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'''Abraham Lincoln''' (1809-1865) presided over the Civil War as the 16th president of the United States.  Idolized by the North and hated by the South, Lincoln pursued his goal of keeping the Union together despite the fervent desire by southerners to secede.  Approaching secession with the mind of the attorney that Lincoln was, he declared it illegal and managed, or mismanaged in the view of some, the resultant war. He is also famous for his [[Gettysburg Address]], affirming the commitment of America to equality for all with the words: "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.."

'''Abraham Lincoln''' (1809-1865) presided over the Civil War as the 16th president of the United States.  Idolized by the North and hated by the South, Lincoln pursued his goal of keeping the Union together despite the fervent desire by southerners to secede.  Approaching secession with the mind of the attorney that Lincoln was, he declared it illegal and managed, or mismanaged in the view of some, the resultant war. He is also famous for his [[Gettysburg Address]], affirming the commitment of America to equality for all with the words: "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.."

Homeschooled in his youth, Lincoln became a successful railroad attorney in Illinois who was known for his integrity and his piercing cross-examinations.  He lost many more political races than he won, and served briefly in [[Congress]] as a Whig opposed to the Mexican War.  That cost him reelection, and a decade later in 1858 he ran for the [[U.S. Senate]] against the dynamic speaker [[Stephen Douglas]], who defeated him.  But Lincoln ran a strong enough race that Douglas was forced to alienate some of his supporters with his [[Freeport Doctrine]], and when both ran for president two years later in 1860, Lincoln won easily without even campaigning.  His victory precipitated the Civil War, since many southern states believed that he would abolish slavery, since abolition was a core plank of the [[Republican]] party.

Homeschooled in his youth, Lincoln became a successful attorney in Illinois who was known for his integrity and his piercing cross-examinations.  He lost many more political races than he won, and served briefly in [[Congress]] as a Whig opposed to the Mexican War.  That cost him reelection, and a decade later in 1858 he ran for the [[U.S. Senate]] against the dynamic speaker [[Stephen Douglas]], who defeated him.  But Lincoln ran a strong enough race that Douglas was forced to alienate some of his supporters with his [[Freeport Doctrine]], and when both ran for president two years later in 1860, Lincoln won easily without even campaigning.  His victory precipitated the Civil War, since many southern states believed that he would abolish slavery, since abolition was a core plank of the [[Republican]] party.

Lincoln was perhaps the only President who appeared to move from being an unbeliever to believer while in office.  From 1861 to 1864 Lincoln relied entirely on logic.  As a congressmen decades earlier, Lincoln distinguished himself by redoing the geometric proofs in the great work of [[Euclid]].  But on the way to the cemetery in Gettysburg in November 1864, Lincoln had apparently found God and inserted after "one nation" the phrase "under God" into his pre-written Gettysburg Address.  After Lincoln won reelection that had been in doubt, his Second Inaugural Address was filled with religious references lacking from his First Inaugural Address.

Lincoln was perhaps the only President who appeared to move from being an unbeliever to believer while in office.  From 1861 to 1864 Lincoln relied entirely on logic.  As a congressmen decades earlier, Lincoln distinguished himself by redoing the geometric proofs in the great work of [[Euclid]].  But on the way to the cemetery in Gettysburg in November 1864, Lincoln had apparently found God and inserted after "one nation" the phrase "under God" into his pre-written Gettysburg Address.  After Lincoln won reelection that had been in doubt, his Second Inaugural Address was filled with religious references lacking from his First Inaugural Address.

Lincoln was shot in Washington, DC on Good Friday, April 14 1865, a few days after the Civil War ended, and died the next day.  He became a martyr to the North and a cause for revenge against the South, from which the assassin (John Wilkes Booth) had come.

Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC on Good Friday, April 14 1865, a few days after the Civil War ended, and died the next day.  He became a martyr to the North and a cause for revenge against the South, from which the assassin (John Wilkes Booth) had come.

Abraham Lincoln is the reason that Southerners are part of the [[United States of America]].   

Abraham Lincoln is the reason that Southerners are part of the [[United States of America]].