Lincoln made extraordinary efforts to attain knowledge while working on a farm, splitting rails for fences, and keeping store at New Salem, Illinois. He was a captain in the Black Hawk War, spent eight years in the Illinois legislature, and rode the circuit of courts for many years.

What was Abraham Lincoln doing before the Civil War?

Lincoln was born into poverty in a log cabin in Kentucky and was raised on the frontier, primarily in Indiana. He was self-educated and became a lawyer, Whig Party leader, Illinois state legislator, and U.S. Congressman from Illinois. In 1849, he returned to his successful law practice in central Illinois.

Why did Lincoln start the Civil War?

Lincoln’s decision to fight rather than to let the Southern states secede was not based on his feelings towards slavery. Rather, he felt it was his sacred duty as President of the United States to preserve the Union at all costs.

Who was Abraham Lincoln before the Civil War?

Contents. Abraham Lincoln, a self-taught lawyer, legislator and vocal opponent of slavery, was elected 16th president of the United States in November 1860, shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War.

What were 3 important things Abraham Lincoln did?

Lincoln’s legacy is based on his momentous achievements: he successfully waged a political struggle and civil war that preserved the Union, ended slavery, and created the possibility of civil and social freedom for African-Americans.

Who ended slavery?

His efforts met with success when the House passed the bill in January 1865 with a vote of 119–56. On February 1, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln approved the Joint Resolution of Congress submitting the proposed amendment to the state legislatures.

What was Lincoln’s goal before and during the Union?

Abraham Lincoln’s chief goal in the American Civil War was to preserve the Union. At the outset of the war, he would have done so at any cost, including by allowing slavery to continue.

What are the 3 main causes of the Civil War?

The Civil War was a war between the Union (Northern US States) and the Confederacy (Southern US States) lasting from 1861-1865. The reasons for the Civil War were disagreements over slavery, states vs. federal rights, the election of Abraham Lincoln, and the economy.

Who fired first shot of civil war?

George Sholter James, the commander of the mortar battery that fired the first shot of the American Civil War, was born in Laurens County, South Carolina in 1829. He was the second son of a prominent attorney and merchant and spent most of his young life in Columbia, the state capital.

What really started the Civil War?

At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, Confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor. Less than 34 hours later, Union forces surrendered. Traditionally, this event has been used to mark the beginning of the Civil War.

What are 5 facts about Abraham Lincoln?

Fast Facts

  • NAME: Abraham Lincoln.
  • NICKNAMES: Honest Abe, the Great Emancipator.
  • BORN: February 12, 1809, near Hodgenville, Kentucky.
  • DIED: April 15, 1865, in Washington, D.C.
  • TIME IN OFFICE: March 4, 1861, to April 15, 1865.
  • VICE PRESIDENTS: Hannibal Hamlin (first term), Andrew Johnson (second term)

What are some facts about Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War?



As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization. Further, he rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy.

What was Abraham Lincoln role in the Civil War?

As commander in chief, Lincoln was responsible for how the war was conducted, and he transformed the President’s role as commander in chief and as chief executive into a powerful new position.

What was Abraham Lincoln’s first job?

As a young man, Lincoln stood out from the crowd, tall and lanky at six-feet four-inches. He arrived in New Salem and landed a job as a clerk in a general store.

Was Lincoln shot before or after the Civil War?

On the evening of April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth, a famous actor and Confederate sympathizer, assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. The attack came only five days after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his massive army at Appomattox Court House, Virginia,

What steps did Lincoln take at the start of the war?



Abraham Lincoln issued a Proclamation Calling Militia and Convening Congress. He called for 75,000 men and a special session of Congress. Democrats and Republicans supported the president. Northern states promptly filled their quotas with volunteers.

What was Abraham Lincoln doing before he was assassinated?

Abraham Lincoln was attending a performance of the comedy, Our American Cousin, at Ford’s Theatre, when he was shot by John Wilkes Booth in the back of the head with a . 44 caliber derringer.

What are 5 facts about Abraham Lincoln?

Fast Facts

  • NAME: Abraham Lincoln.
  • NICKNAMES: Honest Abe, the Great Emancipator.
  • BORN: February 12, 1809, near Hodgenville, Kentucky.
  • DIED: April 15, 1865, in Washington, D.C.
  • TIME IN OFFICE: March 4, 1861, to April 15, 1865.
  • VICE PRESIDENTS: Hannibal Hamlin (first term), Andrew Johnson (second term)

What did Abraham Lincoln really do?

As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization. Further, he rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy.