Welcome to an exciting journey through the life of one of America’s most famous presidents, Abraham Lincoln! Did you know that Lincoln wasn’t a fan of the nickname “Abe”? His political advisors thought it made him seem friendlier, but he preferred to be called “Abraham Lincoln” or “A. Lincoln.” So, if you ever see a document signed “Abe Lincoln,” it’s probably not real!
Abraham Lincoln was born in a humble family. His mother, Nancy, passed away when he was just 9 years old. His father remarried a kind woman named Sarah, who encouraged young Abraham to read and learn. They lived in Indiana, and Sarah introduced him to books like “Robinson Crusoe,” which sparked his love for reading.
Before marrying Mary Todd, Lincoln had a few romantic interests. He dated Ann Rutledge, who sadly died of typhoid fever, and was engaged to Mary Owens, but they broke up. Eventually, he married Mary Todd, who had once been courted by Stephen Douglas, Lincoln’s future political rival.
Lincoln served as a captain in the Illinois militia during the Black Hawk War, though he didn’t see any battles. He later became a prominent figure in politics, serving five terms in the Illinois legislature. He formed important alliances, like with John McLaren, who gave him a walking stick that Lincoln cherished.
In 1858, Lincoln faced Stephen Douglas in a series of debates while running for U.S. senator from Illinois. Although he lost the election, the debates made him famous, and he published them in a book that helped him win the presidency two years later.
Lincoln’s time in the White House was eventful. His wife, Mary Todd, spent a lot on redecorating, which wasn’t popular during the Civil War. The Lincolns had four sons, but sadly, only Robert lived to adulthood. Robert was once saved from a train accident by Edwin Booth, whose brother, John Wilkes Booth, later assassinated Lincoln.
Lincoln was known for his humor and storytelling. He loved sharing jokes and anecdotes, even at formal events. One of his greatest achievements was the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States. Although Lincoln didn’t live to see it ratified, it remains a significant part of his legacy.
After Lincoln’s assassination, his body was transported to Springfield, Illinois, where millions paid their respects. A decade later, grave robbers tried to steal his remains, but they were caught thanks to a secret service agent. Sadly, there are no direct descendants of Lincoln today, but his legacy lives on in many ways.
Thanks for joining this exploration of Abraham Lincoln’s life and family. His story is filled with triumphs and tragedies, making him a fascinating figure in history. Remember to keep learning and exploring the past, and as always, don’t forget to be awesome!
Using the information from the article, create a timeline of Abraham Lincoln’s life. Include key events such as his early life, marriage, political career, and presidency. Use different colors or symbols to represent personal and professional milestones. This will help you visualize the sequence of events and understand the context of his achievements.
Pair up with a classmate and choose a side: Lincoln or Douglas. Research their positions on key issues from the debates and prepare to present your arguments. This activity will help you understand the political climate of the time and the significance of these debates in Lincoln’s rise to prominence.
Imagine you are living in Lincoln’s time. Write a letter to him expressing your thoughts on his presidency and the challenges he faced. Consider including questions you might have about his decisions or his vision for the country. This exercise will help you engage with historical perspectives and practice empathetic writing.
Design a new book cover for the published Lincoln-Douglas debates. Think about what imagery and text would capture the essence of these debates and their impact on Lincoln’s career. This creative task will encourage you to think critically about how visual elements can convey historical significance.
Conduct research on how Abraham Lincoln’s legacy is remembered today. Look into monuments, museums, and educational programs dedicated to him. Present your findings to the class, highlighting how his contributions continue to influence modern society. This will help you connect historical events to contemporary culture.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m John Green. Welcome to my salon. Wait a second, this is not my salon. Mark, this is a huge collection of Lincoln memorabilia. We are at the Lincoln Collection at the Indiana State Museum. By the way, did you know that Abraham Lincoln disliked the nickname “Abe”? His political managers insisted that names like “Abe” and “Honest Abe” made him sound more approachable. This is useful information because most documents signed “Abe Lincoln” are fakes; he preferred “Abraham Lincoln” or “A. Lincoln.” For instance, that copy of the 13th Amendment is signed “Abraham Lincoln,” and that’s real.
Anyway, that’s the first of many facts about Abraham Lincoln that I’m going to share with you today. On April 15th, we mark the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination. Abraham Lincoln’s mother, Nancy, died when he was 9 years old, but soon his father remarried a woman named Sarah, who helped raise him. The family lived in Indiana, and Sarah encouraged Abraham to study and read books like “Robinson Crusoe.”
When Lincoln’s future wife, Mary Todd, was in her 20s, she had many suitors, one of whom was attorney Stephen Douglas, who would later become Abraham’s opponent in two elections: the 1858 senatorial election in Illinois and the 1860 presidential election. Abraham had other romantic prospects too; he dated a woman named Ann Rutledge, who died of typhoid fever in 1835. He was also engaged to a woman named Mary Owens, but they broke up. Eventually, he became engaged to Mary Todd again and they married.
