Today in History: Abraham Lincoln, the president known for abolishing slavery, is elected.

By Toby Friedman

On this day in 1860 Americans elected the humble yet courageous Abraham Lincoln as their president, an event that outraged the southern states of the country. At that time the northern and southern states of America were in major disagreement regarding the issue of slavery. The southerners, who were big plantation owners, relied heavily on slaves while the northerners felt that slavery was morally wrong. Lincoln, being an advocate against slavery, was not warmly welcomed by the south, to say the least. On the contrary, shortly after his election, the Civil War broke out during which Lincoln once said, “I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I cannot remember when I did not so think, and feel.” Lincoln fought hard to abolish slavery while keeping the nation united. Until today Abraham Lincoln remains a symbol of freedom.

 

 (From the Presidential File Collection. Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.)