how did abraham lincoln get the nickname honest abe

Lincoln replaced Buell with William Rosecrans; and after the 1862 midterm elections he replaced McClellan with Ambrose Burnside. [346], His position on war was founded on a legal argument regarding the Constitution as essentially a contract among the states, and all parties must agree to pull out of the contract. The remaining 38 were executed in the largest mass hanging in U.S. history. Sherman's capture of Atlanta in September and David Farragut's capture of Mobile ended defeatism. [j] Twice a week, Lincoln met with his cabinet in the afternoon. Civil War victory came on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. When it was done, 303 had been given death sentences that were subject to Presidential review. [162] Six of these states declared themselves to be a sovereign nation, the Confederate States of America, and adopted a constitution. Height. [76] Lincoln teamed with Joshua R. Giddings on a bill to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia with compensation for the owners, enforcement to capture fugitive slaves, and a popular vote on the matter. Updates? Lincoln led the Union through the American Civil War to defend the nation as a constitutional union and succeeded in abolishing slavery, bolstering the federal . In the runup to the election, he took an office in the Illinois state capitol to deal with the influx of attention. Biographer James G. Randall dissected Lincoln's successful techniques:[194]. Lincoln did not migrate to Illinois until 1830. [email protected] 10. He would study law in his spare time and lead a company of men in the Black Hawk War. Lincoln was a descendant of the Harrisons through his grandmother, Bathsheba Herring. A throng of passengers began to press the young man backwards, and he fell into the open space between the platform and a moving train. From Honest Abe and Tricky Dick to the Great Sphinx," these monikers revealed what the people really thought about these United States leaders. Lincoln attacked the media for such behavior, and ordered a military seizure of the two papers which lasted for two days. Honest Abe Lincoln. Meade's failure to capture Lee's army after Gettysburg and the continued passivity of the Army of the Potomac persuaded Lincoln to promote Grant to supreme commander. [185][186], Lincoln took executive control of the war and shaped the Union military strategy. In 1832, he declared his candidacy for the Illinois House of Representatives, but interrupted his campaign to serve as a captain in the Illinois Militia during the Black Hawk War. [144] In 1860, Lincoln described himself: "I am in height, six feet, four inches, nearly; lean in flesh, weighing, on an average, one hundred and eighty pounds; dark complexion, with coarse black hair, and gray eyes. By April 1906, Taft had lost nearly 60 pounds. The prior proclamation had been during James Madison's presidency 50 years earlier. It will become all one thing, or all the other. While Lincoln was popular in the Midwest, he lacked support in the Northeast and was unsure whether to seek the office. Abraham Lincoln, vampire hunter? His work has appeared in numerous publications, including The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and National Geographic Traveler. [37] In 1831, as Thomas and other family prepared to move to a new homestead in Coles County, Illinois, Abraham struck out on his own. This is the only substantial dispute." He managed the factions by exploiting their mutual enmity, carefully distributing political patronage, and by appealing to the American people. [39] Lincoln and some friends took goods by flatboat to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was first exposed to slavery. He worked more often and more closely with Lincoln than any other senior official. [361] Historians have said he was "a classical liberal" in the 19th-century sense. PDF Honest Abe Classroom Practice Download View. View our top-rated projects Lincoln's work as an everyman's store clerk and trustworthy business owner helped lead to his nickname as "Honest Abe". [121], Prior to the Republican convention, the Lincoln campaign began cultivating a nationwide youth organization, the Wide Awakes, which it used to generate popular support throughout the country to spearhead voter registration drives, thinking that new voters and young voters tended to embrace new parties. [238], Lincoln was concerned that Grant might be considering a presidential candidacy in 1864. Getty Images Lincoln always opposed slavery, but it would be simplistic. I cannot but hate it. He was successful after indicating to London and Paris that Washington would declare war on them if they supported Richmond. Thomas and Nancy Lincoln had three children: Sarah, Abraham, and Thomas, who died in infancy. In December 1816, faced with a lawsuit challenging the title to his Kentucky farm, Thomas Lincoln moved with his family to southwestern Indiana. People