Abraham Lincoln biography timeline

Elected to the US House of Representatives

Supports Zachary Taylor as the Whig candidate in the 1848 presidential election

Kansas Nebraska Act helps unite anti slavery Whigs Free Soilers and Democrats against the spread of slavery

Lincoln returns to politics after passage of the Kansas Nebraska Act

Anti slavery opponents in Illinois organize against the Kansas Nebraska Act

Lincoln condemns the Kansas Nebraska Act and argues against the expansion of slavery

Lincoln campaigns against the extension of slavery into western territories

Lincoln attacks the Kansas Nebraska Act and the spread of slavery in his Peoria speech

Anti Nebraska candidates gain support in Illinois politics after Lincolns return to public debate

Republican Party begins forming as an anti slavery coalition that Lincoln later joins

Lincoln receives support for the United States Senate from anti slavery legislators in Illinois

Lincoln withdraws from the Senate contest to help prevent a pro slavery Democrat from winning

Illinois anti slavery forces organize at Bloomington and strengthen the Republican movement

Republicans hold their first national convention as the anti slavery coalition becomes a national party

Republicans gain strong popular support but fail to win enough legislative seats

Illinois voters choose legislators who will decide the Senate contest

Republicans win more popular votes but Democrats retain control of the legislature and reelect Stephen Douglas

Lincoln debates Douglas at Galesburg and strengthens his Republican profile

Lincoln answers Douglas and defends the Republican position in Chicago

Lincoln accepts the Senate nomination with his House Divided speech

Illinois Republicans nominate Lincoln as their candidate for the United States Senate

Lincoln begins campaigning against Stephen A Douglas for the Illinois Senate seat

Lincoln continues his Senate campaign with a major Springfield speech

Lincoln forces Douglas to explain how settlers could restrict slavery after the Dred Scott decision

Lincoln debates Douglas at Ottawa in the first joint debate

Lincoln debates Douglas at Freeport and presses him on territorial slavery

Lincoln debates Stephen Douglas over slavery and popular sovereignty during the Illinois Senate campaign

Lincoln debates Douglas at Jonesboro during the Illinois Senate campaign

Lincoln debates Douglas at Charleston before a large Illinois crowd

Lincoln debates Douglas at Quincy in the sixth joint debate

Lincoln closes the joint debate series against Douglas at Alton

Lincoln campaigns across Illinois for Republican legislative candidates

Lincoln loses the Senate contest but gains national recognition

Lincoln speaks at Leavenworth during his Kansas tour

Lincoln speaks in Columbus during the Ohio Republican campaign

Lincoln addresses Cincinnati Republicans and answers Southern criticism

Lincoln campaigns for Republican candidates during his Ohio speaking tour

Lincoln speaks at the Wisconsin State Fair on labor and free society

Lincoln visits Kansas Territory as a rising Republican speaker

Republicans begin treating Lincoln as a national figure after the debates with Douglas

Lincoln writes to Republican allies and expands his national political network

Lincoln becomes a serious Republican prospect for national office

Lincoln addresses Hartford Republicans before the presidential campaign

Lincoln remains in Springfield on the eve of the presidential election

Lincoln speaks to Connecticut Republicans during his New England tour

Lincoln defeats Stephen Douglas John C Breckinridge and John Bell in the 1860 presidential election

Lincoln is elected 16th President of the United States

Illinois Republicans promote Lincoln as the Rail Candidate

Illinois Republicans endorse Lincoln for the presidency at Decatur

Lincoln supporters use the rail splitter image to strengthen his popular appeal

Lincoln delivers the Cooper Union Address and impresses eastern Republicans

Lincoln speaks across New England after the Cooper Union Address

Lincoln formally accepts the Republican presidential nomination

Republican leaders notify Lincoln of his nomination for President

Lincoln becomes the national standard bearer of the Republican Party

Republicans open their national convention in Chicago

Lincoln is chosen as the Republican candidate for the 1860 presidential election

Lincoln wins the Republican presidential nomination on the third ballot

Republicans adopt a national platform opposing the expansion of slavery

Republicans nominate Hannibal Hamlin as Lincolns running mate

Republicans circulate campaign biographies presenting Lincoln as a self made western candidate

