Part 1: Abraham Lincoln — Early Life and Political Rise

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was born on February 12, 1809, in a one-room log cabin in Hardin County (now LaRue County), Kentucky. Raised in poverty, Lincoln’s early life was defined by hard labor, minimal formal education, and a voracious appetite for self-learning.

Early Years and Background

Fact	Details
Born	February 12, 1809, Kentucky
Parents	Thomas and Nancy Lincoln
Education	Largely self-taught, less than a year of formal schooling

Law and Entry into Politics

After moving to Illinois, Lincoln taught himself law and was admitted to the bar in 1836. He gained respect as a lawyer known for his clarity and integrity. He entered politics in 1834 as a member of the Illinois State Legislature and quickly earned a reputation as a skilled orator.

Year	Position	Party
1834	Illinois State Legislator	Whig
1846	U.S. Congressman	Whig

Notable Early Views and Values

• Opposed to Slavery’s Expansion: Although not initially an abolitionist, Lincoln believed slavery should not spread to new territories.
• Champion of the Common Man: Advocated for economic opportunity, education, and infrastructure development.
• Strong Nationalist: Believed in preserving the Union above all else.

Early Political Rivals

Lincoln’s early political career intersected with many prominent figures. He often clashed with Stephen A. Douglas, a powerful Illinois Democrat who would later become his major rival in the 1858 Senate race and the 1860 presidential election.

Name	Party	Key Positions
Stephen A. Douglas	Democratic	Supported popular sovereignty; pro-Union but tolerated slavery
James Shields	Democratic	Senator from Illinois; had a comical near-duel with Lincoln in 1842

Rare and Interesting Facts

• Lincoln once walked miles to return change to a customer, earning the nickname “Honest Abe.”
• He held a patent for a device to lift riverboats over shoals — the only U.S. president with a patent.
• In his early 20s, Lincoln famously lost a wrestling match only once in roughly 300 bouts.

Lincoln’s rise from rural obscurity to national attention was marked by determination, moral clarity, and the power of words. The next phase of his life would push him onto the national stage — and into the crucible of history.

Part 2: Lincoln’s Election and the Road to the White House

By 1860, the United States was in political turmoil. Sectional tensions between North and South, particularly over slavery, had reached a boiling point. Amid this volatile environment, Abraham Lincoln, a relatively unknown Illinois lawyer and former congressman, emerged as a powerful voice of moderation and unity under the Republican Party banner.

The Election of 1860

Lincoln was chosen as the Republican nominee over prominent candidates like William H. Seward. The Democratic Party had fractured along sectional lines, with Northern Democrats supporting Stephen A. Douglas and Southern Democrats backing John C. Breckinridge. A fourth candidate, John Bell of the Constitutional Union Party, further split the vote.

Lincoln’s election was unique in American history. He won the presidency with less than 40% of the popular vote, relying almost entirely on Northern and Western states. He wasn’t even on the ballot in most Southern states, underscoring how divided the nation had become.

Candidate	Party	Popular Vote	Electoral Vote
Abraham Lincoln	Republican	1,865,908 (39.8%)	180
Stephen A. Douglas	Northern Democrat	1,380,202 (29.5%)	12
John C. Breckinridge	Southern Democrat	848,019 (18.1%)	72
John Bell	Constitutional Union	592,906 (12.6%)	39

Lincoln’s Vice President: Hannibal Hamlin

Lincoln’s running mate in 1860 was Hannibal Hamlin, a former Democrat from Maine who had joined the Republican Party due to his opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Hamlin was selected to balance the ticket geographically and ideologically, representing the Northeast and reinforcing the anti-slavery stance.

Comparison with Buchanan and Breckinridge

Lincoln succeeded James Buchanan, the 15th president, whose inaction and indecisiveness during a time of crisis earned him widespread criticism. Buchanan’s vice president, John C. Breckinridge, became Lincoln’s electoral opponent in 1860, highlighting the deep fractures within the political system.

Figure	Role	Key Traits	Policy Views
James Buchanan	15th President	Passive, cautious	Tried to appease South
John C. Breckinridge	VP under Buchanan, 1860 Candidate	Young, Southern loyalist	Pro-slavery, states’ rights
Abraham Lincoln	16th President-elect	Eloquent, principled	Anti-slavery expansion, national unity
Hannibal Hamlin	Vice President-elect	Anti-slavery Northerner	Strongly opposed expansion of slavery

Lincoln’s election marked a turning point in American history — one that would soon lead to the Civil War. Despite efforts to calm fears in the South, his victory was seen as a threat to the institution of slavery and to Southern political power. Within weeks, Southern states began to secede, setting the stage for the greatest national crisis in U.S. history.

Part 3: Lincoln’s Re-election and Changing Political Strategy (1864)

By 1864, the United States had endured three years of a bloody Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, seeking re-election, faced public fatigue, military uncertainty, and criticism from both political parties. Yet, through calculated decisions, battlefield victories, and strategic alliances, Lincoln won a second term and helped preserve the Union.