relied implicitly upon his honesty, integrity, and impartiality.". Our work isn't possible without your support. [321] He was deeply familiar with the Bible, quoting and praising it. Lincoln commented on his thought process, "We need the strongest men of the party in the Cabinet. and Barbara Bushs Amazing Love Story. In afteryears he recalled the panthers scream, the bears that preyed on the swine, and the poverty of Indiana frontier life, which was pretty pinching at times. The unhappiest period of his boyhood followed the death of his mother in the autumn of 1818. [187], It was clear from the outset that bipartisan support was essential to success, and that any compromise alienated factions on both sides of the aisle, such as the appointment of Republicans and Democrats to command positions. [41] Rutledge died on August 25, 1835, most likely of typhoid fever; saying that he couldn't bear the idea of rain falling on Ann's grave, Lincoln sunk into a serious episode of depression, and this gave rise to speculation that he had been in love with her. He became county wrestling champion at the age of 21. "[365] In the New Deal era, liberals honored Lincoln not so much as the self-made man or the great war president, but as the advocate of the common man who they claimed would have supported the welfare state. [342] It is also suspected that he might have had a rare genetic disease such as Marfan syndrome or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B. "[227] He spent the next 100 days preparing the army and the nation for emancipation, while Democrats rallied their voters by warning of the threat that freed slaves posed to northern whites. He emphasized defeat of the Confederate armies over destruction (which was considerable) for its own sake. On April 9, Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, officially ending the war. There he worked from time to time as storekeeper, postmaster, and surveyor. I do but quote from one of those speeches when I declare that "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. By the time Lincoln was president, statements he had made previously, such as "I have never tried to conceal my opinions, nor tried to deceive anyone in reference to them," and "I am glad of all the support I can get anywhere, if I can get it without practicing any deception to obtain it" had become a source of strength for him as a leader. Finally, at age 25 he would be elected to the State Assembly from this frontier town of 100 persons, mostly farmers who cut below the tough prairie sod to find some of the richest soil in the world. They offered a wide range of alcoholic beverages as well as food, including takeout dinners. To illustrate this theme within the Lincoln canon, we have pulled together a variety of documents mainly from Lincolns pre-presidential years that focus on his core beliefs and particular challenges to them. The area was also good soil for Lincoln's own development. He was the president of this great nation from March 4,1861 to April 16,1865. Yet the contest began. This call forced states to choose sides. [400] The room is located off of National Statuary Hall and previously served as the post office of the House while then-Representative Abraham Lincoln served in Congress from 1847-1849. And though Lincoln did not know it at the time, he would spend his next six years right in New Salem. He had long made clear his opposition to the confiscation and redistribution of land. The 1933-1934 Chicago World's Fair included a replica building exhibit of the Lincoln-Berry store. Most were log dwellings -- not to be confused with log cabins, which settlers used only until they could erect log houses, which were chinked and tightly sealed with a mud-and-wheat straw cement daubing. It also directed the Army and Navy to "recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons" and to receive them "into the armed service of the United States." [72], True to his record, Lincoln professed to friends in 1861 to be "an old line Whig, a disciple of Henry Clay". [319] Lincoln's body was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield and now lies within the Lincoln Tomb.[320]. The National Banking Act created the system of national banks. Finally, Lincoln's Treasury Secretary, Salmon P. Chase, became Chief Justice. [376], By the 1970s, Lincoln had become a hero to political conservatives[377]apart from neo-Confederates such as Mel Bradford, who denounced his treatment of the white Southfor his intense nationalism, his support for business, his insistence on stopping the spread of slavery, his acting on Lockean and Burkean principles on behalf of both liberty and tradition, and his devotion to the principles of the Founding Fathers. The only resolution of these contradictory positions was for the confederates to fire the first shot; they did just that."