Lincoln Biography

Author: Shen Lai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-11-01
Features: This series of books is divided into six levels based on readers' English proficiency, suitable for middle school students, high school students, college students, and adults. The series selects well-known world classics and is adapted by nine native English-speaking writers. The text includes vocabulary explanations and detailed translations of difficult sentences, allowing readers to enjoy a world classic without needing a dictionary. The series also features short questions and unit exercises to assess readers' comprehension, providing strong supplementary learning support. All books in the series are accompanied by audio cassettes, featuring readings by professional American actors, background music, various sound effects, and beautiful songs summarizing the book's content. All these elements make listening to authentic American English an enjoyable experience.
Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky, USA. His father was a poor farmer, and Lincoln was not accustomed to hard labor from a young age and received little formal education. He later taught himself and became a lawyer in 1837. From 1834 to 1841, Lincoln was elected as a representative of Illinois. In 1858, the Republican Party nominated Lincoln to run for the U.S. Senate, and he was elected. During the campaign, he engaged in fierce debates with Stephen Douglas of the Democratic Party on the issue of slavery, gaining national fame. In 1860, the Republican Party nominated Lincoln as its presidential candidate. However, shortly after his election, the Southern states seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States, and the Civil War broke out. Lincoln remained steadfast in his leadership, firmly upholding the Union, advocating the abolition of slavery, and determined to win the war. In the early stages of the war, the Northern forces faced unfavorable conditions. In September 1862, the Confederate forces shifted to a defensive stance. In 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, turning the tide of the war in favor of the North. On November 1863, Lincoln delivered a speech at Gettysburg National Cemetery, which included the famous line, "A government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth," a quote that has endured to this day. In 1864, Lincoln ran for re-election during the war. Although the outcome was uncertain, after appointing Ulysses S. Grant as the commanding general, the Northern forces achieved consecutive victories, which greatly benefited Lincoln and secured his re-election. On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee of the Confederate States surrendered, ending the Civil War. On April 14, 1865, while watching a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, Lincoln was assassinated and died the following day.