Abraham Lincoln: His Birthday, Life, and Lasting Legacy
What will I find in this article?
- From Hard Work to Leadership: Lincoln’s Journey to the White House
- Leading Through America’s Darkest Hour: The Civil War
- Tragedy Strikes: Lincoln’s Assassination
- A Lasting Legacy: Why Lincoln Still Matters Today
Every year on February 12, Americans remember and celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. He was born in 1809 in a small, one-room log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky (now LaRue County). His parents, Thomas and Nancy Lincoln, were hardworking farmers, but life was tough. The family didn’t have much money, and Lincoln’s childhood was filled with struggles.
Despite these hardships, young Abraham was naturally curious and loved learning. However, formal schooling was rare on the frontier, and he had less than one year of actual classroom education. But that didn’t stop him. Lincoln taught himself by reading every book he could find—often by candlelight after finishing his daily farm chores.
In 1816, his family moved to Indiana, and just two years later, tragedy struck—his mother died of milk sickness, a disease caused by drinking contaminated milk. At only nine years old, Lincoln lost one of the most important people in his life. However, his father later remarried a kind woman named Sarah Bush Johnston, who encouraged young Abe’s love of learning and became a strong mother figure for him.
From Hard Work to Leadership: Lincoln’s Journey to the White House
As Lincoln grew up, he worked many jobs—splitting rails for fences, clerking in a store, and even piloting a flatboat down the Mississippi River. However, he had big dreams. Lincoln wanted to make a difference in the world, and he believed education and law could help him do that.
In his early 20s, Lincoln moved to New Salem, Illinois, where he worked as a storekeeper and postmaster. His ability to tell stories and connect with people made him well-liked in the community. He eventually decided to study law, teaching himself by reading legal books. By the time he became a lawyer, he had built a reputation for being honest, earning the nickname “Honest Abe.”
Lincoln entered politics, serving in the Illinois State Legislature and later as a U.S. Congressman. His speeches and debates—especially his famous Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858—showed his strong opposition to slavery. This stance gained him national attention, and in 1860, he was elected the 16th President of the United States.
Leading Through America’s Darkest Hour: The Civil War
Lincoln took office at one of the most challenging times in American history. The country was deeply divided over slavery and states’ rights, and soon after he became president, several Southern states seceded from the Union to form the Confederacy. This led to the start of the Civil War in 1861—a brutal and bloody conflict that lasted for four years.
Throughout the war, Lincoln stayed strong, leading the country through its darkest days. In 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that enslaved people in Confederate states were free. While it didn’t immediately free all enslaved people, it changed the purpose of the war, making it about not just saving the Union but also ending slavery.
One of his most famous speeches, the Gettysburg Address, was given in 1863 after a major battle in Pennsylvania. In just 272 words, Lincoln reminded Americans why the fight for freedom and democracy was so important, saying:
“Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
The war finally ended in April 1865, when the Confederacy surrendered. The Union had been saved, and Lincoln’s vision for a united nation seemed within reach.
Tragedy Strikes: Lincoln’s Assassination
Just days after the Civil War ended, Lincoln went to Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., to watch a play with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. On the night of April 14, 1865, a famous actor named John Wilkes Booth, who supported the Confederacy, sneaked into the president’s private box and shot him in the back of the head.
Lincoln was carried across the street to a small boarding house, where doctors tried to save him. But on the morning of April 15, 1865, he died at the age of 56. The nation was devastated. Millions mourned the loss of the leader who had guided them through the Civil War and fought for the end of slavery.
A Lasting Legacy: Why Lincoln Still Matters Today
Lincoln’s influence didn’t end with his death. He left behind a legacy of leadership, perseverance, and justice. Some of his most important achievements include:
- The Emancipation Proclamation (1863): Though it didn’t immediately free all enslaved people, it paved the way for abolition.
- The 13th Amendment (1865): Passed after his death, this amendment officially ended slavery in the United States.
- The Gettysburg Address: A timeless speech that continues to inspire people around the world.
Today, Abraham Lincoln is honored in many ways, reflecting his lasting impact on the nation. His face appears on the penny and the $5 bill, and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., stands as a powerful tribute to his leadership. Countless schools, cities, and even the Lincoln automobile brand bear his name, a testament to his influence. His birthday is recognized in some states and as part of Presidents’ Day, celebrating his contributions to American history. More than just remembering the man, we celebrate the values he championed—honesty, courage, justice, freedom, unity, and equality—reminding us that anyone, regardless of their background, can make a difference in the world.