Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War | OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

Early Life

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in a small log cabin in Kentucky. His family was poor, and they moved to Indiana when he was seven years old. Lincoln did not get to go to school very often, but he loved to read and taught himself by borrowing books from neighbors. He grew up to be very tall, standing about 6 feet 4 inches, which made him one of the tallest presidents in American history. As a young man, he worked many jobs including splitting rails for fences, running a store, and serving as a postmaster before he became a lawyer.

Becoming a Lawyer and Politician

Lincoln moved to Illinois as a young adult and studied law on his own by reading law books. He became a successful lawyer known for his honesty, earning the nickname “Honest Abe.” In 1834, he was elected to the Illinois state legislature, where he began his career in politics. He later served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1847 to 1849. Lincoln became well known across the country in 1858 when he debated Senator Stephen Douglas about the issue of slavery, even though he lost that Senate race.

The Issue of Slavery

By the mid-1800s, the United States was deeply divided over slavery. In the Southern states, millions of enslaved African Americans were forced to work on plantations growing cotton, tobacco, and other crops without pay or freedom. Many people in the Northern states believed slavery was wrong and wanted to stop it from spreading to new territories. Lincoln believed that slavery was morally wrong and argued that the country could not survive being half free and half enslaved. This disagreement between the North and South became the biggest crisis the young nation had ever faced.

Elected President

In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th President of the United States. His election angered many Southern leaders because they feared he would try to end slavery. Before Lincoln even took office in March 1861, seven Southern states seceded, meaning they left the United States and formed their own country called the Confederate States of America. Four more states joined them soon after, bringing the total to eleven Confederate states. Lincoln believed that no state had the right to leave the Union and was determined to hold the country together.

The Civil War

The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina. It was the deadliest war in American history, with more than 600,000 soldiers dying from battle and disease over four years. The Northern states, called the Union, had more people, factories, and railroads, which gave them important advantages. The Southern states, called the Confederacy, had skilled military leaders and soldiers who were fighting to defend their home territory. Major battles like Gettysburg, Antietam, and Vicksburg shaped the course of the war and the future of the nation.

The Emancipation Proclamation

On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all enslaved people in the Confederate states were to be set free. While it did not immediately free everyone, it changed the purpose of the war from just saving the Union to also ending slavery. The proclamation allowed African American men to join the Union Army and Navy, and about 180,000 Black soldiers served by the end of the war. It was a bold step that paved the way for the Thirteenth Amendment, which officially ended slavery everywhere in the United States in 1865. Lincoln called the Emancipation Proclamation the most important thing he ever did.

The End of the War

The Civil War ended in April 1865 when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. Lincoln wanted to bring the country back together with kindness rather than punishment, famously saying the nation should act “with malice toward none, with charity for all.” Tragically, just five days after Lee’s surrender, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while watching a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. He died the next morning, and the entire nation mourned the loss of their leader. Lincoln was 56 years old.

Lincoln’s Legacy

Abraham Lincoln is remembered as one of the greatest presidents in American history. He held the nation together during its most difficult time and helped end the cruel practice of slavery. The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., is a massive monument built in his honor, and his face appears on the penny and the five-dollar bill. His words in speeches like the Gettysburg Address continue to inspire people around the world with their message of equality and democracy. Lincoln showed that courage, determination, and a belief in doing what is right can change the course of history.