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The Birth of a Republican Icon
When Abraham Lincoln entered the world, the Republican Party was just a twinkle in the eye of history. The Republican party emerged from the ashes of the Whigs party, which dissolved itself not being able to take a position on slavery.
Lincoln didn't just join the party; he became its poster child, snagging the title of first Republican president.
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60 reads
Honest Abe: The OG Truth-Teller
Lincoln's nickname "Honest Abe" wasn't a campaign gimmick - he earned those stripes way back in his Illinois days. As a young lawyer, he built a reputation for being more truthful than a polygraph machine. Taking on cases for the poor and unrepresented also added to his good reputation.
In a world of smooth-talking lawyers, Lincoln was refreshingly blunt.
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55 reads
Vampire Hunter or Metaphorical Monster Slayer?
Abraham Lincoln recently got portrayed as a monster hunter in books & on the big screen. Historically infused entertainment!
Was Lincoln really a vampire hunter? Well, he was tall, handy with an axe, and definitely took down some metaphorical monsters. The whole vampire thing is a clever analogy for his fight against slavery, with slave owners cast as the bloodsuckers. While he never actually staked any undead, Lincoln did drive a stake through the heart of the institution of slavery. No garlic or silver bullets required!
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46 reads
The Emancipation Proclamation: A Well-Timed Power Move
Contrary to popular belief, Lincoln didn't come out swinging against slavery from day one of his presidency. He played it cool for the first couple of years, trying to keep the Union intact.
How about the famous Emancipation Proclamation? The key document that freed all slaves in the US? It was a strategic move, dropping only after the Union scored a battlefield win at Antietam. Timing was everything - he needed to look like a bold leader, not a desperate one. Especially as the big European powers (the British and the French) were watching the US Civil War, undecided which side to lean on.
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34 reads
The Gettysburg Address: Fashion Late, Historically Great
Contrary to what you might think, Lincoln didn't dash off the Gettysburg Address right after the battle's gun smoke cleared. Nope, he delivered that famous speech a full six months after the battle, during a visit to dedicate the battlefield.
It's like showing up fashionably late to a party, but then giving a toast so good that everyone forgets you weren't there for the main event. Lincoln's words turned a belated appearance into one of history's most memorable speeches.
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29 reads
Lincoln's Complicated Legacy
Had John Wilkes Booth (the infamous assassin at the theatre) not turned Lincoln into a martyr, history might remember Honest Abe a bit differently. Sure, he freed the slaves, but he also made some controversial calls:
- Going to war instead of respecting states' rights? Check.
- Censoring the press and jailing political opponents? Double check.
Lincoln's presidency was more complex than a game of 4D chess. His assassination, tragic as it was, solidified his spot in the pantheon of presidential greats.
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33 reads
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CURATOR'S NOTE
Surprising facts about the 16th president. Discover his whole story on the Paladin app.
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