Lincoln conducts much of the presidential campaign from Springfield

Republican newspapers promote Lincoln as a moderate and electable candidate

Lincoln avoids major public speaking while Republican organizers run the national campaign

Republican Wide Awake clubs campaign for Lincoln with public rallies and torchlight parades

Lincoln campaigns in a four candidate presidential race

Republicans focus on winning free state electoral votes

Lincoln manages political correspondence with Republican allies across the country

Republican rallies promote Lincoln as the candidate of free labor and national growth

Republicans intensify campaign work before the national election

Republican state victories strengthen confidence in Lincolns presidential campaign

South Carolina votes to secede after Lincolns election

Texas convention votes to secede from the Union

The Morrill Tariff raises import duties shortly before Lincoln takes office.

Lincoln sends his first annual message to Congress

Lincoln declares that the Union is perpetual and appeals for preservation of the Constitution

Lincoln is inaugurated as the 16th President of the United States

Federal troops protect the capital during Lincolns first inauguration

Lincoln begins his first term as President of the United States

Lincoln states that his constitutional duty is to preserve protect and defend the Union

Lincoln addresses a special session of Congress at the start of his presidency

Lincoln appoints Edward Bates as Attorney General

Lincoln forms his first cabinet after taking office

Lincoln appoints Caleb B Smith as Secretary of the Interior

Lincoln appoints Montgomery Blair as Postmaster General

Lincoln appoints Salmon P Chase as Secretary of the Treasury

Revenue Act introduces the first federal income tax in United States history

Lincoln signs the Revenue Act creating new federal revenue measures

Arkansas votes to secede from the Union after the outbreak of war

Tennessee voters approve secession from the Union

Eleven slave states have seceded while four slave states remain in the Union

Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union

Mississippi becomes the second slave state to secede from the Union

Florida becomes the third state to secede from the Union

Florida becomes the third slave state to secede from the Union

Alabama becomes the fourth state to secede from the Union

Alabama becomes the fourth slave state to secede from the Union

Confederate artillery opens fire on the Union garrison at Fort Sumter

Confederate forces begin the attack on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor

Lincoln opposes compromise measures that would protect slavery in federal territory

Georgia becomes the fifth state to secede from the Union

Georgia becomes the fifth slave state to secede from the Union

Louisiana becomes the sixth slave state to secede from the Union

Lincoln calls on state governors to provide troops to suppress the rebellion

Lincoln calls for 75000 volunteers after the attack on Fort Sumter

Virginia convention votes to secede after the attack on Fort Sumter

Union forces agree to surrender Fort Sumter after the bombardment

North Carolina convention votes to secede from the Union

Lincoln signs legislation authorizing federal borrowing and treasury notes

Lincolns election intensifies the secession crisis before his inauguration

Revenue Act establishes the Bureau of Internal Revenue

Lincoln signs the Pacific Railway Act supporting a transcontinental railroad

Lincoln signs the Pacific Railway Act supporting construction of the first transcontinental railroad

Lincoln signs a broader Revenue Act expanding federal tax administration

Pacific Railway Act grants federal support for construction of the transcontinental railroad

Lincoln sends his second annual message to Congress

Federal land grants are authorized to support agricultural and mechanical colleges

Lincoln signs the Morrill Act supporting land grant colleges

The Homestead Act offers public land to settlers who improve and occupy it.

The Pacific Railway Act supports construction of a transcontinental railroad with land and bonds.

Lincoln signs legislation restricting bigamy in United States territories

Lincoln signs the Legal Tender Act authorizing United States notes

Federal paper currency is authorized as legal tender

Lincoln signs legislation creating the United States Department of Agriculture

Lincoln signs the Homestead Act opening western public land to settlers

Union forces halt Lees invasion of Maryland and give Lincoln the opportunity to issue emancipation policy

Preliminary proclamation makes abolition in Confederate controlled areas an official Union war objective

Northern governors meet at Altoona and support Lincoln and the Union war effort

Lincoln announces that enslaved people in rebellious areas will be declared free on January 1 1863

Lincoln issues the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation after the Battle of Antietam

