how did abraham lincoln get the nickname honest abe

New Salem, his first home away from home, allowed Lincoln to, in his words, ``get hold of something that was knotty'' -- law and politics -- and wrestle with them, as he wrestled in sport with the local toughs. [212], In the 1862 midterm elections the Republicans suffered severe losses due to rising inflation, high taxes, rumors of corruption, suspension of habeas corpus, military draft law, and fears that freed slaves would come North and undermine the labor market. [265], Lincoln believed the federal government had limited responsibility to the millions of freedmen. During campaigns against the Creek Indians (British allies during the war), Jacksons steadfastness and resolve earned him the admiration of his troops, who claimed he was as strong as a hickory tree. He defined the war as dedicated to the principles of liberty and equality for all. Real news, real hope. Lincoln, 22 years old, was piloting a large flatboat full of corn and live hogs down the Sangamon River, on his way to the Mississippi and New Orleans, when the boat got stuck on a dam outside. [328][m], In the 1850s, Lincoln asserted his belief in "providence" in a general way, and rarely used the language or imagery of the evangelicals; he regarded the republicanism of the Founding Fathers with an almost religious reverence. [24] His stepmother acknowledged he did not enjoy "physical labor", but loved to read. He crafted an address denouncing enslavement and its spread, which he delivered at the Cooper Union in Manhattan. The townfolk were impressed. [273] Lincoln ordered thousands of Confederate prisoners of war sent by railroad to put down the uprising. He first entered national politics in 1847 while serving a single term in Congress. [261], Lincoln's appointments were designed to harness both moderates and Radicals. His stepmother doubtless encouraged Lincolns taste for reading, yet the original source of his desire to learn remains something of a mystery. Lincoln confidentially pledged in writing that if he should lose the election, he would still defeat the Confederacy before turning over the White House;[251] Lincoln did not show the pledge to his cabinet, but asked them to sign the sealed envelope. Lincoln also pressured border states to outlaw slavery, and he promoted the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which upon its ratification abolished slavery. [citation needed] One of the Chippewa signing the letter, Chief Naw-Gaw-Nub, had received a Presidential medal from Lincoln earlier in the year.[279]. [249] At its convention, the Republicans selected Johnson as his running mate. The oft-told story of Taft getting stuck in a White House bathtub isnt true, but he did have specially designed and sized tubs installed for his use. But the debates he had about the enslavement of people with his 1858 senatorial opponent, Stephen Douglas, helped him win the presidential nomination two years later. However Lincoln did select some of the top diplomats as part of his patronage policy. His advice to potential lawyers was: "Resolve to be honest at all events; and if in your judgment you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer. The nicknames given to Americas commanders in chief have been as varied as the people themselves. Anne Sarah Rubin, Contributing Editors "[310][l] Lincoln's body was placed in a flag-wrapped coffin, which was loaded into a hearse and escorted to the White House by Union soldiers. Some have showcased military victories and qualities of leadership to propel candidates onto the national stage, while others have revealed the darker side of American politics itself. But Lincoln persisted with the policy of suspension in select areas. DIED: April 15, 1865, in Washington, D.C. TIME IN OFFICE: March 4, 1861, to April 15, 1865, VICE PRESIDENTS: Hannibal Hamlin (first term), Andrew Johnson (second term), POLITICAL PARTY: Republican (formerly Whig). [359] A 2004 study found that scholars in the fields of history and politics ranked Lincoln number one, while legal scholars placed him second after George Washington. One Illinois newspaper derisively nicknamed him "spotty Lincoln". [146], On May 18, at the Republican National Convention in Chicago, Lincoln won the nomination on the third ballot, beating candidates such as Seward and Chase. The National Banking Act created the system of national banks. What was Abraham Lincolns personal life like? Meanwhile, Lincoln emboldened Grant with more troops and Republican party support. Corrections? The term "the United States" has historically been used sometimes in the plural ("these United States") and other times in the singular. [238], Lincoln was concerned that Grant might be considering a presidential candidacy in 1864. Samuel Freeman Miller supported Lincoln in the 1860 election and was an avowed abolitionist. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).