[181]. One Illinois newspaper derisively nicknamed him "spotty Lincoln". He placed 263 cases into the first group and commuted their sentences for the largest mass commutation in history. [104] He said the Kansas Act had a "declared indifference, but as I must think, a covert real zeal for the spread of slavery. New Salem, his first home away from home, allowed Lincoln to, in his words, ``get hold of something that was knotty'' -- law and politics -- and wrestle with them, as he wrestled in sport with the local toughs. google_ad_slot = "5694575557"; Lincoln soon moved to Springfield, Ill, and began his law practice, a profession at which he admitted there was a "popular belief that lawyers are necessarily dishonest." But the debates he had about the enslavement of people with his 1858 senatorial opponent, Stephen Douglas, helped him win the presidential nomination two years later. Instead of holding Lincoln in contempt of court as expected, the judge, a Democrat, reversed his ruling and admitted the testimony into evidence, resulting in Harrison's acquittal. Despite the controversies surrounding his election, Hayes proved a competent, though cautious president, and easily won re-election in 1880. [344] Diggins notes, "Lincoln presented Americans a theory of history that offers a profound contribution to the theory and destiny of republicanism itself" in the 1860 Cooper Union speech. Their father, it seemed, was often too absorbed in his work to notice his children's behavior. Grateful citizens built tributes to Hoover, including a Belgian statue depicting him as the Isis, the Egyptian god of life. [b] The captain was killed in an Indian raid in 1786. He can be found online at www.christopherklein.com or on Twitter @historyauthor. [277][additional citation(s) needed] Shortly after, a Mille Lacs Band Chief offered the same at St. Republican speakers focused first on the party platform, and second on Lincoln's life story, emphasizing his childhood poverty. All rights reserved. [283] The 1862 Homestead Act made millions of acres of Western government-held land available for purchase at low cost. With the coming of the Black Hawk War (1832), he enlisted as a volunteer and was elected captain of his company. In 1854, he was angered by the KansasNebraska Act, which opened the territories to slavery, and he re-entered politics. He tracked all phases of the effort, consulting with governors, and selecting generals based on their success, their state, and their party. Harrison was an old war hero, thanks to his 1811 victory over Native American leader Tecumseh at the Battle of Tippecanoe, and the campaign slogan and song of Tippecanoe and Tyler Too helped propel the pair into the White House. The Lincolns' last descendant, great-grandson. [171][172] Lincoln traveled east in a special train. His maverick reputation (and background as an enslaved-holding Southerner) made him an appealing candidate to balance the presidential ticket for the Whig Party in 1840. [198] For his edification Lincoln relied upon a book by his chief of staff General Henry Halleck entitled Elements of Military Art and Science; Halleck was a disciple of the European strategist Antoine-Henri Jomini. He elevated Henry Halleck in July and appointed John Pope as head of the new Army of Virginia. He was viewed by abolitionists as a champion of human liberty. [8] Thomas and Nancy married on June 12, 1806, in Washington County, and moved to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Abraham Lincoln, (1809 - 02 - 12) February 12, 1809, Hodgenville, Kentucky, U.S. February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, British Colony of Virginia. As the 1856 elections approached, Lincoln joined the Republicans and attended the Bloomington Convention, which formally established the Illinois Republican Party. Abraham Lincoln became the United States' 16th President in 1861, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy in 1863. This message will appear once per week [362][363], Sociologist Barry Schwartz argues that Lincoln's American reputation grew slowly from the late 19th century until the Progressive Era (19001920s), when he emerged as one of America's most venerated heroes, even among white Southerners. [264] With ratification, it became the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution on December 6, 1865. [351] According to historian Sean Wilentz:[351]. The Great Emancipator wasn't quite WWE material, but thanks to his long limbs he was an accomplished wrestler as a young man. [179], William Tecumseh Sherman talked to Lincoln during inauguration week and was "sadly disappointed" at his failure to realize that "the country was sleeping on a volcano" and that the South was preparing for war. Many others gathered along the tracks as the train passed with bands, bonfires, and hymn singing[315] or in silent grief. You can renew your subscription or There are no tickets, no schedules, no hard-sell tourism - nothing to interfere with the oaks and sycamores and the sounds of roosters and other livestock that help one imagine life here