousin ), with the Ford theater in Washington, which he is assassinated by a sympathizer Southerner. This last, John Wilkes Booth, is introduced behind Lincoln and a ball with bearing end draws to him behind the head, on the level of the nape of the neck. The doctors run and see immediately that the ball reached the brain. They transport it in a house opposite the theater where it will spend the night without regaining consciousness. Lincoln dies the next morning, with 7:22.

Policy

Foreign politics

Seen under the angle of the foreign politics the problem of the secession of the States of the South is summarized with the recognition of the Confederation of the States of America by the other countries and Europeans in particular. In fact the latter were especially interested by the continuation of the commercial relations and avoided supporting the Confederation with the risk to see to be established privileged relations between the Union and their candidates.

Interior policy

As of its election, A. Lincoln is confronted with the problem of the secession of the States Southerners. In fact this secession as well as the creation of the Confederation by the States of the south is not recognized by the States of the Union from where the term “Civil war (Civil War)” employed by the Americans (and not “American Civil War” employed in the French-speaking works). The objective of the war, always in the same spirit, is to preserve the Union.

The priority of Lincoln is the maintenance of the Union and the rehabilitation of the States secessionists. It directly directs the operations of the armed forces before finding in the person of the Grant general a chief in whom it can have confidence. The control of the war requires men and a financing; Lincoln introduces the military service to mitigate the deficit of volunteers and the income tax. Its most known contribution will remain the Proclamation of emancipation releasing the slaves in all the States of the Union. Because of state of war, A. Lincoln is one of the presidents who accumulated the most capacities between his hands.

It also stuck to the creation of a system of national banks ( National Banking Acts between 1863 and 1865).

Policy concerning the civic rights, the minorities and immigration

Before being elected president, and during his electoral campaign in particular, Lincoln had made several statements clearly indicating its opposition to slavery in the name of moral principles. It will remain in the history as the author of the Proclamation of emancipation of the slaves but some critical noted that its priority was related to the restoration of the Union, not with the civic rights of the slaves.

Policy partisane

Lincoln is elected with the presidency primarily because of the dissensions within the Democratic party. During its mandate, he is criticized within his own party because the war is long and expensive and much of Americans do not see reason to fight for the right of the Blacks. He in spite of will be very re-elected because the Union is opportunely victorious on the battle field at the time of the vote.

Anecdotes

  • Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd had four children, but only one of them reaches the adulthood. They to date do not have any more any descendant.

  • the most known portraits of Lincoln show it bearded whereas it wore the beard only in the last years of its life. It seems that he let it push in 1860 at the request of Bedell Grace, a 11 year old little girl (see here).

  • During the American Civil War, Lincoln makes on the field of Bataille of Gettysburg a speech in homage to the dead soldiers for “the rebirth of freedom - a government of the people, by the people and for the people”. The text, very short, is engraved on the monument which pays to him homage to Washington; he is considered by the Americans as a declaration of major importance which the pupils of the primary education learn by heart.

  • Four people were condemned to died by a military tribunal following the assassination of Lincoln. Among them, a woman who was the first with being carried out by the government of the United States.

  • Before to be even assassinated, Lincoln had already been the target of a gunner. Indeed, it was about to embark in its fits with body that a shot burst. The ball did nothing but cross the Top hat of the President, missing his head by a few centimetres!

  • Abraham Lincoln is buried with Springfield, in Illinois, in a Crypte strengthened built in 1901 following threats uttered against its skin. Previously, its coffin had been moved 17 times since its initial burial in 1865 like opened with 5 recoveries: December 21st, 1865, on September 19th, 1871, on October 9th, 1874, on April 14th, 1887 and on September 26th, 1901.

  • Lincoln would have dreamed its death three days before being assassinated.

  • a urban Légende circulating on Internet evokes astonishing coincidences between the life of Lincoln and that of John Fitzgerald Kennedy but this one can be attenuated by this study (see Coïncidences between Lincoln and Kennedy).

  • In 2007, Lincoln remains always more large (1,93 m) of all the presidents of the United States of America.

  • John Ford carried out a film Young Lincoln in 1939 (in French: Towards its destiny ).

  • the American realizer Steven Spielberg prepares a film on the life of Lincoln, which should leave in 2008.

Homages

Lincoln is one of the most admired presidents history of the United States: according to a classification drawn up by historians for the magazine The Atlantic Montly , he is the most influential American of the History. Its name was given to the capital of the state of Nebraska, a monument (the Lincoln Memorial ) is set up in its honor in the center of the federal capital and its effigy appears on the part of 1¢ as on the ticket of 5$. Its portrait is carved on the Mont Rushmore and the important places of its life were transformed into museums.

The birthday of its birth was declared bank holiday (until the creation of the “day of the presidents”, bank holiday intended to honor all the presidents with the United States).

It is certain that the assassination of A. Lincoln a few days after the end of the American Civil War prevented its contemporaries from criticizing his action. Certain historians note today that it was concerned much more with the maintenance of the Union than by the rights of the slaves.

The American navy thus honoured its memory by naming several with its ships US Abraham Lincoln. It is of a Sous-marin missile launcher and a nuclear Porte-avions.

Quotations

  • Whenever hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel has strong pulse to see it tried one him personally. (With each time I intend somebody to defend slavery, I want enormous to see it to him applied personally), speech of the 140th Régiment of Indiana, March 17th 1865, quoted in The Collected Works off Abraham Lincoln of Roy P. Basler, VIII

  • You edge fool nap off the people all the time and all the people nap off the time goal you boat fool all the people all the time (You can mislead some people all the time and mislead everyone from time to time, but you cannot mislead everyone all the time.)

  • You boat run has country with fifty bore cuts and fifty bore cuts-nots (One cannot control a country with 50% easy people and 50% stripped people.)

  • (Those which deny freedom with the others do not deserve it themselves and under a god right will not be able to preserve it.)

  • has house divided against itself boat stand. (A house divided against itself cannot hold.)

See too

References

Random links:Joseph-Antoine Bell | Guy VI of Laval | Symphony n° 4 of Mendelssohn Bartholdy | Charles Reguardati | Park Nogent-sur-Seine

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