Abraham Lincoln - U.S. President | Mini Bio | BIO

Biography

7 Nov 201203:55

Summary

TLDRAbraham Lincoln, born in 1809, was a respected leader known for his wisdom and pursuit of equality. After facing a strained relationship with his father and the death of his mother, Lincoln's passion for knowledge led him to become a lawyer and eventually the 16th President of the United States. He faced challenges such as the Civil War, which he initially fought to preserve the Union but later shifted focus to abolish slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation. Despite winning re-election in 1864, Lincoln was tragically assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in 1865, leaving a profound impact on American history.

Takeaways

📝 Abraham Lincoln was a highly respected leader known for his qualities of equality and wisdom.
📱 Born on February 12th, 1809, Lincoln's early life was marked by personal loss and a strained relationship with his father.
📚 Lincoln's passion for knowledge and his hard work led him to become an intelligent and well-spoken individual.
💻 After a term in the Illinois State Legislature, Lincoln taught himself law and passed the bar in 1837.
💔 Lincoln moved to Springfield and married Mary Todd, who recognized his potential for greatness.
📰 In 1858, Lincoln challenged Stephen Douglas for a seat in the US Senate, which brought him national attention.
📱 Lincoln's presidential campaign in 1860 was centered around the issue of slavery, which he opposed.
📵 Lincoln won the presidential election but faced immediate challenges as seven Southern states seceded from the Union.
📲 The Civil War began with the attack on Fort Sumter, and Lincoln's initial focus was on preserving the Union.
📳 Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1863, which marked a shift to abolishing slavery.
📷 Lincoln was re-elected in 1864, but his life was tragically cut short by an assassination on April 14th, 1865.
📕 The assassination of Lincoln had profound implications for the nation's future, including the potential impact on civil rights and the need for leaders like Martin Luther King Jr.

Q & A

When was Abraham Lincoln born?
-Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12th, 1809.
What was the impact of Lincoln's mother's death on him?
-Lincoln's mother's death deeply affected him and increased the tension in his already strained relationship with his father.
What were Lincoln's views on his father?
-Lincoln regarded his father as lacking ambition, lazy, and anti-intellectual, traits he wanted to escape from.
How did Lincoln's love for knowledge influence his early life?
-Lincoln's love of knowledge made him an intelligent, well-spoken, and popular young man.
What jobs did Lincoln hold in New Salem, Illinois?
-Lincoln worked a series of odd jobs in New Salem, Illinois, before deciding to teach himself law.
When did Lincoln pass the bar exam and move to Springfield?
-Lincoln passed the bar in 1837 and moved to Springfield.
Who did Lincoln marry and when did they get married?
-Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd on November 4th, 1842.
What was the significance of Lincoln's 1858 challenge against Steven Douglas?
-Although Lincoln lost the election against Steven Douglas for the US Senate, he gained the attention of national Republican Party leaders.
What was Lincoln's stance on slavery during his presidential campaign?
-Lincoln had to challenge the idea that democracy was compatible with slavery, which was advocated by Steven Douglas.
What was the Emancipation Proclamation and when was it issued?
-The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Lincoln on January 1st, 1863, declaring slavery to be over.
How did Lincoln's views on slavery affect his leadership in the South?
-Lincoln's views on slavery made him an unwelcome leader in the South, leading to secession by seven Southern States by the time of his inauguration.
What was the motive behind John Wilkes Booth's assassination of Lincoln?
-John Wilkes Booth believed that Abraham Lincoln was an evil man and that by killing him, he would be doing a service to his nation and race.
What might have been different in American history if Lincoln had not been assassinated?
-If Lincoln had not been assassinated, Reconstruction might have been different, potentially reducing the need for a civil rights movement and possibly altering the significance of figures like Martin Luther King Jr.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Early Life and Political Ascent

Abraham Lincoln, born on February 12th, 1809, in a log cabin in Kentucky, was deeply affected by his mother's death at age 9. His strained relationship with his father, who he viewed as lacking ambition and being anti-intellectual, motivated Lincoln to pursue knowledge. This pursuit led him to become an intelligent, well-spoken, and popular young man. After working various jobs in New Salem, Illinois, and serving in the Illinois State Legislature, Lincoln taught himself law, passed the bar in 1837, and moved to Springfield where he met and married Mary Todd in 1842. Despite losing a Senate race to Stephen Douglas in 1858, Lincoln gained national attention and was nominated for president by the Republican Party in 1860.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, known for his leadership during the American Civil War and his role in the abolition of slavery. The video script highlights his humble beginnings, his rise to presidency, and his assassination. Lincoln's story is central to the video's theme of equality and his role in shaping American history.

