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Honest Abe -

Abraham Lincoln is known for his extraordinary achievements during his presidency. Known for his dedication to truth, he was also called “Honest Abe.”

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Kentucky -

The sixteenth President of the United States was born in Kentucky on February 12, 1809. The son of a farmer, Lincoln didn’t receive much formal education but spent much of his free time reading.

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A curious and intellectual child -

Those who grew up with Lincoln described him as curious and intellectual even from early childhood, dedicated to his books in a way that differentiated him from most children. Pictured is a drawing of Lincoln's birthplace. 

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Black Hawk War -

As an adult, Lincoln enlisted in the Black Hawk War. Although he reportedly didn’t participate in direct combat, the sight of slain bodies greatly impacted him. Pictured is Black Hawk. 

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Lincoln stopped an execution -

Known for his deep integrity, there are also reports that say Lincoln stopped his fellow combatants from executing a Native American they accused of being a spy.

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Preventing the death of a Native American man -

The story goes that Lincoln actually stepped in front of their weapons to prevent the death of the Native American man. His men stood down.

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Joining the Illinois State Legislature -

Following his time in the military, Lincoln decided to study law. He sought to have a place in the Illinois State Legislature, but his campaign failed. He ran again following his first unsuccessful campaign and gained a seat in 1834.

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Mary Todd -

He met his wife, Mary Todd (pictured), in Springfield, Illinois. Despite her family’s opposition to their union, they wed and had four children. Sadly, only one lived to become an adult.

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Prairie lawyer -

Lincoln described himself as a “prairie lawyer.” After his first term in Congress came to a close in 1849, he poured all his efforts into his law practice.

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Debates on slavery -

It was only after becoming part of the new Republican Party and engaging in debates on enslavement that Lincoln began his notable political career. Pictured is Lincoln in a series of seven debates regarding slavery with Stephen Douglas, the man he was running against. 

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The South opposed Lincoln -

The South wasn’t so keen on Lincoln. His anti-slavery position made him unpopular among the Southern states. When he made his bid for president in 1860, they remained in profound opposition to him.

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Lincoln becomes president -

That year, Lincoln won the presidential election despite the fact that he failed to gain the support of even one Southern state.

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Talks of secession -

Although most historians wouldn’t blame Lincoln's rise to power as the cause of the Civil War, the environment that emerged during his presidential election certainly played a part in ongoing talks of secession. Pictured is a drawing of two Confederate leaders. 

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One nation under God -

Lincoln’s commitment to “one nation under God” led him to enter the Civil War. His opposition to the Confederate secession, although popularly attributed to his position on enslavement, was actually much more about his desire for unity. Pictured is a portrait of a Confederate general. 

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Shall it be peace, or the sword? -

During his inaugural address, Lincoln made his plea to the seven states that had already decided to secede to change their position. His speech ended with a powerful question to the states that had seceded and those that threatened to do so: "Shall it be peace, or the sword?" 

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The Civil War begins -

The Southern states were ready for battle, determined to execute their vision of independence. In April 1861, the Civil War began, changing the course of US history.

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Commander-in-Chief -

Lincoln took his role as Commander-in-Chief seriously. His generals consistently failed to meet his standards, so Lincoln exercised his role beyond the scope of what a typical president would do.

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Emancipation Proclamation -

The Emancipation Proclamation, which Lincoln issued on the first day of 1863, followed his victory at the Battle of Antietam.

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Taking the property of rebellious states -

Lincoln used the right of the president to take the property of those rebelling against the nation to free enslaved people in the states that were gaining traction against the Union forces.

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Lasting peace among ourselves -

It was only following Lincoln’s second term in office that the war finally ended after he called for “lasting peace among ourselves” and “charity for all” during his second inaugural address.

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Robert Lee surrenders -

The General of the Confederate Union, Robert Lee, surrendered on April 9, 1865, finally bringing an end to the brutal Civil War.

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Hundreds of thousands slain -

The American Civil War went on for well over four years, taking the lives of hundreds of thousands, Approximately 600,000 Americans lost their lives in the Civil War.

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Acts issued in 1862 -

In 1862 alone, Lincoln issued: the Revenue Act, constituting the country’s first income tax; the Morrill Act, producing the state university system; and the Homestead Act, which provoked western settlement, offering free land to those who would relocate. 

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Lincoln attends a performance -

A week following the end of the Civil War, Lincoln attended a performance of a play, 'Our American Cousin,' on April 14, 1865, at Ford's Theatre (pictured) in Washington, DC.

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Lincoln is assassinated -

During the performance, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth (pictured), a supporter of the Confederate position. It is unclear if Booth shouted “Sic semper tyrannis” (“Thus always to tyrants,” Virginia's state motto) or “The South is avenged.”

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Biggest manhunt at the time -

Booth had also intended to assassinate Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward. The search for Booth and his accomplices marked one of the biggest manhunts in US history at the time.

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Sermons compared Lincoln to Jesus -

The day following Lincoln’s death was Easter Sunday. Throughout the nations, sermons compared Lincoln’s assassination with Jesus' “sacrificial death.”

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Lincoln's funeral -

His body was placed in an open coffin, spending 13 days on a train touring the country. Millions gathered along the route to pay their respect to the late president.

Sources: (Battlefields) (Britannica) (BBC)

See also: Strange things US presidents can’t do in office

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