Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was the United States’ 16th president, he was the first republican president, in 1863 he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared the slaves in the Confederacy free, he was a lawyer, a cat lover, and a Hall of Fame wrestler.

7 states seceded from the Union before Lincoln was inaugurated. And when a Confederate soldier fired on Fort Sumter, Lincoln called on 75,000 volunteers to fight to preserve the Union which began the Civil War.

Lincoln is one of the most beloved presidents in United States history. His biography is loaded with interesting facts. From his humble beginnings in Kentucky, which makes him the first president born outside of the original 13 states, to the fact that he was the first president with a beard. 

President Lincoln was not a fan of his nickname, Abe. He preferred to be called, Lincoln.

He gave one of the most notable speeches in history, which is referred to as the Gettysburg Address.

Lincoln's speech was only 272 words or a little over 2 minutes long. He wasn't even the main speaker at the event. That was Edward Everett who delivered a speech more than 2 hours long.

Lincoln even had a mild case of smallpox when he delivered his address. Some people like to say that the Gettysburg Address wasn't well received at the time. But the 2-minute address was interrupted 5 times for applause, during a speech, given at a cemetery. 

Abraham Lincoln's path to the presidency was long and riddled with political losses. He lost a race for the Illinois general assembly, lost a race of US Congress, lost 2 senate races, and lost a campaign for a vice-presidential nomination. Lincoln showed great perseverance and ultimately won the US presidency with only 40% of the popular vote. He also won his 2nd term, and someone by the name John Wilkes Booth was in attendance at his 2nd inauguration.

Lincoln had as much of an impact on the history of the United States as any other president. Unfortunately, his story doesn't end with a happy ending. The last thing Lincoln ever did was attend a play at Ford's Theater in Washington D.C.

Check out my video below about Abraham Lincoln on YouTube to learn more about him, hear me recite the Gettysburg Address, and even learn how to draw a cartoon version of Abraham Lincoln.