Student Article
Abraham Lincoln: From Log Cabin to Legendary Leader
Secede (verb): To withdraw formally from an organization or political entity.
Abolish (verb): To formally put an end to something, such as a law or practice.
Sympathizer (noun): Someone who supports a particular cause or group.
Eloquent (adjective): Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing.
Born in 1809 in rural Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln came from humble beginnings. He lost his mother at a young age and grew up working with his father on farms in Indiana and Illinois. Despite minimal formal education, Lincoln had a hunger for learning. He taught himself to read and developed a passion for books, law, and public speaking.
From farm boy to lawyer and politician
By the 1830s, Lincoln was a practicing lawyer in Springfield, Illinois. He had already served in the state legislature and a term in Congress. In the 1850s, his opposition to slavery’s expansion led him to join the newly formed Republican Party. His debates with Senator Stephen Douglas gained national attention, and in 1860 Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the United States.
Leading the nation through a divided country
Lincoln’s election caused outrage in the South. Before he took office, seven Southern states seceded and formed the Confederacy. Lincoln refused to accept this division and was determined to preserve the Union, even if it meant war. As the Civil War erupted, Lincoln had to learn quickly; he had no formal military training but immersed himself in battlefield strategy.
A speech that changed history
While the war raged, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, declaring freedom for all enslaved people in Confederate territories. It was a bold political move that turned the war into a fight not just for a union, but for human rights. He also delivered the Gettysburg Address that year — one of the most powerful speeches in American history.
A tragic end to a legendary life
In 1864, Lincoln was re-elected, and by early 1865, the Union was on the brink of victory. Lincoln pushed through the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery nationwide. However, just days after the Confederate surrender, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a Southern sympathizer, while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre.
His death shocked the nation. Lincoln had led with strength, humility, and unmatched eloquence, and is now remembered as one of the greatest American presidents — an enduring symbol of justice, unity, and democracy.
© Jonny Wilkes / www.historyextra.com
Secede (verb): To withdraw formally from an organization or political entity.
Abolish (verb): To formally put an end to something, such as a law or practice.
Sympathizer (noun): Someone who supports a particular cause or group.
Eloquent (adjective): Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing.