Lincoln’s
Lasting
Legacy
The Lincoln Memorial honors our sixteenth
president, Abraham Lincoln, a man who was
born in a log cabin and who
ended up President of the United
States. Lincoln’s hard work and
persistence helped change the
course of U.S. history.
Abraham Lincoln was born in
Kentucky in 1809. His family worked
hard, but they struggled to earn
a living as farmers. On a farm,
there is always work to be done,
so Lincoln spent most of his time
helping his father. Lincoln enjoyed
learning. However, because he
lived on the frontier, he only went
to school when he had no work.
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At age twenty-one, Lincoln left the farm
and moved to New Salem, a small community in
Illinois, where he did a variety of jobs. Lincoln
wanted to become a lawyer, but he did not
have money to pay for college. He had to find a
creative solution. Lincoln taught himself the law,
which he accomplished by borrowing books and
working with practicing lawyers. In 1836, Lincoln
passed the Illinois bar exam and became a
lawyer. His excellent speaking skills distinguished
him from other lawyers.
In 1842, Lincoln married
Mary Todd in Springfield,
Illinois. Together, they raised
four children.
Lincoln developed an interest
in politics. Over the years, he
ran for several different offices
at the state and national levels.
Lincoln did not always win, but he
persevered and ran again. Lincoln
held several different political
positions before he was elected
president in 1860.
Lincoln leaving Springfield, Illinois
Credits: left: courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-DIG-ppmsca-19204]; center: Lincoln Leaving
Springfield, Illinois by Train (pastel on paper), American School/New York Public Library, USA/The Bridgeman Art Library
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When Lincoln took
office in 1861, states in the
North and the South were
divided over the issue of
slavery. The South was
against Lincoln because he
opposed slavery. Farmers
in the southern states relied
on slaves to plant and
harvest their crops.
DID YOU
KNOW?
Lincoln participated
in a series of debates
when he ran for a
seat in the U.S. Senate.
Lincoln lost the election,
but his skill during the
debates brought him
national attention.
Just days after Lincoln became president,
several southern states broke away from the
country and the Civil War began. Lincoln hated
the fact that Americans were fighting and killing
each other. He strongly believed that slavery
was wrong. However, he
knew he needed to gain
widespread support of an
anti-slavery law before he
could present it. At first,
Lincoln chose to argue that
the war was an attempt
to restore the Union, not to
end slavery.
When Lincoln first proposed an anti-slavery
law to his advisors, they showed little interest or
rejected it. Lincoln did not give up. He worked
hard to convince people that slavery was wrong.
He repeatedly spoke to politicians until he had
gained their support.
On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the
Emancipation Proclamation. This document
stated that all slaves who lived in states that were
rebelling were now free. Lincoln’s presidential
order later became the 13 th Amendment to the
Constitution. This eventually led to the end of
slavery throughout the United States.
Lincoln was elected to a second term in 1864,
and the Civil War ended in 1865. Unfortunately,
just a few days later,
Lincoln was shot to
death. Today he is best
remembered for keeping
the country together and
for freeing the slaves,
two acts that have had a
significant and long-lasting
effect on the United States.
The first reading of the Emancipation Proclamation
© Learning A–Z All rights reserved.
www.readinga-z.com
Credits: courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [LC-DIG-pga-02502]
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