in an earlier time. "[68] He echoed Henry Clay's support for the American Colonization Society which advocated a program of abolition in conjunction with settling freed slaves in Liberia. Lincoln would go on to marry Mary Todd and have four boys with her, only one of whom survived into adulthood. Lincoln believed that slavery would be rendered obsolete if its expansion into new territories were prevented, because these territories would be admitted to the Union as free states, and free states would come to outnumber slave states. Lincoln's Gettysburg Addresses If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. [18], Overcoming financial challenges, Thomas in 1827 obtained clear title to 80 acres (32ha) in Indiana, an area which became the Little Pigeon Creek Community. "[56], The deaths of their sons, Eddie and Willie, had profound effects on both parents. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [294] Thanksgiving had become a regional holiday in New England in the 17th century. [106], Nationally, the Whigs were irreparably split by the KansasNebraska Act and other efforts to compromise on the slavery issue. In July, the Confiscation Act of 1862 was enacted, providing court procedures to free the slaves of those convicted of aiding the rebellion; Lincoln approved the bill despite his belief that it was unconstitutional. Country music radio legend Ralph Emery passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Jan. 15, 2022. ", According to Judge David Davis, in whose court Lincoln practiced for many years, "The framework for [Lincoln's] mental and moral being was honesty, and a wrong cause was poorly defended by him." The nicknames given to Americas commanders in chief have been as varied as the people themselves. Lincoln adhered to the Whig theory of a presidency focused on executing laws while deferring to Congress' responsibility for legislating. Honest Abe was a nickname that Abraham Lincoln embraced with pride. At age 25 he was elected to the local government in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln became the first president to be assassinated when he was shot on April 14, 1865. Illinois may be known as the Land of Lincoln, but it was in Indiana that the 16th president spent his formative years. Abraham Lincoln's great laws of truth, integrity: A long career ruled by honesty by Gordon Leidner Mary Todd Lincoln once wrote to a friend that "Mr. Lincoln . At the moment of death some observers said his face seemed to relax into a smile. [301] When Booth learned of the Lincolns' intent to attend a play with General Grant, he planned to assassinate Lincoln and Grant at Ford's Theatre. Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. By the spring of 1863, Lincoln was ready to recruit black troops in more than token numbers. His relevance endures and grows especially because of his eloquence as a spokesman for democracy. To fill Chief Justice Taney's seat on the Supreme Court, he named the Radicals' choice, Salmon P. Chase, who Lincoln believed would uphold his emancipation and paper money policies. Responding to the news that Lincoln was to be his adversary, Dou8glas said: "I shall have my hands full. Lincoln ended the crisis by releasing the two diplomats. At times he was presented as the plain-talking "Rail Splitter" and at other times he was "Honest Abe", unpolished but trustworthy. He sent out pink-hued pamphlets attacking Douglas loyalty. ", "Rating the Presidents of the United States, 17892000", "Americans Say Reagan Is the Greatest U.S. President", "A Civil War Mystery: Who Named Lincoln the 'Great Emancipator'? Determined to reunite the nation and not alienate the South, Lincoln urged that speedy elections under generous terms be held. [272] Some feared incorrectly that it might represent a Confederate conspiracy to start a war on the Northwestern frontier. His likeness also appears on many postage stamps. He lobbied hard for a military appointment, and despite his reputation for brashness and his fierce temper, he was named major general of the Tennessee militia. On alternate evenings, the repertory gives a program on the life of Lincoln through his speeches and ``situations''; a look at Lincoln through the eyes of three local poets: Carl Sandburg, Vachel Lindsay, and Edgar Lee Masters; and a look at the legacy of Lincoln in the 20th century. [217] Lincoln rejected Major General John C. Frmont's August 1861 emancipation attempt, as well as one by Major General David Hunter in May 1862, on the grounds that it was not within their power and might upset loyal border states enough for them to secede. Essential Question: Abraham Lincoln was known as "Honest Abe" during his lifetime. Practical information. [294], In June 1864, Lincoln approved the Yosemite Grant enacted by Congress, which provided unprecedented federal protection for the area now known as Yosemite National Park. He soon became a leader of the new Republican Party. From his earliest days he must