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? Essay Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. He was one of the best presidents that the US had. Lincoln was born February 12, 1809 and was assassinated April 14, 1865, and was pronounced dead April 15, 1865 at 7:22 A. M. Abraham Lincoln was an outstanding citizen, and his actions and contributions continue to influence the citizens of our country and our community today.
He was an outstanding citizen because first, he did a lot to become the successful president that he was, next, because he overcame the difficulties he had as a child, and last because all the good things he did as president. First, Abraham Lincoln became president in 1860 and was president from 1860 to 1865. Lincoln began his political career in 1832 at the age of 23 when he announced his candidacy for the Illinois General Assembly. In 1834 running as a Whig for the first time, he won an election to the State Legislature and after coming across Commentaries on the Laws of England, he began to teach himself law.
Before the election he served as a captain in a company of the Illinois militia during the Black Hawk War. Lincoln became an able and successful lawyer. He served four terms in the Illinois House of Representatives as a representative from Sangamon County, and became a leader of the Illinois Whig Party. In 1837 he made his first protest against slavery in the House, stating that the institution was “founded both injustice and bad policy”. Then before Lincoln became president, in 1858 he ran against Stephen A. Douglas for senator, he lost but he gained a national reputation when he debated with Douglas.
Next, Lincoln’s childhood wasn’t what you would call the best childhood. He had many difficulties growing up. Abraham was born in Hardin County, Kentucky but grew up in Indiana. His mother was Nancy Hanks and his father was Thomas Lincoln. His family became impoverished in 1816 and they had to move to Indiana. At the age of 9, Lincoln’s mother died from milk infection at the age of 34. Soon after his father remarried to a woman named Sarah Bush Johnston. Lincoln and Sarah became very close, he called her mother.
But he was increasingly distant from his father. Lincoln taught himself how to read and write while he worked on the farm, all the knowledge he has he learned it by himself. Lincoln and his family moved around a lot, and then he moved around on his own. Lincoln left to live on his own at the age of 22. He was the first president born west of the Appalachian Mountains. Last, Lincoln became president in 1860. He was the first Republican candidate to become president. Lincoln married Mary Todd and had four boys, of which only lived to reach maturity.
The others died either as a child or teenagers. Lincoln led our country through the Civil War to victory for the Union. He ended slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. After he was re-elected president Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on the night of Good Friday on April 14, 1865 in the Ford Theatre. Booth was a well known actor and a confederate spy from Maryland. After Lincoln was assassinated he was taken to the hospital and he died the next morning at 7:22 A. M on April 15, 1865. He was also known as Honest Abe for how he was.
I think he was one of the best presidents and he is my favorite. Finally, Abraham Lincoln was an outstanding citizen, and his actions and contributions continue to influence the citizens of our country and our community today. He did a lot to become the successful president that he was, he overcame the difficulties he had as a child, and all the good things he did as president. An enormous amount of people back then considered him to be the savior of the United States. He was the first president to be assassinated, he will always be remembered.