Ulla andersson biography of abraham lincoln

Seward, Salmon P. When Lincoln emerged as the victor, his rivals were dismayed and angry. Throughout the turbulent s, each had energetically sought the presidency as the conflict over slavery was leading inexorably to secession and civil war. That Lincoln succeeded, Goodwin demonstrates, was the result of a character that had been forged by experiences that raised him above his more privileged and accomplished rivals.

He won because he possessed an extraordinary ability to put himself in the place of other men, to experience what they were feeling, to understand their motives and desires. It was this capacity that enabled Lincoln as president to bring his disgruntled opponents together, create the most unusual cabinet in history, and marshal their talents to the task of preserving the Union and winning the war.

We view the long, horrifying struggle from the vantage of the White House as Lincoln copes with incompetent generals, hostile congressmen, and his raucous cabinet. He overcomes these obstacles by winning the respect of his former competitors, and in the case of Seward, finds a loyal and crucial friend to see him through. The power of words has rarely been given a more compelling demonstration than in the Gettysburg Address.

Lincoln was asked to memorialize the gruesome ulla andersson biography of abraham lincoln. His entire life and previous training and his deep political experience went into this, his revolutionary masterpiece. After settling in the town of New Salem, Illinois, where he worked as a shopkeeper and a postmaster, Lincoln became involved in local politics as a supporter of the Whig Partywinning election to the Illinois state legislature in Like his Whig heroes Henry Clay and Daniel WebsterLincoln opposed the spread of slavery to the territories, and had a grand vision of the expanding United States, with a focus on commerce and cities rather than agriculture.

Did you know? The war years were difficult for Abraham Lincoln and his family. After his young son Willie died of typhoid fever inthe emotionally fragile Mary Lincoln, widely unpopular for her frivolity and spendthrift ways, held seances in the White House in the hopes of communicating with him, earning her even more derision. Lincoln taught himself law, passing the bar examination in The following year, he moved to the newly named state capital of Springfield.

For the next few years, he worked there as a lawyer and served clients ranging from individual residents of small towns to national railroad lines. Lincoln won election to the U. House of Representatives in and began serving his term the following year. As a congressman, Lincoln was unpopular with many Illinois voters for his strong stance against the Mexican-American War.

Promising not to seek reelection, he returned to Springfield in Events conspired to push him back into national politics, however: Douglas, a leading Democrat in Congress, had pushed through the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Actwhich declared that the voters of each territory, rather than the federal government, had the right to decide whether the territory should be slave or free.

Lincoln also worked in some criminal trials. Lincoln referred to an almanac and proved that the night in question had been too dark for the witness to see anything clearly. His client was acquitted. As a member of the Illinois state legislature, Lincoln supported the Whig politics of government-sponsored infrastructure and protective tariffs. This political understanding led him to formulate his early views on slavery, not so much as a moral wrong, but as an impediment to economic development.

InCongress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Actwhich repealed the Missouri Compromiseallowing individual states and territories to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery. Lincoln joined the Republican Party in Inthe Supreme Court issued its controversial Dred Scott decision, declaring Black people were not citizens and had no inherent rights.

Lincoln decided to challenge sitting U. Senator Stephen Douglas for his seat. Senate campaign against Douglas, he participated in seven debates held in different cities across Illinois. But the central issue was slavery. Newspapers intensely covered the debates, often times with partisan commentary. In the end, the state legislature elected Douglas, but the exposure vaulted Lincoln into national politics.

With his newly enhanced political profile, inpolitical operatives in Illinois organized a campaign to support Lincoln for the presidency. Chase of Ohio. In the November general election, Lincoln faced his friend and rival Stephen Douglas, this time besting him in a four-way race that included John C. Lincoln received not quite 40 percent of the popular vote but carried of Electoral College votes, thus winning the U.

He grew his trademark beard after his election. Following his election to the presidency inLincoln selected a strong cabinet composed of many of his political rivals, including William Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, and Edwin Stanton. In the early morning hours of April 12,the guns stationed to protect the harbor blazed toward the fort, signaling the start of the U.

