Young Abraham Lincoln was far more interested in reading, thinking, and talking than in farming, hunting, or rail-splitting (building fences). Lincoln discovered that he had a charming personality, and that he had the gift of making others laugh. At age 9, Lincoln lost his mother. Lincoln and his father were not very close. Lincoln’s father (Thomas) actually hired out his son to neighbors (they lived in Indiana at that time), and then took his son’s wages, which may have been the origin of Lincoln’s hatred of slavery.
During the Winter of 1819 - 1820, a stepmother entered Lincoln’s life. Sarah Bush Lincoln encouraged her stepson to develop his intellect, and it was at about this time in his life where Lincoln became “hungry for books”, reading any book on which he could at least temporarily possess. Sarah let Lincoln read until her stepson decided that he had read enough. Formal schooling was not common in Indiana at that time, so formal schooling didn’t provide Lincoln nearly enough educational opportunities, but reading, thinking about what he read, and talking to others served as his formal education (books also served as an avenue of escape). Lincoln was a curious and passionate sort, and he made the point to learn from other people whenever he could.
By the late-1820s, Lincoln started to travel the nation, and in 1828, he made a trip to New Orleans, where he almost certainly witnessed an African Slave Market. In 1830, the Lincolns moved to Illinois, about ten miles west of Decatur. By then Lincoln was in his early-20s, and he started a life of his own, moving to New Salem, where as a store clerk, he was able to converse with customers. Politics became a major part of Lincoln’s life since it was the “Age of Jackson", where the “Average American” was on the rise in terms of political engagement (by the Election of 1828, the only basic voter requirement was that a voter had to be a white adult male). By 1830, Lincoln wanted to be respected, legitimate, and justified in the eyes of others, which was his way of overcoming humble origins. Lincoln found time to watch lawyers at work in trials, and became absolutely fascinated with how they were prepared and how they presented their arguments and facts.
During the Winter of 1819 - 1820, a stepmother entered Lincoln’s life. Sarah Bush Lincoln encouraged her stepson to develop his intellect, and it was at about this time in his life where Lincoln became “hungry for books”, reading any book on which he could at least temporarily possess. Sarah let Lincoln read until her stepson decided that he had read enough. Formal schooling was not common in Indiana at that time, so formal schooling didn’t provide Lincoln nearly enough educational opportunities, but reading, thinking about what he read, and talking to others served as his formal education (books also served as an avenue of escape). Lincoln was a curious and passionate sort, and he made the point to learn from other people whenever he could.
By the late-1820s, Lincoln started to travel the nation, and in 1828, he made a trip to New Orleans, where he almost certainly witnessed an African Slave Market. In 1830, the Lincolns moved to Illinois, about ten miles west of Decatur. By then Lincoln was in his early-20s, and he started a life of his own, moving to New Salem, where as a store clerk, he was able to converse with customers. Politics became a major part of Lincoln’s life since it was the “Age of Jackson", where the “Average American” was on the rise in terms of political engagement (by the Election of 1828, the only basic voter requirement was that a voter had to be a white adult male). By 1830, Lincoln wanted to be respected, legitimate, and justified in the eyes of others, which was his way of overcoming humble origins. Lincoln found time to watch lawyers at work in trials, and became absolutely fascinated with how they were prepared and how they presented their arguments and facts.
At the age of 23 in 1832, Lincoln announced his candidacy for the Illinois state legislature, and Lincoln dutifully followed the Whig Party’s platform. Lincoln agreed (and admired) Henry Clay, who was running against President Jackson in the Election of 1832. Lincoln especially liked the internal improvements part of Clay’s “American System", in which roads and canals between the states would be paid for by Congress.
About one month later, on 19 April 1832, word of a frontier war with the Sac and Fox Natives under Chief Black Hawk reached New Salem. Lincoln was unanimously elected by his fellow militia members to be their captain, which was the first election in which Lincoln had won. Lincoln found the signs of affection and respect to be absolutely thrilling and intoxicating. Lincoln’s experience in terms of actual combat in the Black Hawk War was minimal, later joking that he battled mosquitoes far more than men. However, Lincoln did see wounded men and burial details. On 15 May 1832, Lincoln and his militia buried eleven men, all of whom had been scalped and mutilated (e.g. decapitations and hearts removed).
