Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
📖

Abraham Lincoln

society Maturity 11-13 Vital Level 3 death dying war conflict social justice politics Next article →

This article covers sensitive topics: death_dying, war_conflict, social_justice, politics. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

Abraham Lincoln was a very important leader in American history.

LINCOLN, Abraham-President (BEP engraved portrait)
LINCOLN, Abraham-President (BEP engraved portrait)

He served as the 16th president of the United States. He led the country during a very difficult time called the Civil War. During this war, he worked to keep the nation together. He also played a major role in ending slavery. Many people today still consider him one of the greatest presidents ever.

Abraham Lincoln 1860
Abraham Lincoln 1860

Lincoln's life began in a small, one-room log cabin in Kentucky.

Abes House
Abes House

He was born on February 12, 1809, to Thomas and Nancy Lincoln. His family moved to Indiana in 1816 to find better land. Lincoln did not go to school very often. He mostly taught himself how to read and learn. He became a lawyer by studying law books all by himself.

Running the "machine" LCCN2003689257
Running the "machine" LCCN2003689257

As he grew up, Lincoln entered the world of politics. He served in the Illinois state legislature for several years. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1847 to 1849. Lincoln became a leader in the new Republican Party. He was very concerned about the spread of slavery into new lands. In 1858, he had famous debates against a man named Stephen A. Douglas. These debates helped him become known to many people across the country.

The Rail Candidate
The Rail Candidate

In 1860, Lincoln won the election to become president.

This victory caused some Southern states to leave the Union. They formed their own group called the Confederate States. This led to the start of the Civil War in 1861. Lincoln had to make many hard choices to lead the Union. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation to free certain slaves. He also gave a famous speech called the Gettysburg Address in November 1863.

Gettysburg Address in the Lincoln Memorial
Gettysburg Address in the Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln worked hard to make sure slavery was ended forever. He helped pass the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. This change officially abolished slavery in the United States. Sadly, Lincoln was killed in April 1865 at Ford's Theatre. He was shot by John Wilkes Booth while watching a play. Even though his life ended, his work changed the country. Today, his face is even carved into Mount Rushmore.

Dean Franklin - 06.04.03 Mount Rushmore Monument (by-sa)
Dean Franklin - 06.04.03 Mount Rushmore Monument (by-sa)
355 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (34)
File:Seal of the President of the United States.svg
Seal of the President of the United States.svg
File:Abraham Lincoln 1862 signature.svg
Abraham Lincoln 1862 signature.svg
File:Balance, by David.svg
Balance, by David.svg
File:United states confederate flag hybrid.svg
United states confederate flag hybrid.svg
File:Flag of Illinois.svg
Flag of Illinois.svg
File:Global thinking.svg
Global thinking.svg
File:LINCOLN, Abraham-President (BEP engraved portrait).jpg
LINCOLN, Abraham-President (BEP engraved...
File:Aerial view of Lincoln Memorial - west side.jpg
Aerial view of Lincoln Memorial - west side.jpg
File:Running the "machine" LCCN2003689257.jpg
Running the "machine" LCCN2003689257.jpg
File:The Rail Candidate.jpg
The Rail Candidate.jpg
File:Lincoln and generals at Antietam.jpg
Lincoln and generals at Antietam.jpg
File:US-$1-LT-1862-Fr-16c.jpg
US-$1-LT-1862-Fr-16c.jpg

+ 22 more

More to explore

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.