The presidency
Lincoln’s election was followed by southern secession. He maintained that the Union could not lawfully be dissolved and directed the war to preserve it. The Emancipation Proclamation applied to areas in rebellion, while the Thirteenth Amendment provided a constitutional path to abolishing slavery nationwide. He also supported laws that encouraged settlement, education, banking, and railroads. He was assassinated in April 1865, just as the war was ending.
Before the White House
Hardin (now Larue) County, Kentucky
Born February 12, 1809.
Lincoln was born in Kentucky and grew up in Indiana and Illinois with limited formal schooling. He educated himself, worked in several occupations, and became a lawyer. A former Whig legislator and congressman, he returned to national politics as conflict over slavery’s expansion intensified. His debates with Stephen Douglas helped establish his national reputation.
Key moments
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Born in Hardin (now Larue) County, Kentucky
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Signed the Homestead Act.
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Issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
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Helped secure passage of the 13th Amendment.
Notable laws & actions
These entries distinguish laws, treaties, executive decisions, and proposals. Congress passes statutes; presidents sign or veto them. A president does not act alone.
Homestead Act
Offered qualifying settlers a path to ownership of public land, accelerating western settlement on lands that often had been taken from Native peoples.
Morrill Land-Grant Act
Granted land or land proceeds to support colleges teaching agriculture and mechanical arts.
National Banking Act
Established a system of nationally chartered banks and a more uniform currency backed by federal securities.
Legacy
Lincoln’s defense of the Union and role in emancipation transformed the country. His speeches continue to shape debate about equality, self-government, and the obligations of a democratic nation.
Miller Center · Biography & facts ↗
Controversies
His wartime suspension of habeas corpus raised civil-liberty concerns.
In their words
“With malice toward none, with charity for all”Second Inaugural Address · Quoted by the Miller Center ↗
Near the end of the Civil War, Lincoln called for reconciliation in his second inaugural address.
Short excerpt; wording and capitalization follow the cited source.
Look closer
View image source record ↗
Reading a portrait
Look at the clothing, pose, expression, and background. What impression of leadership does this image create?
A portrait represents one moment and one choice of presentation. Compare its message with the decisions described in this biography.
Test your knowledge
Try answering before opening each explanation.
Where was Abraham Lincoln born?
Hardin (now Larue) County, Kentucky.
When did this president serve?
1861–1865.
What is one law or action associated with this presidency?
Homestead Act. Offered qualifying settlers a path to ownership of public land, accelerating western settlement on lands that often had been taken from Native peoples.
What is one lasting part of this president’s legacy?
Lincoln’s defense of the Union and role in emancipation transformed the country. His speeches continue to shape debate about equality, self-government, and the obligations of a democratic nation.
Sources & further reading
The linked biographies support the life history and policy summaries above. Quotations and image credits have their own source links.
- Miller Center · Biography & facts
- Miller Center · Early life
- Miller Center · Domestic affairs
- Miller Center · Foreign affairs
- Miller Center · Life in brief
- Portrait source record
Prepared September 23, 2026.