Lincoln was discharged from the militia on 10 July 1832, and he returned to New Salem for the election to the state legislature which would occur in August. Lincoln espoused the Whig Party’s broad interpretation of the Constitution, such as internal improvements and a National Bank (Alexander Hamilton would have been very pleased). Most Southern Democrats, however, favored a far more strict interpretation of the Constitution, fearing attacks on slavery. The Whig Party’s support of tariffs as a way to raise money for internal improvements was countered by the Southern view that tariffs would negatively affect the export of cotton and other cash crops from the region.
About one month later, on 19 April 1832, word of a frontier war with the Sac and Fox Natives under Chief Black Hawk reached New Salem. Lincoln was unanimously elected by his fellow militia members to be their captain, which was the first election in which Lincoln had won. Lincoln found the signs of affection and respect to be absolutely thrilling and intoxicating. Lincoln’s experience in terms of actual combat in the Black Hawk War was minimal, later joking that he battled mosquitoes far more than men. However, Lincoln did see wounded men and burial details. On 15 May 1832, Lincoln and his militia buried eleven men, all of whom had been scalped and mutilated (e.g. decapitations and hearts removed).
Lincoln was discharged from the militia on 10 July 1832, and he returned to New Salem for the election to the state legislature which would occur in August. Lincoln espoused the Whig Party’s broad interpretation of the Constitution, such as internal improvements and a National Bank (Alexander Hamilton would have been very pleased). Most Southern Democrats, however, favored a far more strict interpretation of the Constitution, fearing attacks on slavery. The Whig Party’s support of tariffs as a way to raise money for internal improvements was countered by the Southern view that tariffs would negatively affect the export of cotton and other cash crops from the region.
The election was held on 6 August 1832, and Lincoln was defeated in his bid for a seat in the state legislature. Lincoln hated losing, especially since it was by a direct vote of the people in his area (overall, his district went for Jackson instead of Clay). Even at the age of 23, Lincoln sought from others affection and authority, and he stated that he wasn’t finished as an aspiring politician. Lincoln now had to find a way to make a living, since the store where he had been a clerk closed. Lincoln wanted to remain in New Salem, but he was not employed, so of course he went into debt. Lincoln thought about studying law, but he knew he needed to become better educated in order to do so.
After the Nullification Crisis ended, on 1 May 1833 President Jackson appointed Lincoln (now age 24, and a defeated Whig), as the Postmaster of New Salem, but Lincoln knew that running a post office would not be the best fit for his talents, interests, and ambitions. The county surveyor offered Lincoln work if he would learn the necessary skills, and Lincoln readily accepted, which proved to be a pleasant enough interlude. Lincoln’s ambition far exceeded being a postmaster and surveyor, so he kept reading and learning, knowing that knowledge and power were forever linked. Being a postmaster and surveyor paid the bills, but politics remained Lincoln’s passion.
In 1834, Lincoln (age 25) again ran for the state legislature, and this time he won. Lincoln would be reelected three times, serving in the Illinois state legislature from 1834 - 1842. However, serving in the state legislature was not a full-time endeavor, which led Lincoln to take advice from a friend that he should practice law on the side. Becoming a lawyer would be Lincoln’s fifth attempt at a money-making vocation in the private sector, after farming, ferry work, storekeeping, and surveying.
After the Nullification Crisis ended, on 1 May 1833 President Jackson appointed Lincoln (now age 24, and a defeated Whig), as the Postmaster of New Salem, but Lincoln knew that running a post office would not be the best fit for his talents, interests, and ambitions. The county surveyor offered Lincoln work if he would learn the necessary skills, and Lincoln readily accepted, which proved to be a pleasant enough interlude. Lincoln’s ambition far exceeded being a postmaster and surveyor, so he kept reading and learning, knowing that knowledge and power were forever linked. Being a postmaster and surveyor paid the bills, but politics remained Lincoln’s passion.
In 1834, Lincoln (age 25) again ran for the state legislature, and this time he won. Lincoln would be reelected three times, serving in the Illinois state legislature from 1834 - 1842. However, serving in the state legislature was not a full-time endeavor, which led Lincoln to take advice from a friend that he should practice law on the side. Becoming a lawyer would be Lincoln’s fifth attempt at a money-making vocation in the private sector, after farming, ferry work, storekeeping, and surveying.
