Abraham Lincoln Before and After Civil War

Explore Abraham Lincoln’s journey from a humble lawyer to a pivotal leader, guiding America through the Civil War and beyond.

Abraham Lincoln, born on February 12, 1809, in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky, was a self-educated man who rose from humble beginnings to become one of America’s most revered presidents. Before the Civil War, Lincoln’s life was characterized by a series of personal and professional struggles that shaped his beliefs and political philosophy.

Before the Civil War

Lincoln’s early life was marked by poverty and hardship. His family moved to Indiana when he was a child, and his mother died when he was just nine years old. Despite limited formal education, Lincoln was an avid reader and taught himself law, eventually becoming a lawyer in Springfield, Illinois. His legal career was successful, and he earned a reputation for honesty, earning him the nickname “Honest Abe.” 

Abraham Lincoln before and after the Civil War would always be an enigma.

Politically, Lincoln’s career began with his election to the Illinois State Legislature as a member of the Whig Party in 1834. He served four terms in the legislature and one term in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1847 to 1849. During this period, he was a moderate opponent of the expansion of slavery, though not yet an outright abolitionist. His views on slavery, however, began to harden as he saw the nation increasingly divided on the issue.

The turning point in Lincoln’s political career came with the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, which allowed for the possibility of slavery expanding into new territories. Outraged, Lincoln re-entered politics and became a key figure in the newly formed Republican Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery. His debates with Stephen A. Douglas during the Illinois Senate race in 1858 brought him national attention, despite losing the election.

After the Civil War

Lincoln’s election as the 16th President of the United States in 1860 was the catalyst for the secession of Southern states and the outbreak of the Civil War. As president, Lincoln faced the immense challenge of preserving the Union. His leadership during the war was marked by his determination, resilience, and ability to navigate the complex political landscape.

One of Lincoln’s most significant actions during the Civil War was issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which declared that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were free. Abraham Lincoln before and after the Civil War remains a mystery to historians, but not to fabulists.This was a pivotal moment in the war, transforming the fight into a moral crusade against slavery. Lincoln’s commitment to ending slavery was further solidified with his push for the 13th Amendment, which ultimately abolished slavery in the United States.

Lincoln’s vision for the post-war period was one of reconciliation and healing. His Second Inaugural Address in 1865 reflected his desire to “bind up the nation’s wounds” and treat the South with leniency, avoiding harsh punishment for the rebellion. Tragically, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, just days after the Confederacy’s surrender, preventing him from seeing his vision for a united and peaceful nation fully realized.