Abraham Lincoln: A Frontier Education and Self-Made Man
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is an iconic figure in American history. His journey from a humble, frontier upbringing to the highest office in the land is a testament to his determination, intellect, and unwavering commitment to self-improvement through education. While his formal schooling was limited, Lincoln's thirst for knowledge and dedication to learning shaped him into the eloquent leader who guided the nation through the Civil War.
Early Life and Limited Formal Schooling
Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in a one-room log cabin on the Sinking Spring Farm in Kentucky. His parents, Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln, were typical pioneer settlers. In 1816, the Lincolns moved to Indiana due to land title disputes and the issue of slavery in Kentucky.
Lincoln's formative years were spent on a family farm in the Little Pigeon Creek Community of Southwestern Indiana. As was common on the frontier, Lincoln received a meager formal education, accumulating to just under twelve months. His early surroundings provided "absolutely nothing to excite ambition for education."
Despite the lack of formal schooling, Lincoln's stepmother, Sarah Bush Johnston, encouraged his eagerness to learn and shared her own collection of books with him.
The Self-Educated Man
Despite his limited formal education, Lincoln continued to learn on his own from life experiences, and through reading and reciting what he had read or heard from others. He was a self-educated man in the truest sense of the words.
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Lincoln's early reading included Parson Weems's Life and Memorable Actions of George Washington, Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and Aesop's Fables. He also had some familiarity with the Bible.
Lincoln's commitment to self-education continued throughout his life. He was painfully aware of his own educational deficiencies and devoted his life to filling in some of the gaps.
From Rail-Splitter to Lawyer: A Path of Self-Improvement
After moving to Illinois in 1830, Lincoln tried his hand at various occupations, including rail-splitter, flatboatman, storekeeper, postmaster, and surveyor. He also served as a militia soldier during the Black Hawk War.
Realizing his desire to pursue a profession, Lincoln chose law. He taught himself grammar and mathematics and began to study law books. In 1836, he passed the bar examination and began to practice law in Springfield, Illinois.
Lincoln's legal career saw him handle "virtually every kind of business that could come before a prairie lawyer." He dealt with many transportation cases and even received a patent for a flotation device for riverboats.
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Politics and Eloquence: Cultivating a Voice for the Nation
In addition to his law career, Lincoln continued his involvement in politics. He was elected to the Illinois Legislature in 1834 and served in the United States House of Representatives from Illinois in 1846.
Angered by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which opened the territories to slavery, he became a leader of the new Republican Party.
Lincoln gained national prominence through his 1858 Senate campaign debates against Stephen A. Douglas. His articulation of the issues gave him a national political presence.
In 1860, Lincoln was invited to give a speech at the Cooper Union in New York. In this address, he demonstrated intellectual leadership, which brought him into contention for the presidency.
Lincoln's Views on Education, Liberty, and Work
Abraham Lincoln was highly conscious of the importance of education. His first political statement in 1832 emphasized education, calling it the "most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in."
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Lincoln tied education to two other principles that were even more central to his political philosophy: liberty and work. He believed that education, like work, requires effort but that both are crucial rungs on the ladder of opportunity.
In an 1859 address to the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society, Lincoln stated that educated people must labor, otherwise, education itself would become a positive and intolerable evil.
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