Lincoln makes emancipation a central Union war aim

Lincoln warns rebellious states that enslaved people will be declared free unless they return to the Union

Lincoln administration expands federal control over national currency

Lincoln administration promotes settlement through expanded public land policy

Lincoln issues the final Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation freeing enslaved people in rebellious areas

Emancipation policy makes foreign recognition of the Confederacy less likely

Emancipation Proclamation changes the Civil War into a war for Union and freedom

Lincoln signs legislation organizing Idaho Territory

Lincoln signs the act incorporating the National Academy of Sciences

Lincoln issues a proclamation establishing a national Thanksgiving observance

Lincoln sends his third annual message to Congress

Lincoln announces a reconstruction plan for loyal governments in former Confederate states

Lincoln signs legislation organizing Arizona Territory

National Banking Act creates the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Lincoln signs the National Banking Act creating a system of national banks

West Virginia becomes the 35th state of the Union

Lincoln arrives in Gettysburg before the cemetery dedication ceremony

Lincoln attends the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery at Gettysburg

Lincoln calls for a new birth of freedom and renewed dedication to preserving the Union

Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery

Lincoln honors Union dead and links their sacrifice to the survival of democratic government

Lincoln redefines the Civil War as a struggle for Union and a new birth of freedom

Lincoln speaks after Edward Everett at the Gettysburg cemetery dedication ceremony

The United States observes a national Thanksgiving Day under Lincolns proclamation

Lincoln selects Council Bluffs as the eastern terminus for the Union Pacific railroad

Lincoln signs legislation chartering the Northern Pacific Railway

Amendments strengthen support for Central Pacific construction eastward from California

Amended law accelerates work toward completing the first transcontinental railroad

Amendments increase support for Union Pacific construction westward from the Missouri River

Lincoln signs amendments expanding support for the transcontinental railroad project

Lincoln signs amendments strengthening federal support for the transcontinental railroad

Federal land grants and bonds encourage railroad construction across the western territories

Lincoln signs the National Bank Act revising the national banking system

Immigration Act creates federal machinery to encourage immigrant labor and settlement

Lincoln signs legislation encouraging immigration to the United States

Lincoln sends his fourth annual message to Congress

National Union Convention nominates Lincoln for a 2nd term

Lincoln is reelected President on the National Union ticket

Lincoln wins reelection as President of the United States

Lincoln assigns Ulysses S Grant to command the armies of the United States

Lincoln signs the Coinage Act authorizing new federal coinage

Federal coinage begins using the motto In God We Trust

Coinage Act authorizes the two cent coin for United States currency

Lincoln signs legislation organizing Montana Territory

Lincoln signs the Yosemite Grant protecting Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove

Nevada becomes the 36th state of the Union

Confederate commissioners seek terms that might preserve Southern political authority after the war

Conference ends without agreement as Union leaders demand reunion and Confederate leaders reject surrender terms

Lincoln insists that restoration of the Union is required before any peace settlement can be made

Lincoln meets Confederate commissioners aboard the steamer River Queen to discuss possible peace terms

Lincoln meets Confederate representatives but no peace settlement is reached

Lincoln refuses to recognize Confederate independence during the peace conference

Lincoln begins his 2nd term as President of the United States

Lincoln delivers his second inaugural address as victory over the Confederacy approaches

Lincoln speaks of reunion and reconstruction in his second inaugural address

Lincoln is inaugurated for his second presidential term

Lincoln begins his 2nd term as President of the United States

Lincoln is buried in Springfield Illinois

Lincoln appoints Hugh McCulloch as Secretary of the Treasury

Robert E Lee surrenders to Ulysses S Grant at Appomattox Court House

John Wilkes Booth enters the presidential box at Fords Theatre and shoots Lincoln during a performance of Our American Cousin

John Wilkes Booth shoots Lincoln at Fords Theatre

After being shot Lincoln is carried across the street to Petersen House where doctors attend him through the night

Members of the cabinet military officers and family gather at Lincolns bedside during his final hours

News of Lincolns death spreads across the United States triggering national mourning and memorial services

Vice President Andrew Johnson prepares to assume the presidency following Lincolns death

Lincoln dies after being assassinated at Fords Theatre the previous night