When the state legislature met, Lincoln put down his law books, but he kept at it, and in the Fall of 1836 he became a licensed lawyer in Illinois. On 15 April 1837, Lincoln moved to
Springfield, where he joined a small law firm. By his late-20s, Lincoln had come far, finding a respectable way to make a living, holding elected office, and had deepened his understanding of history and human nature . . . what he didn’t yet have was a wife.
In Ann Rutledge, Lincoln thought he had found the perfect match. Ann was the daughter of a New Salem tavern owner, but her family was from a branch of a prominent South Carolina clan. Ann was beautiful, friendly, smart, intellectual, and good-hearted, beloved by all who knew her, and understandably there was competition for the hand of the fair Ann. In effect, Ann had promised a man, who proved to be a ne’er-do-well, that she would wait for his return. When his letters stopped coming, Lincoln saw his chance and proposed marriage. Ann was open to marrying Lincoln, but she couldn’t yet entirely shelve the other man, who was actually an acquaintance of Lincoln. Ann asked Lincoln to wait until she had a face-to-face conversation with the other man, so she could officially end things, and Lincoln agreed. Lincoln was now at the mercy of a situation of which he could not control, and after waiting in agony, Ann greenlighted the marriage, but as it turned out, she wasn’t entirely done with the other man.
Springfield, where he joined a small law firm. By his late-20s, Lincoln had come far, finding a respectable way to make a living, holding elected office, and had deepened his understanding of history and human nature . . . what he didn’t yet have was a wife.
In Ann Rutledge, Lincoln thought he had found the perfect match. Ann was the daughter of a New Salem tavern owner, but her family was from a branch of a prominent South Carolina clan. Ann was beautiful, friendly, smart, intellectual, and good-hearted, beloved by all who knew her, and understandably there was competition for the hand of the fair Ann. In effect, Ann had promised a man, who proved to be a ne’er-do-well, that she would wait for his return. When his letters stopped coming, Lincoln saw his chance and proposed marriage. Ann was open to marrying Lincoln, but she couldn’t yet entirely shelve the other man, who was actually an acquaintance of Lincoln. Ann asked Lincoln to wait until she had a face-to-face conversation with the other man, so she could officially end things, and Lincoln agreed. Lincoln was now at the mercy of a situation of which he could not control, and after waiting in agony, Ann greenlighted the marriage, but as it turned out, she wasn’t entirely done with the other man.
In effect, Ann settled for Lincoln, and Lincoln knew that he was not her first choice, and that he had been just barely chosen, which did unsettle Lincoln. With Ann, he was the runner-up, the accommodation, and he was far more in love with her than she was with him. But the marriage did not happen, in that in the Summer of 1835, Ann fell victim to a fever. Lincoln visited her bedside often, at Ann’s request.
Ann Rutledge rapidly deteriorated and died on 25 August 1835. Lincoln took her death very hard, with friends thinking he was suicidal. There was only one way for Lincoln to cope, and that was to stay busy and work, be it law, surveying, or politics. Lincoln won reelection in 1836, and in the process of campaigning, he developed political skills in terms of defending himself from political and personal attacks. Lincoln also learned how to be on the attack politically, not making the attacks personal, and his speaking style became more fluid and engaging. Lincoln had already learned, by the age of 30, that when he was politically and personally attacked, he needed to strike back with facts, reason, and eloquence, and with a dash of appropriate humor.
Ann Rutledge rapidly deteriorated and died on 25 August 1835. Lincoln took her death very hard, with friends thinking he was suicidal. There was only one way for Lincoln to cope, and that was to stay busy and work, be it law, surveying, or politics. Lincoln won reelection in 1836, and in the process of campaigning, he developed political skills in terms of defending himself from political and personal attacks. Lincoln also learned how to be on the attack politically, not making the attacks personal, and his speaking style became more fluid and engaging. Lincoln had already learned, by the age of 30, that when he was politically and personally attacked, he needed to strike back with facts, reason, and eloquence, and with a dash of appropriate humor.