Election
Elected to the US House of Representatives
Role range: 1846-1846 – 1847-1849
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Abraham Lincoln Biography and Timeline
Follow Abraham Lincoln through 199 dated historical records for United States of America.
Abraham Lincoln, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
199Distinct records
1 of 5Page
1846–1859Years on this page
1846
1848
Presidential Campaign
Supports Zachary Taylor as the Whig candidate in the 1848 presidential election
Role range: 1848-1848 – 1847-1849
1854
Kansas Nebraska Act
Lincoln returns to politics after passage of the Kansas Nebraska Act
Role range: 1854-1854
Anti-Slavery Coaltion
Kansas Nebraska Act helps unite anti slavery Whigs Free Soilers and Democrats against the spread of slavery
Role range: 1854-1856
Anti-Slavery Coaltion
Anti slavery opponents in Illinois organize against the Kansas Nebraska Act
Role range: 1854-1856
Peoria Speech
Lincoln attacks the Kansas Nebraska Act and the spread of slavery in his Peoria speech
Role range: 1854-1854
Anti-Slavery Coaltion
Lincoln condemns the Kansas Nebraska Act and argues against the expansion of slavery
Role range: 1854-1856
Anti-Slavery Coaltion
Lincoln campaigns against the extension of slavery into western territories
Role range: 1854-1856
Anti-Slavery Coaltion
Anti Nebraska candidates gain support in Illinois politics after Lincolns return to public debate
Role range: 1854-1856
Republican Party
Republican Party begins forming as an anti slavery coalition that Lincoln later joins
Role range: 1854-1856
1855
Anti-Slavery Coaltion
Lincoln receives support for the United States Senate from anti slavery legislators in Illinois
Role range: 1854-1856
Anti-Slavery Coaltion
Lincoln withdraws from the Senate contest to help prevent a pro slavery Democrat from winning
Role range: 1854-1856
1856
Anti-Slavery Coaltion
Illinois anti slavery forces organize at Bloomington and strengthen the Republican movement
Role range: 1854-1856
Anti-Slavery Coaltion
Republicans hold their first national convention as the anti slavery coalition becomes a national party
Role range: 1854-1856
1858
Republican Popular Vote
Republicans gain strong popular support but fail to win enough legislative seats
Role range: 1858-1858
Senate Election
Illinois voters choose legislators who will decide the Senate contest
Role range: 1858-1858
Senate Election
Republicans win more popular votes but Democrats retain control of the legislature and reelect Stephen Douglas
Role range: 1858-1858
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Lincoln debates Douglas at Galesburg and strengthens his Republican profile
Role range: 1858-1858
Chicago Speech
Lincoln answers Douglas and defends the Republican position in Chicago
Role range: 1858-1858
House Divided Speech
Lincoln accepts the Senate nomination with his House Divided speech
Role range: 1858-1858
Republican Senate Nomination
Illinois Republicans nominate Lincoln as their candidate for the United States Senate
Role range: 1858-1858
Senate Campaign
Lincoln begins campaigning against Stephen A Douglas for the Illinois Senate seat
Role range: 1858-1858
Springfield Speech
Lincoln continues his Senate campaign with a major Springfield speech
Role range: 1858-1858
Freeport Doctrine
Lincoln forces Douglas to explain how settlers could restrict slavery after the Dred Scott decision
Role range: 1858-1858
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Lincoln debates Douglas at Freeport and presses him on territorial slavery
Role range: 1858-1858
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Lincoln debates Douglas at Ottawa in the first joint debate
Role range: 1858-1858
Lincoln Douglas Debates
Lincoln debates Stephen Douglas over slavery and popular sovereignty during the Illinois Senate campaign
Role range: 1858-1858
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Lincoln debates Douglas at Charleston before a large Illinois crowd
Role range: 1858-1858
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Lincoln debates Douglas at Jonesboro during the Illinois Senate campaign
Role range: 1858-1858
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Lincoln closes the joint debate series against Douglas at Alton
Role range: 1858-1858
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Lincoln debates Douglas at Quincy in the sixth joint debate
Role range: 1858-1858
Republican Canvass
Lincoln campaigns across Illinois for Republican legislative candidates
Role range: 1858-1858
Senate Defeat
Lincoln loses the Senate contest but gains national recognition
Role range: 1858-1858
1859
Leavenworth Speech
Lincoln speaks at Leavenworth during his Kansas tour
Role range: 1859-1859
Ohio Campaign
Lincoln addresses Cincinnati Republicans and answers Southern criticism
Role range: 1859-1859
Ohio Campaign
Lincoln speaks in Columbus during the Ohio Republican campaign
Role range: 1859-1859
Ohio Campaign
Lincoln campaigns for Republican candidates during his Ohio speaking tour
Role range: 1859-1859
Wisconsin State Fair
Lincoln speaks at the Wisconsin State Fair on labor and free society
Role range: 1859-1859
Kansas Tour
Lincoln visits Kansas Territory as a rising Republican speaker
Role range: 1859-1859
Post Debate Reputation
Republicans begin treating Lincoln as a national figure after the debates with Douglas
Role range: 1859-1859
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.