Abraham Lincoln

Read the text.

Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth president of the United States. He was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, on February 12, 1809. His father was a poor pioneer, who had a small piece of barren land in the backwoods. When Abe was seven years old the family moved to Indiana. Here also the land was uncultivated, and Lincoln’s father had to clear the lot where their new home was to be. He cut the trees and made the logs out of which he built a crude dwelling. Winter came on before the cabin was finished, and the Lincoln family was compelled to live through the cold months with only three sides of the cabin enclosed. By the next winter they had built a better house, which they furnished with new furniture made of rough logs; and after they had moved into this new home they were more comfortable than they had ever been before. The hardships of pioneer life, however, were too much for Lincoln’s mother, who soon after they had moved into their new home. To little Abe his mother’s death was a great sorrow - sorrow that he felt as long as he lived. It was also a great loss to him. His loss was in part made up to him from the fact that his father married soon again, and his new mother was a kind woman, who took a great interest in Abe and helped him make the best of his limited opportunities. Lincoln went to school at intervals from his eighth year to his fifteenth year. The total amount of schooling which he received was less than a year.

It was necessary for him to earn his living at early age. When only eight years old he was said to cut wood to keep the fire- that was used in their cabin and from that time on, later he helped to cut logs. This work he did for neighbours in order to earn money.

Corn and other products of that region were at that time taken to market by lat-boat down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans. Lincoln was emp1oyed by a neighbour to go on one of these voyages, two thousand miles by flat-boat. On the trip he had many wonderful experiences. Once, while at New Orleans, he saw Negro slaves bought and sold at public auction in the market place. This sight made profound impression on him, which he never forgot.

When he returned home, the family moved to Illinois. Here again they had to build a log cabin. Soon after, their arrival Lincoln became the village postmaster. His duties did not occupy all his time, so he began the study of law. It is said that he walked a distance of twenty miles to borrow law books from a friend. By and by he practiced law. He was by nature sympathetic, earnest, and sincere, as well as honest in his dealings. He was also ambitious, and a natural leader, masterful, though unobtrusive. From a very early age be won general confidence and respect, in the practice of law he had great success as an advocate. At twenty-five he was e1ected to the state legislature. It is said that when went into office he walked to he Capitol, because he was too poor to hire a horse. He was a member of the legislature for eight years. A little later he represented his district in Congress for a term. A short time after that he became a candidate for United States senator against Stephen A. Douglas, by whom he was defeated. During the campaign the candidates held a series of memorable debates, in which they discussed the slavery question.

Lincoln was elected president of the United States in 1860. His election was received throughout the South with general disappointment and dismay, because the people there thought that Lincoln would oppose the holding of slaves by the people of any state. Soon the southern states tried to secede, and the great Civil War was on. It began 1861, and in 1862 Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, by which he set free all the slaves held within any state that was in rebellion against the United States. The War ended in April 1865; and it was Lincoln’s effort more than anyone else’s that saved the nation.

About the time the war ended, Lincoln while attending a theatre was shot by аn assassin and died the next morning, and his body was laid to rest in Springfield, Illinois. After the burial service the Second Inaugural Address read over his grave; and as Lord Charnwood says in his biography of Lincoln, what better words than his own could have been chosen to honour one who “with malice toward one, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gave him to see the right, had striven on finish the work he was in.”

Topical Vocabulary

-uncultivated - необработанная

-cabin - хижина

-sorrow -горе

-a great loss – великая потеря

- limitеd opportunities - ограниченные возможности

- slaves - рабы

- slavery - рабство

- profound impression – глубокое впечатление

- ambitious - честолюбивый, амбициозный

- masterful - властный

- memorable debates - памятные дебаты

-disappointment - разочарование

- dismay кошмар

- Emancipation Proclamation – провозглашение освобождения

- rebellion against – восстание против

- assassin убийца

-malice - злоба

Answer the questions on the text.

1.What was A. Lincoln known for?

2.Where and when was he born?

3.What family did he come from?

4.What was the total amount of schooling which A.Lincoln received?

5.Why did he have to earn his living at a very early age?

6.What work did he do to earn money?

7.Why did he begin to study law?

8.What was he elected to at the age of 25?

9.How long was he member of legislature?

10.When was Lincoln elected president of the United States?

11.Why was his election received with general disappointment and dismay throughout the South?

12.Why did the civil war begin in 1861?

13.When did it end?

14.Whose effort saved the nation?

15.When did Lincoln die?

16.How did it happen?

Билет 29.