by John G. Nicolay and John HayThe Biography:
Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth president of the United States, was born of poor farming parents in Hardin County, Kentucky, on February 12, 1809. He read law by himself, showed habits of thrift and honesty; managed a county store and became known around.
He was elected to the Illinois state legislature in 1834, practised law in 1839, and was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1846. His first bill called for emancipation of slaves in the District of Columbia. Opposing slavery, he engaged Senator Stephen Douglas in a series of debates on slavery in the states. The Illinois delegates chose him as their Vice-Presidential candidate.
New York and New England cities invited him to deliver speeches resulting in the Republicans electing him U.S. President in 1860. Before his inauguration, South Carolina and six Atlantic Gulf states formed the Confederacy of America with Jefferson Davis as president. Lincoln, at his inauguration on March 4, 1861.
The war between the North and South began. Lincoln got 75,000 volunteers; Congress conscripted 400,000 men and gave the President $400,000,000 for the war. Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863 freeing all slaves; Congress passed the 13th amendment abolishing slavery. After many pitched battles, the North defeated the South, with Southern armies under Gen. Lee surrendering to Gen. Ulysses Grant at Appomatox on April 9, 1864.
One night Lincoln attended a play at Ford's Theatre, Washington, D.C. He was fatally shot by anarchist-actor John Wilkes Booth. The President died April 15, and a grieving nation buried him at Springfield, Illinois.
Comment:
The book portrays the life, the work and tragic death of the Great American leader who won the love of of his people because of his zeal, honesty, industry and great dreams for America. There is much in Lincoln's life to inspire everybody.