The Essential Abraham Lincoln (Library of Freedom)
by Abraham Lincoln
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Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was one of the most influential presidents of the USA, uniting the country and abolishing slavery after a terrible civil war. His life and works are presented here in an easy introductory form. Through a balance of biography and the key speeches and letters, the man is brought to life, demonstrating his keen intelligence and determination, which was maintained all the way to his tragic death at the hand of an assassin.Tags
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This is a *nearly* essential book for Lincoln enthusiasts. I've read a few books in this that I might otherwise have missed, and have been very glad I did. On the other hand, there are a few books that I was disappointed in. The main problem, right now, is that this book needs a major update, since there have been *many* books released in the last decade that would probably be included in a new edition. I might also suggest some editorial changes, such as the top 75 books prior to 1940 and the top 75 after 1940. (or something like that). There have been a lot of great books that have been released in the last decade, but they may be somewhat overshadowed by 'classic' books that might not actually be as good. So, Hunt et al, PLEASE show more create a new edition! show less
A collection of Letters , speeches and other writings of Abraham Lincoln.
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362+ Works 9,673 Members
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 - April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln led the United States through its Civil War, its bloodiest war and its greatest moral, constitutional and political crisis. In doing so, he preserved the Union, abolished slavery, show more strengthened the federal government, and modernized the economy. Lincoln was a self-educated lawyer in Illinois, a Whig Party leader and a state legislator in the 1830s. After a series of highly publicized debates in 1858, during which Lincoln spoke out against the expansion of slavery, he lost the U.S. Senate race to his archrival, Democrat Stephen A. Douglas. In 1860, Lincoln secured a Republican Party presidential nomination. His presidential election resulted in seven southern slave states to form the Confederacy before he took the office on March 4, 1861. Lincoln is regarded by historians as one of the greatest United States presidents. During his term, he created the system of national banks with the National Banking Act. This provided a strong financial network in the country. It also established a national currency. In 1862, Congress created, with Lincoln's approval, the Department of Agriculture. Lincoln was able to appoint five Supreme Court justices during his time as president. He is largely responsible for instituting the Thanksgiving holiday in the US. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address of 1863 became an iconic statement of America's dedication to the principles of nationalism, republicanism, equal rights, liberty, and democracy. Lincoln held a moderate view of Reconstruction. On April 15, 1865, six days after the surrender of Confederate commanding General Robert E. Lee, Lincoln was assassinated at the Ford Theater by John Wilkes Booth, a noted actor and Confederate spy from Maryland. Lincoln was married to Mary Todd Lincoln on November 4, 1842. They had four children, all boys. Only the oldest, Robert, survived to adulthood. After Lincoln's death, Robert committed his mother, Mary, for a short time. The death of their children had a profound effect on the mental health of both Lincoln and his wife. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Disambiguation notice
- A selection edited by John Gabriel Hunt. Do not combine with collections containing different material.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, General Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir
- DDC/MDS
- 973.6 — History & geography History of North America United States Antebellum Era (1845-1857)
- LCC
- E457.92 — History of the United States United States Civil War period, 1861-1865 Lincoln's administrations, 1861-April 15, 1865
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 110
- Popularity
- 296,380
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.13)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 1
