born in a log cabin in kentucky in 1809, raised in poverty, and almost entirely self-educated, abraham lincoln became a successful lawyer in springfield, illinois, where he married mary todd. lincoln came to the presidency with little experience-a few years in the illinois legislature and one term in congress. but he had a remarkable gift for helping people see the war as a test of popular government, "of the people, by the people, and for the people" (gettysburg address).
after his assassination in 1865, lincoln came to be seen as a leader of nearly mythic proportions-a towering, legendary figure who had saved democracy and freed the slaves.
(see: emancipation proclamation)
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