💡Equality

Equality refers to the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. In the context of the video, Lincoln is described as radiating equality, which made him a respected figure. His policies and actions aimed to promote equality, particularly in the abolition of slavery, which is a key theme of the video.

💡Log Cabin

A log cabin is a type of primitive dwelling constructed from logs. The video mentions Lincoln's birth in a log cabin in rural Kentucky, symbolizing his humble origins. This detail is used to contrast his early life with his later achievements and to emphasize the idea that anyone can rise to great heights.

💡Anti-Intellectual

Anti-intellectualism refers to a resistance to or distrust of intellectualism and intellectual pursuits. The script describes Lincoln's father as anti-intellectual, which Lincoln sought to escape from. This term is used to highlight Lincoln's own love of knowledge and his pursuit of education, contrasting his values with those of his father.

💡New Salem

New Salem is a historical site in Illinois where Lincoln lived and worked various jobs. The video mentions Lincoln's time in New Salem as a period where he gained popularity and respect due to his intelligence and eloquence. This setting is important as it marks the beginning of Lincoln's political career.

💡Mary Todd

Mary Todd was Abraham Lincoln's wife, and her attraction to Lincoln is mentioned in the script. Her inclusion in the narrative provides a personal dimension to Lincoln's life and underscores the idea that his ambition and potential were recognized by those around him.

💡US Senate

The US Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress. The script discusses Lincoln's challenge to Stephen Douglas for his seat in the US Senate, an event that drew national attention. This keyword is significant as it marks a step in Lincoln's political ascent and his growing influence in national politics.

💡Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation was a presidential proclamation issued by Lincoln during the Civil War, declaring the freedom of slaves in the Confederate states. The video mentions this event as a turning point in the war and a critical step towards the abolition of slavery. It is a central concept in the video's narrative of Lincoln's fight for equality.

💡Reconstruction

Reconstruction refers to the period after the Civil War when the United States attempted to rebuild and reintegrate the Southern states back into the Union. The video briefly mentions Reconstruction, indicating the challenges Lincoln faced and the ongoing work of healing the nation after the war.

💡Assassination

Assassination is the act of deliberately killing a prominent person, often a political leader. The video recounts Lincoln's assassination by John Wilkes Booth, an event that shocked the nation and had profound implications for the country's future. This keyword is crucial to understanding the video's portrayal of Lincoln's legacy and the impact of his death.

💡John Wilkes Booth

John Wilkes Booth was the actor who assassinated President Lincoln. The script describes Booth's motivations, which were rooted in his opposition to Lincoln's policies and his views on the Civil War. Booth's actions are significant to the video's narrative as they mark the tragic end to Lincoln's life and his efforts towards equality.

Highlights

Abraham Lincoln radiated equality, earning him respect and popularity.

Lincoln was born on February 12th, 1809, in a log cabin in Kentucky.

His mother's death at age 9 deeply affected Lincoln.

Lincoln had a strained relationship with his father, whom he saw as lacking ambition.

Lincoln's love of knowledge made him intelligent and well-spoken.

He worked various odd jobs in New Salem, Illinois, where people listened to him.

After a term in the Illinois State Legislature, Lincoln taught himself law.

Lincoln passed the bar in 1837 and moved to Springfield.

In Springfield, Lincoln met and married Mary Todd on November 4th, 1842.

Lincoln practiced law but later challenged Steven Douglas for a Senate seat.

Though he lost the Senate race, Lincoln gained national attention from the Republican Party.

Lincoln won the Republican nomination for president in 1860.

Lincoln's views on slavery were a central issue in his presidential campaign.

By his inauguration in March 1861, seven Southern States had seceded from the Union.

The Civil War began on April 12th, 1861, with the attack on Fort Sumter.

Lincoln initially focused the war effort on maintaining the Union.

He later shifted the war's focus to abolishing slavery, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1863.

Lincoln won re-election in 1864, with the war nearing its end.

Confederate General Robert E Lee surrendered a few months later, ending the war.

Lincoln's assassination by John Wilkes Booth on April 14th, 1865, shocked the nation.

Lincoln's death had profound implications for Reconstruction and future civil rights movements.