lincolnAbraham Lincoln
was born in Kentucky. He
was born on February 12, 1809.
His father had a farm. The log
cabin
where they lived had only one room. Later, the family decided to move.
Abraham was about seven years old. His mother, father, and older sister
Sarah crossed the Ohio River. They found another farm in Indiana.
2 There
was no time or a place for Abraham to go to school. He had to work. He would site up late at night after his chores were done teaching himself how to read.
Forests covered large parts of Indiana. They were full of bears and
other wild animals. The first thing they had to do was to cut down
trees. Young Abraham learned to use an ax when he was only eight. He
was big for his age. He used it almost every day for the next sixteen
years. He chopped down trees and split rails for fences. When he wasn't
chopping, he was plowing. It was not an easy life. This hard work
helped Abraham to build a lot of muscle. What he really wanted to do
was learn.
3 Two
years after they moved, Abe's mother died. They buried her near the
cabin where they lived. Soon after, Mr. Lincoln left. Abraham and Sarah
had to take care of themselves. That was a very hard time for them. Abe
was no more than ten. Sarah was only a little older. About a year
later, Mr. Lincoln came back with a new wife. Her name was Sarah, too.
She soon loved Abe and Sarah very much. She could see how much Abraham
wanted to learn. She urged him to study every chance he had. She knew
he had a fine mind, and she wanted him to learn to use it.
4 When
Lincoln was twenty-one, his father became restless and wanted to move
again. This time they moved to Illinois. In March 1831, the family
settled near Decatur, Illinois. A short time later Abe decided he had
had enough of farming. He, a cousin, and a stepbrother left home to be
on their own. They helped build a flat boat. Abe piloted it down the
river to New Orleans. Then he came back to Illinois and settled in New
Salem.
5 Lincoln
began to work at the general store there. He found he had two qualities
that were highly prized on the frontier. The first was his great
strength from working on the farm. The second was his wit and gift for
storytelling.
6 In
1832, he tried running for a seat in the Illinois state legislature. He
lost. Two years later, Lincoln ran for the same office again, and this
time he won. At the age of twenty-five, he was working at the state
capital. His quick wit made him a favorite. When he won again two years
later, he decided to study law. He became a successful lawyer. These
were the jobs he liked the best, helping people through government and
being a lawyer.
7
Abraham Lincoln became our 16th president on March 4th, 1860.
During the time he was in office, America was in the middle of the
Civil War. At this time, there not all Americans were able to do
or become anything they chose. Black Americans were considered
slaves and had to do whatever they were told. Abraham Lincoln
didn't think this was right. He felt that all people should be
free, no matter what color their skin was. He is best known for freeing the slaves during the Civil War.
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Abraham Lincoln
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