Abraham Lincoln Bio
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was born in rural Hardin (now Larue) County, Kentucky, the son of an illiterate carpenter and farmer. Young Lincoln received little formal schooling and was largely self-taught. In 1816 the family moved to Indiana, and in 1830 they moved west again, to Illinois.
In 1831, Lincoln began life on his own by moving to New Salem, Illinois, a town near Springfield. He held various jobs there, including storekeeper and mill operator. In 1832, he led a militia contingent in the Black Hawk War, but saw no action. Back in New Salem, Lincoln failed in the grocery business, incurring a heavy debt. He worked as a surveyor and rail- splitter and began the study of law.
Beginning his political career as a Whig, Lincoln was elected to the first of our terms in the Illinois State legislature in 1834. Two years later, he was admitted to the bar and subsequently embarked upon a series of law partnerships, including that with William Herndon, later a Lincoln biographer. He developed a reputation as a skillful attorney, and became one of the leading Whig politicians in Illinois. In 1842, Lincoln married Mary Todd, the daughter of a socially prominent Lexington, Kentucky family.
Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1847, but quickly got on the wrong side of the voters by opposing the Mexican War and challenging President Polk's assertion that he Mexicans had fired the first shot. He campaigned for the Whig candidate, the Mexican War hero Zachary Taylor, in the presidential election of 1848, but as disappointed when he did not receive a political appointment from the victor.
Lincoln's law practice thrived in the early 1850s, but he returned to politics after the passage of the Kansas- Nebraska in 1854. His outrage at Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas' bill, which opened the American West to the introduction of human slavery, led him to once again seek elective office. Lincoln was elected to the state legislature, but declined in order to pursue an unsuccessful senatorial bid in 1856.
That year, Lincoln left the Whigs for the new Republican Party and quickly gained influence in the organization, receiving consideration for a vice presidential nomination that year. In 1858, Illinois Republicans nominated Lincoln to challenge Douglas for his seat in the United States Senate. The two engaged in the celebrated Lincoln- Douglas debates, in which Lincoln emerged as an articulate critic of Douglas' doctrine of "popular sovereignty." He regarded slavery as a moral wrong that should not be extended to the territories; however, Lincoln did not advocate the abolition of the institution in the states where it already existed, nor did he believe in the equality of the races. Lincoln emerged as a national figure and a leading candidate for the presidency in 1860.
The Election of 1860 focused around one central issue: what is the United States to do with slavery? In 1860, Lincoln opposed the expansion of slavery and the doctrine of popular sovereignty. His opposition of the Kansas- Nebraska Act is evidence of that. However, Lincoln did not advocate abolishing in slavery in new territories. Lincoln also, in several speeches, warned southern states about secession (leaving and creating a separate country), and that he, as President, would squash any chance of it. Lincoln’s odds of winning greatly improved when the Democratic arty split – now they had two candidates, Stephen A Douglas and John Breckinridge. Democrat voters now were forced to split their vote between two candidates – and in a system where the winner of the state wins the electoral votes, Lincoln saw his competition beating each other up.
In 1831, Lincoln began life on his own by moving to New Salem, Illinois, a town near Springfield. He held various jobs there, including storekeeper and mill operator. In 1832, he led a militia contingent in the Black Hawk War, but saw no action. Back in New Salem, Lincoln failed in the grocery business, incurring a heavy debt. He worked as a surveyor and rail- splitter and began the study of law.
Beginning his political career as a Whig, Lincoln was elected to the first of our terms in the Illinois State legislature in 1834. Two years later, he was admitted to the bar and subsequently embarked upon a series of law partnerships, including that with William Herndon, later a Lincoln biographer. He developed a reputation as a skillful attorney, and became one of the leading Whig politicians in Illinois. In 1842, Lincoln married Mary Todd, the daughter of a socially prominent Lexington, Kentucky family.
Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1847, but quickly got on the wrong side of the voters by opposing the Mexican War and challenging President Polk's assertion that he Mexicans had fired the first shot. He campaigned for the Whig candidate, the Mexican War hero Zachary Taylor, in the presidential election of 1848, but as disappointed when he did not receive a political appointment from the victor.
Lincoln's law practice thrived in the early 1850s, but he returned to politics after the passage of the Kansas- Nebraska in 1854. His outrage at Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas' bill, which opened the American West to the introduction of human slavery, led him to once again seek elective office. Lincoln was elected to the state legislature, but declined in order to pursue an unsuccessful senatorial bid in 1856.
That year, Lincoln left the Whigs for the new Republican Party and quickly gained influence in the organization, receiving consideration for a vice presidential nomination that year. In 1858, Illinois Republicans nominated Lincoln to challenge Douglas for his seat in the United States Senate. The two engaged in the celebrated Lincoln- Douglas debates, in which Lincoln emerged as an articulate critic of Douglas' doctrine of "popular sovereignty." He regarded slavery as a moral wrong that should not be extended to the territories; however, Lincoln did not advocate the abolition of the institution in the states where it already existed, nor did he believe in the equality of the races. Lincoln emerged as a national figure and a leading candidate for the presidency in 1860.
The Election of 1860 focused around one central issue: what is the United States to do with slavery? In 1860, Lincoln opposed the expansion of slavery and the doctrine of popular sovereignty. His opposition of the Kansas- Nebraska Act is evidence of that. However, Lincoln did not advocate abolishing in slavery in new territories. Lincoln also, in several speeches, warned southern states about secession (leaving and creating a separate country), and that he, as President, would squash any chance of it. Lincoln’s odds of winning greatly improved when the Democratic arty split – now they had two candidates, Stephen A Douglas and John Breckinridge. Democrat voters now were forced to split their vote between two candidates – and in a system where the winner of the state wins the electoral votes, Lincoln saw his competition beating each other up.
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Questions to be Answered During the Debate:
- First, introduce yourself, who are you and where do you come from?
- This position of President is a very difficult one. What experience do you have that you believe makes you ready to hold this position?
- Now lets begin the debate. We will start with the issue of slavery. If you were President, how would you handle this issue as we move into the future?
- Think about what has happened recently--the violence in "Bleeding Kansas", John Brown's attempt to arm slaves in order to lead a violent revolt. If you had your way with slavery, how do you think the people would respond? Also, is there a peaceful way out of this?
- There has been a lot of talk lately about letting new territories decide slavery for themselves. What are your thoughts about "popular sovereignty?"
- The North has more fields and a larger agricultural output that the South. Yet, instead of slave labor the North invested in advanced machinery and technology. Why cant the South do the same?