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The Legacy Of Abraham Lincoln

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April 15, 1865 was a highly anticipated evening at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. President Abraham Lincoln, along with Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward were scheduled to attend a showing of Our American Cousin. This enjoyable gathering soon turned to tragedy for the American leaders. In the middle of the performance, shots were fired and blood was shed while the unassuming audience sat oblivious to the events unfolding. John Wilkes Booth executed his scheme to assassinate President Lincoln, one of the most important and influential men in American history, who inspired the masses with his unexpected rise to power. Similarly to many Americans of his era, Abraham Lincoln’s early life was marked by poverty and other challenges. Born in a log cabin in Kentucky, Lincoln also lived in Indiana and Louisiana before settling down in Illinois in his twenties. He received less than a year of formal education, but loved to read and taught himself everything he ever needed to know. In 1834, Lincoln entered the world of politics when he won a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives. Between his first and second terms as a representative, he taught himself law and received his license to practice within state courts. Before long, he was one of the most famous lawyers in Illinois and was known for his honesty, intellect, and integrity across the state (Abraham Lincoln Early Life Timeline Web). Lincoln’s law career and time as a state

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