have had some familiarity with the Bible, for it doubtless was the only book his family owned. [111] After leading in the first six rounds of voting, he was unable to obtain a majority. [275][276] Before he arrived, the Fond Du Lac band of Chippewa sent Lincoln a letter begging to go to war for the United States against the Sioux, so Lincoln could send Minnesota's troops to fight the south. It was here that Lincoln earned his reputation for honesty, reportedly chasing customers out of his store if he had accidentally shortchanged him. How to Use, Emancipation Digital Classroom A copy of President Abraham Lincoln's short Gettysburg Address speech. Pennsylvania put him over the top, led by the state's iron interests who were reassured by his tariff support. [213], In the spring of 1863 Lincoln was sufficiently optimistic about upcoming military campaigns to think the end of the war could be near; the plans included attacks by Hooker on Lee north of Richmond, Rosecrans on Chattanooga, Grant on Vicksburg, and a naval assault on Charleston. 12 Presidential Nicknames and Their Unusual Origins, Photo: ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images, Photo: Universal History Archive/Getty Images, Every Candidate in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Race, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Peter Cartwright. Franklin D. Roosevelts patrician background made him an unlikely champion of the poor and downtrodden, and his election in 1932 and ushering of radical New Deal policies to end the Great Depression led many wealthy opponents to refer to him as a traitor to his class. For many Americans, Roosevelt was a national cheerleader, bucking up the countrys spirits with fireside chats and claims that America had nothing to fear but fear itself. "Stanton and Lincoln virtually conducted the war together", say Thomas and Hyman. On April 14, 1865, Lincoln signed legislation creating the U.S. Secret Service. [183] John Merryman, one Maryland official hindering the U.S. troop movements, petitioned Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B. Taney to issue a writ of habeas corpus. But time and again during the war, Lincoln, after initial opposition, had come to embrace positions first advanced by abolitionists and Radical Republicans. [84], Lincoln had pledged in 1846 to serve only one term in the House. [397][398][399], In 2019, Congress officially dedicated room H-226 in the US Capitol to Abraham Lincoln. The Christian Science Monitor has expired. Lincoln personally test-fired rifles outside the White House. Democratic opponents accused Lincoln of using the military to ensure his and the Republicans' political aspirations. In 1941 he lost a close race for the U.S. Senate, amid allegations of fraud on both sides. [189], In August 1861, General John C. Frmont, the 1856 Republican presidential nominee, without consulting Washington, issued a martial edict freeing slaves of the rebels. Campsites cost $6 per night; RV hookups are available. Lincoln's third son, "Willie" Lincoln was born on December 21, 1850, and died of a fever at the White House on February 20, 1862. The 1862 Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act provided government grants for agricultural colleges in each state. [43] Later in life, Mary struggled with the stresses of losing her husband and sons, and Robert committed her for a time to an asylum in 1875.[57]. The Civil War was a significant force in the eventual dominance of the singular usage by the end of the 19th century. [142] Lincoln's followers organized a campaign team led by David Davis, Norman Judd, Leonard Swett, and Jesse DuBois, and Lincoln received his first endorsement. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. Real news, real hope. On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces fired on Union troops at Fort Sumter and began the fight. With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphanto do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations. "[294] Lincoln made five appointments to the Supreme Court. contact customer service At one point the gunfire came dangerously close to the president. subscription yet. Thomas, born January 1778, would have been 8 at the attack, May 1786. [21], On December 2, 1819, Thomas married Sarah Bush Johnston, a widow from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, with three children of her own. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. [317] In a larger sense, the reaction was in response to the deaths of so many men in the war. In an effort to shed the weight, Taft consulted a British dietician who put him on a restricted (for Taft, anyway) diet of high proteins and low carbs and insisted he keep a food diary. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. [25], Lincoln was largely self-educated. 1933-2022. He shot Lincoln in the back of the head, then fled the theater.

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