Election of 1864: Context and Turning Point

Lincoln’s re-election was far from guaranteed. The war had dragged on longer than expected, and many in the North were calling for peace — even at the cost of allowing the Confederacy to exist. The tide began to turn with a series of Union military successes, most notably General Sherman’s capture of Atlanta in September 1864. These victories revived Northern morale and undermined calls for negotiated settlement.

A Strategic Shift: Andrew Johnson as Running Mate

To bolster his re-election chances, Lincoln replaced his vice president, Hannibal Hamlin, with Andrew Johnson — a War Democrat and Union loyalist from Tennessee. Johnson’s selection sent a powerful message of national unity and inclusion. Unlike Hamlin, who was a steadfast Republican from Maine, Johnson represented Southern loyalty to the Union and broadened Lincoln’s appeal across party lines.

Major Candidates and Results

Candidate	Party	Running Mate	Popular Vote	Electoral Vote
Abraham Lincoln	National Union (Republican)	Andrew Johnson	2,213,665 (55%)	212
George B. McClellan	Democratic Party	George H. Pendleton	1,805,237 (45%)	21

Why Lincoln Replaced Hamlin

Hannibal Hamlin was respected and competent, but he lacked national prominence and had limited appeal outside of New England. Lincoln needed a figure who could help unite the country and draw votes from border states. Andrew Johnson, though a Democrat, was loyal to the Union and had stayed in the Senate after Tennessee seceded — a move seen as brave and patriotic.

Comparison of Vice Presidents

Name	State	Party	Background
Hannibal Hamlin	Maine	Republican	Former Senator, anti-slavery advocate
Andrew Johnson	Tennessee	Democrat (Unionist)	Senator, Military Governor of Tennessee, pro-Union

1864 Election Takeaways

• Military victories boosted Lincoln’s re-election chances dramatically.
• Changing his running mate was a calculated political strategy to unify the North.
• Lincoln’s coalition crossed party lines, creating the National Union ticket.
• George McClellan, Lincoln’s former general, ran on a peace platform but was undermined by battlefield setbacks.

Lincoln’s re-election in 1864 was not just a personal triumph — it reflected the resolve of a war-weary nation to finish the fight and reunify the country under freedom and constitutional order.

Part 4: Legacy and Tragedy — The Final Chapter of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln’s second term was tragically cut short just as the Union stood on the brink of victory. His assassination in April 1865 stunned a nation and reshaped the course of American history. Yet even in death, Lincoln’s legacy endured, shaping the future of civil rights, national unity, and presidential leadership.

Assassination: April 14, 1865

Just five days after General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, President Lincoln attended a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. He was shot in the back of the head by actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln died the following morning, April 15, 1865. His assassination made him the first U.S. president to be murdered in office.

Achievements and Enduring Legacy

• Preservation of the Union: Lincoln’s leadership through the Civil War held the country together during its most perilous moment.
• Emancipation Proclamation: Signed on January 1, 1863, it declared freedom for slaves in Confederate-held territories and laid the groundwork for the 13th Amendment.
• 13th Amendment: Passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified posthumously in December 1865, it abolished slavery in the United States.
• Gettysburg Address: Delivered on November 19, 1863, it redefined the American promise of liberty and equality for all.
• Reconciliation: Lincoln favored a lenient Reconstruction policy, famously stating: “With malice toward none, with charity for all… let us strive… to bind up the nation’s wounds.”

Impact on Successor and the Nation

Lincoln’s death elevated Vice President Andrew Johnson to the presidency. Johnson, a Southerner and Unionist, clashed with the Republican-controlled Congress over Reconstruction policy. His more lenient stance on reintegrating Southern states without strong protections for freedmen created significant tensions that would define post-war America.

Table: Comparison — Lincoln vs. Johnson on Reconstruction

Aspect	Abraham Lincoln	Andrew Johnson
Reconstruction Philosophy	Lenient but with gradual integration of rights for freed slaves	Very lenient, prioritized quick restoration of Southern states
Approach to Freedmen’s Rights	Supported limited voting rights and education for freedmen	Opposed civil rights legislation; vetoed Freedmen’s Bureau Bill

Public Reaction and Funeral Procession

Lincoln’s death plunged the nation into mourning. His funeral train traveled over 1,600 miles from Washington to Springfield, Illinois, stopping in major cities where hundreds of thousands paid tribute. He was buried on May 4, 1865. Lincoln was mourned not just as a leader, but as a symbol of unity and moral clarity during America’s darkest hour.

Table: Lincoln’s Lasting Legacy in U.S. History

Domain	Contribution
Civil Rights	Set the foundation for abolition and the 14th and 15th Amendments
Presidency	Redefined the role of the president during national crises
National Identity	Strengthened American ideals of liberty, unity, and democracy

Abraham Lincoln remains one of the most admired presidents in American history. His vision, eloquence, and leadership not only saved the Union but also steered it toward a new birth of freedom. Though he did not live to see the fruits of victory, his spirit shaped the America that emerged from the Civil War