When he was young, his family traveled westward to the frontiers of India and Illinois.
During the period of his growth into youth he spent much of his time reading, talking and after a fashion, making speeches. His political writings won great admiration from his neighbor.
When he was sixteen years old, Lincoln had his first lesson in oratory. He attended court at Boonville, county seat of Warwick County.
He had attended a few sessions of the court, and had become somewhat familiar with the practical application of legal processes. He had from the most discouraging beginnings, grown to be a notable political debater.
Lincoln’s election to the legislature of Illinois was in August 1834. He was reelected in 1836, 1838 and 1840 and thus for eight year had a full share in shaping the public laws of Illinois.
In 1846, he was elected to represent Illinois in the US Congress, where he served only one term. He ran for the US Senate in 1858, but lost. However, he had attracted attention and in 1860, the Republican Party, whose main goal was to abolish slavery, nominated Lincoln for president.
On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States. Lincoln was sworn on March, 1861. He is known as the president who freed the slaves and brought the United States back together.
On April 14, Abraham Lincoln went to see a play at Ford’s Theater in Washington. As he watch the play a man named John Wilkes Booth crept into the box and fired at the back of Lincoln’s head. Abraham Lincoln died early the next morning on April 15, 1865.
Abraham Lincoln - the 16th president of the United States
