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Abraham Lincoln: Articles and Resources

Perhaps no American has been written about more than Abraham Lincoln. His rise from obscurity to become one of the great leaders in history is a unique story, and one that continues to fascinate.
Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Proclamation Declared Thanksgiving a N…
A campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday finally succeeded when Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for a national day of Thanksgiving at the height of the Civil War, in 1863. Prior to that, Thanksgiving was a regional holiday, celebrated mostly in the northeast and on different days in different states.
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Resources
Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday will be celebrated on February 12, 2009, and many events will take place before and after the big day.

Below are some of the most useful and popular resources related to the Lincoln Bicentennial.

Abraham Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln is often quoted and is widely regarded as a classic document in American history. The speech is brief, yet Lincoln put a lot of thought into it. As the Civil War had turned into a long and very costly struggle, Lincoln felt the need to express, in nearly mythic terms, why the war was being fought.
Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
The text of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is one of the most quoted documents in American history. Lincoln had been invited to provide remarks in November 1863 at the dedication of the cemetery for those Union troops killed in the enormous battle at Gettysburg the previous summer. Lincoln's brief yet carefully written speech served to define his thoughts on the Civil War.
Book Review - Did Lincoln Own Slaves? by Gerald J. Prokopowicz
A review of a great resource on Lincoln for both novices and experts. [i]Did Lincoln Own Slaves?[/i] tackles a large number of questions about Abraham Lincoln, debunking some myths as well as fortifying some facts.
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858

When Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas met in a series of seven debates while running for a Senate seat from Illinois they fiercely debated the critical issue of the day, slavery. The debates elevated Lincoln's profile, helping to push him toward his run for president two years later, though Douglas would actually win the 1858 Senate election.

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates had national i…

With Malice Toward None by Stephen B. Oates
Review of With Malice Toward None, a classic biography of Abraham Lincoln by Stephen B. Oates, which was published in the 1970s but is still considered one of the best comprehensive biographies of the nation's sixteenth president.
Abraham Lincoln, The Great Emancipator
Abraham Lincoln has been discussed, debated, and written about perhaps more than any other figure from the 19th century. His personality was distinctly American, and his accomplishments may well have saved the United States.

And Lincoln is one of those rare figures who becomes more interesting the more you learn about him. Below are links to articles about Lincoln's life, death, and major acco…

Facts and Images of the Death of Abraham Lincoln
Images of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the events surrounding it were fascinating in 1865 and remain so to this day.
The Early Life of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln rose from humble roots to be President of the United States at a time of great national crisis. His journey was perhaps the classic American success story, and the road he took to the White House was not always easy or predictable.

This timeline illustrates some of the major events of Lincoln's life up to the 1850s, when his legendary debates with Stephen Douglas began to show…

A Library of Classic Books About Abraham Lincoln Can Be Downloaded
Books about Abraham Lincoln began appearing almost immediately following his death, and the late 1800s and early 1900s were something of a golden age of Lincoln literature. When the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission asked an expert to compile an "Es…
Lincoln's Speech at Cooper Union Propels Him to the White House
Abraham Lincoln traveled to New York City in late February 1860 to present an address before a group of Republican Party activists. He took the stage at Cooper Union, faced an audience of 1,500 curious spectators, and became an instant star. It has been said that Lincoln's Cooper Union address propelled him to the presidency.
Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress hosts an impressive and fascinating collection of Lincoln letters. The collection begins with Lincoln's law practice in Illinois and contains many items, many written in his own hand, from his years in the White House.
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was one of Lincoln's greatest achievements, and the Library of Congress hosts an excellent online exhibit about it. Of particular interest is Lincoln's handwritten first draft from the summer of 1862.
The Gettysburg Address
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address has rightfully gone down in history as a masterpiece. This Library of Congress exhibit provides valuable background information on the famed speech, and features what may be the actual copy Lincoln took from his pocket and read on November 19, 1863.
Lincoln's Home in Illinois
The official National Park Service site for his home provides some valuable and often entertaining insights into Lincoln's character and life before the White House.
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Illinois web site features some looks at the museum's holdings, such as the Treasures Gallery.

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