Biography of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln 

 President Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States of America, serving from 1861 until his murder in 1865. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most powerful presidents in American history, leading the country through its Civil War and played a key role in ending slavery.

Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in Hodgenville, Kentucky. His family was poor, and he received only a restricted education. However, he was a desirous reader and taught himself many subjects, including law.

In 1834, Lincoln was elected to the Illinois State Legislature, where he gained a prominence as a skilled orator and debater. He was admitted to the bar in 1837 and practiced law in Springfield, Illinois, where he also became concerned in local politics.

In 1846, Lincoln was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he opposed the growth of slavery into new countries. He returned to private law practice after his term in Congress and continued to speak out against slavery.

In 1860, Lincoln was selected as the Republican Party's presidential candidate. He won the election, but his victory was dubious and led to the secession of several southern states, which ultimately led to the Civil War.

During the Civil War, Lincoln proved to be an effective wartime leader, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which declared that all slaves in the Confederate states were to be freed. He also delivered his famous Gettysburg Address, which honored the soldiers who had died in the Civil War and reaffirmed the principles of democracy and equality.

Lincoln was reelected in 1864 but was assassinated on April 14, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer. His death was a shock to the nation and left a lasting impact on American history.