VOANews: The Complex Story of Abraham Lincoln and How He Saved the Union

2009 Lincoln Bicentennial 1 of 4 - Lincoln the Railsplitter

Taken from an early depiction of Lincoln splitting logs for making a fence. This "blue-collar" image was used by the Republican Party to connect the candidate to the average American. Born in Kentucky, the Lincoln family moved to Indiana, finally settling in Illinois. In addition politics he served in the Illinois militia during the Black Hawk War and was a shopkeeper as well as a lawyer.

VOANews: The Complex Story of Abraham Lincoln and How He Saved the Union
On THIS IS AMERICA: The 16th president, born 200 years ago this Thursday, opposed slavery and led a civil war that ended it. Yet he originally thought the slave-holding states should be left alone.