Lyle gramley biography of abraham lincoln

Widely considered in his own time as a genial but provincial lightweight who was out of place in the presidency, Abraham Lincoln astonished his allies and confounded his adversaries by producing a series of speeches and public letters so provocative that they helped revolutionize public opinion on such critical issues as civil liberties, the use of black soldiers, and the emancipation of slaves.

This is a brilliant and unprecedented examination of how Lincoln used the power of words to not only build his political career but to keep the country united during the Civil War. A master historian, Eric Foner draws Lincoln and the broader history of the period into perfect balance. We see Lincoln, a pragmatic politician grounded in principle, deftly navigating the dynamic politics of antislavery, secession, and civil war.

As a divided nation plunges into the deepest crisis in its history, Abraham Lincoln boards a train for Washington and his inauguration — an inauguration Southerners have vowed to prevent. Lincoln on the Verge charts these pivotal thirteen days of travel, as Lincoln discovers his power, speaks directly to the public, and sees his country up close.

Drawing on new research, this riveting account reveals the president-elect as a work in progress, showing him on the verge of greatness, as he foils an assassination attempt, forges an unbreakable bond with the American people, and overcomes formidable obstacles in order to take his oath of office. McPherson provides a rare, fresh take on one of the most enigmatic figures in American history.

Lyle gramley biography of abraham lincoln: Gramley, Lyle E. The role

Tried by War offers a revelatory and timely portrait of leadership during the greatest crisis our nation has ever endured. Suspenseful and inspiring, this is the story of how Lincoln, with almost no previous military experience before entering the White House, assumed the powers associated with the role of Commander in Chief, and through his strategic insight and will to fight changed the course of the war and saved the Union.

But as Douglas L. It was while growing into manhood that Lincoln received his formal education—an estimated total of 18 months—a few days or weeks at a time. Reading material was in short supply in the Indiana wilderness. Neighbors recalled how Lincoln would walk for miles to borrow a book. In Marchthe family again migrated, this time to Macon County, Illinois.

When his father moved the family again to Coles County, year-old Lincoln struck out on his own, making a living in manual labor.

Lyle gramley biography of abraham lincoln: Import Relief for the

Lincoln was 6 lyle gramley biographies of abraham lincoln 4 inches tall, rawboned and lanky yet muscular and physically strong. He spoke with a backwoods twang and walked with a long-striding gait. He was known for his skill in wielding an ax and early on made a living splitting wood for fire and rail fencing. Young Lincoln eventually migrated to the small community of New Salem, Illinois, where over a period of years he worked as a shopkeeper, postmaster, and eventually general store owner.

It was through working with the public that Lincoln acquired social skills and honed a storytelling talent that made him popular with the locals. Not surprising given his imposing frame, Lincoln was an excellent wrestler and had only one recorded loss—to Hank Thompson in —over a span of 12 years. A shopkeeper who employed Lincoln in New Salem, Illinois, reportedly arranged bouts for him as a way to promote the business.

Lincoln notably beat a local champion named Jack Armstrong and became somewhat of a hero. When the Black Hawk War broke out in between the United States and Native Americans, the volunteers in the area elected Lincoln to be their captain. As he was starting his political career in the early s, Lincoln decided to become a lawyer.

After being admitted to the bar inhe moved to Springfield, Illinois, and began to practice in the John T. Stuart law firm. InLincoln partnered with William Herndon in the practice of law. Although the two had different jurisprudent styles, they developed a close professional and personal relationship. So to supplement his income, he followed the court as it made its rounds on the circuit to the various county seats in Illinois.

On November 4,Lincoln wed Mary Todda high-spirited, well-educated woman from a distinguished Kentucky family. Mary and Lincoln met later at a social function and eventually did get married. Before marrying Todd, Lincoln was involved with other potential matches. Aroundhe purportedly met and became romantically involved with Anne Rutledge. Before they had a chance to be engaged, a wave of typhoid fever came over New Salem, and Anne died at age Her death was said to have left Lincoln severely depressed.

About a year after the death of Rutledge, Lincoln courted Mary Owens. The two saw each other for a few months, and marriage was considered. But in time, Lincoln called off the match. InLincoln began his political career and was elected to the Illinois state legislature as a member of the Whig Party. More than a decade later, from tohe served a single term in the U.

House of Representatives. After the war, he studied law and campaigned for a seat on the Illinois State Legislature. Although not elected in his first attempt, Lincoln persevered and won the position inserving as a Whig. Only one lived to adulthood. The deep melancholy that pervaded the Lincoln family, with occasional detours into outright madness, is in some ways sourced in their close relationship with death.

Lincoln, a self-described "prairie lawyer," focused on his all-embracing law practice in the early s after one term in Congress from to He joined the new Republican party—and the ongoing argument over sectionalism—in A series of heated debates in with Stephen A. Douglasthe sponsor of the Kansas-Nebraska Actover slavery and its place in the United States forged Lincoln into a prominent figure in national politics.

On November 6,Lincoln won the presidential election without the support of a single Southern state. Talk of secession, bandied about since the s, took on a serious new tone. Rather, he felt it was his sacred duty as President of the United States to preserve the Union at all costs. His first inaugural address was an appeal to the rebellious states, seven of which had already seceded, to rejoin the nation.

Lyle gramley biography of abraham lincoln: Our talk about how one should

His first draft of the speech ended with an ominous message: "Shall it be peace, or the sword? Fort Sumter, situated in the Charleston Harbour, was a Union outpost in the newly seceded Confederate territory. American economist and government official — Early life, military service and education [ edit ]. Career [ edit ]. References [ edit ].

New York Times. March 24, Carl University of North Carolina Press. ISBN In Hogan, Joseph ed.