Crushing the rebellion would be difficult under any circumstances, but the Civil War, after decades of white-hot partisan politics, was especially onerous. From all directions, Lincoln faced disparagement and defiance. He was often at odds with his generals, his cabinet, his party, and a majority of the American people. On January 1,Lincoln delivered his official Emancipation Proclamationreshaping the cause of the Civil War from saving the Union to abolishing slavery.

And the Union victory at Antietam on September 22,while by no means conclusive, was hopeful. It gave Lincoln the confidence to officially change the goals of the war. On that same day, he issued a preliminary proclamation that slaves in states rebelling against the Union would be free as of January 1. In the far reaches of western Texas, that day finally came on June 19, —more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect.

For decades, many Black Americans have celebrated this anniversary, known as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day, and inPresident Joe Biden made Juneteenth a national holiday. Still, the Emancipation Proclamation did have some immediate impact. March 2, at am. I read Burlingame online for the first 12 chapters because I wanted the detail on the early years.

I then got the two abridged Burlingame books from the library and binge-read them. I found them very enjoyable. I also read Team of Rivals twice, because I got more out of it the second time. With that as a background, I picked up Lincoln in the Bardo with no expectations. I was left pondering insights gained through the characters that I could have only arrived at via the combination of this novel and my extensive reading of Lincoln and my resulting admiration of him.

March 5, at am. Sounds like Saunders really did his homework before letting his imagination run? August 20, at am. Thank you. Just finished B. My first Lincoln, based on your advice. What a man. I have read one of each prez starting with Washington. Have you done that; read Whitman or Irving for example, works by them of bios of? August 21, at am.

But I have been assembling a list of biographies of folks I encountered during this process who are, many times, as compelling as the presidents. August 21, at pm. Halfway through Charnwood as of last night and you are right, it is a great short history of early America, especially remarkable as seen through the eyes of an englishman. Stopping at Lincoln and the Civil War seems a perfect point of reference to review and reassess the origin and evolution of America.

Looks like you have a good list going in that direction. Marc Mishkin said:. April 4, at pm. Dear Steve, I have read a lot of Lincoln biographies, including most of those on your list. I found this first-person account thorough, anecdotal and charming. Indeed Herndon was widely criticized for the informality of his book as Lincoln was by then being widely mythologized.

Marc Mishkin Lakewood, Colorado. April 5, at am. Michael Akos said:. June 15, at pm. Thanks for this ulla andersson biography of abraham lincoln. June 16, at pm. Chris said:. April 1, at pm. I emailed him about the differences between the uncut version and the print version. For those that have read the uncut let me know. Jeffrey Nydick said:.

July 4, at am. Steve; Rarely do you fail to mention a significant presidential biography, but I noticed you did not mention this highly-praised Lincoln Prize Winner from Lincoln, A Life of Purpose and Power, by Richard Carwardine. I have been trying to get back to reading the book, which has been on my shelf for at least the past decade. I have perused enough of it to advise it is a VERY serious scholarly book.

Bob said:. August 6, at pm. August 7, at am. Wayne Baker said:. August 30, at pm. Jim Back said:. December 11, at pm. As I recall it is hard to find copies and it was less a biography than a series of essays or character sketches. John Duffy said:. May 30, at am. Adams attack on it, is obviously quite steeped in the national argument that resulted in the Civil War.

These two men are my favorite figures in American history and this book shows why they had such an affinity towards each other: both autodidacts who insisted on following their own judgement while maintaining a keen ear for the political realities of their times. A very enjoyable read. None of this is to downplay the amazing accomplishment of Mr.

Lloyd in reading so many presidential biographies and then writing well written and helpful reviews about each one. This is a major accomplishment. I just wanted to make sure that folks knew about these books. Felippe Gontier said:. January 29, at pm. Thank you about your review. Can you indicate a book? But I do own, and intend one day to read, the famous three-volume series by Shelby Foote.

Steve H said:. January 24, at pm. I highly recommend it if you are still interested in that topic. Patsy Newell said:. February 3, at pm. Lincoln and Garfield are my two favorite presidents to research.

Ulla andersson biography of abraham lincoln

Hope you get the chance to check it out. February 4, at am. Jeremy said:. October 22, at am. Thank you!