Lincoln was elected captain in the Illinois militia during the Black Hawk War, but he never actually saw any battles. He later recalled that while he didn’t faint from loss of blood, he was often very hungry. Before serving as President, Lincoln spent five terms in the Illinois legislature, where he made many political alliances. One was with Democrat John McLaren, who gave Lincoln a walking stick. This is that very walking stick, which Lincoln often carried with him, although he didn’t really use it for walking since he was quite tall.
In 1858, Lincoln lost the election for U.S. senator from Illinois to Stephen Douglas after a grueling series of debates. Lincoln then published the debates in a book that became very popular, and his arguments were compelling, which may have contributed to his election as president two years later.
Lincoln’s secretaries called him “the Tycoon,” while they had a less flattering nickname for Mary Todd, calling her “the Hellcat.” Lincoln’s predecessor, James Buchanan, didn’t take good care of the White House, so when Mary Todd moved in, she spent tens of thousands of dollars on furnishings, which wasn’t particularly popular with the public at the time of war.
One of Lincoln’s favorite foods was oysters, but the staff didn’t prepare enough for a celebratory ball after Lincoln’s second inaugural address, leading to chaos. The Lincoln family had four sons, although three died before reaching adulthood. Willie and Tad got into a lot of mischief at the White House, while the oldest son, Robert, survived into adulthood. He almost died in the mid-1860s when he nearly fell onto train tracks, but an actor named Edwin Booth saved him. Edwin’s younger brother, John Wilkes Booth, would later assassinate Abraham Lincoln.
Mary Todd and Abraham didn’t drink much, which was notable during the rise of the temperance movement, but they did have a light liqueur to serve guests. I asked the Indiana State Museum if they ever take this out for a brandy party, and apparently, they do not.
Lincoln loved telling jokes and anecdotes. At an editor’s banquet in 1856, feeling out of place, he broke the tension with a joke about an ugly horseman. This is a copy of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude unless it was a punishment for a crime. It was ratified in 1865, meaning most copies were signed by Andrew Johnson since Lincoln had already died.
Witnesses to Lincoln’s assassination included Major Henry Rathbone and his fiancée Clara Harris, who were in the presidential box at Ford’s Theater with Lincoln. Rathbone became mentally ill over the years and, about 20 years later, murdered Clara and then attempted suicide. After Lincoln’s death, his body was transported from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Illinois, taking 13 days, during which over 12 million people paid their respects.
Ten years later, a group of grave robbers attempted to steal Lincoln’s remains for ransom, but a secret service agent infiltrated the gang, leading to their capture. While Lincoln enjoyed a good joke, he was also a somber man. Unfortunately, there are no more direct descendants of Abraham Lincoln; his last two descendants, Peggy and Bud Beckwith, died in 1975 and 1985, respectively. However, many people still carry the surname Lincoln, including descendants of slaves who adopted the name in honor of Abraham.
Thanks for watching this episode here on YouTube, made with the help of many wonderful people, and thank you to the Indiana State Museum and the Lincoln Collection for sharing all of this with us. We’ve been nerding out all day! Thanks again for watching, and as we say in my hometown, don’t forget to be awesome!
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This version removes any informal language, personal anecdotes, and extraneous details while maintaining the core information.
Abraham – A reference to Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, known for leading the country during the Civil War and working to end slavery. – Abraham Lincoln delivered the famous Gettysburg Address in 1863.
Lincoln – Referring to Abraham Lincoln, who played a crucial role in preserving the Union and emancipating enslaved people. – Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War was pivotal in shaping the future of the United States.
Family – A group of individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption, often considered the basic unit of society. – The Lincoln family lived in a modest home in Springfield, Illinois, before moving to the White House.
Politics – The activities associated with governance, policy-making, and the debate between parties or individuals seeking power. – Abraham Lincoln was deeply involved in politics, which eventually led him to become President.
Debates – Formal discussions or arguments on particular topics, often involving opposing viewpoints. – The Lincoln-Douglas debates were a series of seven debates during the 1858 Illinois Senate race.
Amendment – A change or addition to a legal or statutory document, such as the Constitution. – The 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, was passed after Lincoln’s presidency.
Slavery – The practice of owning people as property and forcing them to work without pay. – Abraham Lincoln is best known for his efforts to end slavery in the United States.
White – Often referring to the White House, the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States. – Abraham Lincoln lived in the White House during his presidency from 1861 to 1865.
House – A building for human habitation, but in a historical context, often refers to the White House. – The White House has been the home of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800.
Legacy – Something handed down by a predecessor, often referring to the lasting impact of a person’s actions or achievements. – Abraham Lincoln’s legacy includes the preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery.
