February 12 in American History
Born in a one-room Kentucky log cabin, Lincoln had barely a year of formal schooling and taught himself law by firelight. He rose to save the Union, end slavery, and redefine the nation's purpose in a two-minute speech at Gettysburg — before being assassinated days after the war's end. The self-made man who held the country together.
In 1809: Abraham Lincoln is born. Born in a one-room Kentucky log cabin, Lincoln had barely a year of formal schooling and taught himself law by firelight.
Born in a one-room Kentucky log cabin, Lincoln had barely a year of formal schooling and taught himself law by firelight. He rose to save the Union, end slavery, and redefine the nation's purpose in a two-minute speech at Gettysburg — before being assassinated days after the war's end. The self-made man who held the country together.
The Daily Poll · Weigh In
What was Lincoln's greatest quality?
Opinion, not a quiz — no wrong answer.
★ Forge Your Freedom
Your Freedom Score puts a number on it — 60 seconds, free. See how you rank, then get a history moment like this in your brief every day.
Take the Free Assessment →