Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in a small cabin in Kentucky. His family was not wealthy, and his father worked as a farmer. When he was young, Lincoln’s family moved to Indiana and then to Illinois. Even though he only went to school for one year, Lincoln loved reading and learning. He taught himself a lot by reading books whenever he could.
When Lincoln was 22 years old, he started working at a general store. People began calling him “Honest Abe” because he once returned extra pennies to a customer who had overpaid. This showed how honest and trustworthy he was, which became an important part of who he was.
In 1832, Lincoln tried to get elected to the Illinois State Legislature but didn’t win. He then served as a captain in the Army and began working as a lawyer. In 1846, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, which was the start of his political journey.
In 1860, Lincoln ran for president during a time when the United States was divided over slavery. The Northern states were against it, while the Southern states supported it. Lincoln, who believed slavery was wrong, won the presidency with strong support from the North. After his election, several Southern states left the Union, leading to the Civil War in 1861.
The Civil War was a tough and long battle that lasted four years. On January 1, 1863, Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in the Southern states were free. He also helped pass the 13th Amendment, which ended slavery in the entire United States.
The Civil War ended on April 9, 1865, and Lincoln wanted to bring the country back together and help rebuild the South. Sadly, he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while watching a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. He died the next morning, becoming the first American president to be assassinated.
Lincoln is remembered for his significant impact on the nation. He once said he wanted people to remember him for trying to make the world a better place. Today, he is celebrated as one of the greatest presidents in American history for his leadership during the Civil War and his dedication to freedom. His legacy lives on through his image on money, his face on Mount Rushmore, and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Honest Abe’s Penny Hunt: Just like Abraham Lincoln was known for his honesty, you can practice being honest too! With your family or friends, set up a small treasure hunt at home using pennies or small coins. Hide them around the house and create a map or clues to find them. Once you find all the pennies, count them together. Discuss why honesty is important and how being honest can help you in your life, just like it helped Lincoln.
Lincoln’s Reading Adventure: Abraham Lincoln loved reading and taught himself many things from books. Choose a book you haven’t read before or ask an adult to help you find a new one. Spend some time reading it, and then share with your family what you learned from the book. Think about how reading can help you learn new things and why it was important for Lincoln to read, even though he didn’t go to school much.
Presidential Role Play: Imagine you are running for president like Abraham Lincoln. What would you say to people to convince them to vote for you? With a family member or friend, create a short speech about what you would do to make your school or community a better place. Practice giving your speech and think about how Lincoln’s leadership and ideas helped change the country. Discuss what qualities make a good leader and how you can show those qualities in your everyday life.
