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A biography of Abraham Lincoln, who led the country during its greatest crisis.

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About the show.

The HISTORY Channel’s three-night documentary event “Abraham Lincoln” will be a definitive biography of the 16th president, the man who led the country during its bloodiest war and greatest crisis. Executive produced by world-renowned presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize®-winning bestselling author Doris Kearns Goodwin, “Abraham Lincoln” is based upon Kearns Goodwin’s New York Times bestseller, “Leadership: In Turbulent Times.”

From the impoverished childhood of Lincoln (played by Emmy-nominated actor Graham Sibley) to his days as a young prairie lawyer and budding politician, through his unlikely election to the presidency and his assassination only five days after the end of the Civil War, “Abraham Lincoln” offers viewers new and surprising insights into the man consistently ranked by historians and the American people as the country’s greatest president. Viewers will learn of the lesser-known aspects of Lincoln’s life and leadership through premium dramatic live-action scenes where his humility, empathy, resilience, ambition, political acumen, and humor are on full display. Combined with expert interviews —including President Barack Obama, Gen. Stan McChrystal, and renowned historians Christy Coleman, Dr. Allen Guelzo, Dr. Edna Greene Medford, Harold Holzer, Dr. Caroline Janney, Dr. Catherine Clinton— archival photos and news accounts, Lincoln’s letters, writings and speeches, and remembrances from his contemporaries, this miniseries provides a fresh, present-day understanding of the complexities of young Abraham Lincoln who grows to become President Lincoln, the man who saved the Union, won the war and secured emancipation.

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Abraham Lincoln

President Abraham Lincoln preserved the Union during the American Civil War and issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing enslaved people.

Quick Facts

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Abraham Lincoln was the 16 th president of the United States , serving from 1861 to 1865, and is regarded as one of America’s greatest heroes due to his roles in guiding the Union through the Civil War and working to emancipate enslaved people. His eloquent support of democracy and insistence that the Union was worth saving embody the ideals of self-government that all nations strive to achieve. In 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves across the Confederacy. Lincoln’s rise from humble beginnings to achieving the highest office in the land is a remarkable story, and his death is equally notably. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in 1865, at age 56, as the country was slowly beginning to reunify following the war. Lincoln’s distinctively humane personality and incredible impact on the nation have endowed him with an enduring legacy.

FULL NAME: Abraham Lincoln BORN: February 12, 1809 DIED: April 15, 1865 BIRTHPLACE: Hodgenville, Kentucky SPOUSE: Mary Todd Lincoln (m. 1842) CHILDREN: Robert Todd Lincoln , Edward Baker Lincoln, William Wallace Lincoln, and Thomas “Tad” Lincoln ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aquarius HEIGHT: 6 feet 4 inches

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, to parents Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln in rural Hodgenville, Kentucky.

Thomas was a strong and determined pioneer who found a moderate level of prosperity and was well respected in the community. The couple had two other children: Lincoln’s older sister, Sarah, and younger brother, Thomas, who died in infancy. His death wasn’t the only tragedy the family would endure.

In 1817, the Lincolns were forced to move from young Abraham’s Kentucky birthplace to Perry County, Indiana, due to a land dispute. In Indiana, the family “squatted” on public land to scrap out a living in a crude shelter, hunting game and farming a small plot. Lincoln’s father was eventually able to buy the land.

When Lincoln was 9 years old, his 34-year-old mother died of tremetol, more commonly known as milk sickness, on October 5, 1818. The event was devastating to the young boy, who grew more alienated from his father and quietly resented the hard work placed on him at an early age.

In December 1819, just over a year after his mother’s death, Lincoln’s father Thomas married Sarah Bush Johnston, a Kentucky widow with three children of her own. She was a strong and affectionate woman with whom Lincoln quickly bonded.

Although both his parents were most likely illiterate, Thomas’ new wife Sarah encouraged Lincoln to read. It was while growing into manhood that Lincoln received his formal education—an estimated total of 18 months—a few days or weeks at a time.

Reading material was in short supply in the Indiana wilderness. Neighbors recalled how Lincoln would walk for miles to borrow a book. He undoubtedly read the family Bible and probably other popular books at that time such as Robinson Crusoe, Pilgrim’s Progres s, and Aesop’s Fable s.

In March 1830, the family again migrated, this time to Macon County, Illinois. When his father moved the family again to Coles County, 22-year-old Lincoln struck out on his own, making a living in manual labor.

Lincoln was 6 feet 4 inches tall, rawboned and lanky yet muscular and physically strong. He spoke with a backwoods twang and walked with a long-striding gait. He was known for his skill in wielding an ax and early on made a living splitting wood for fire and rail fencing.

Young Lincoln eventually migrated to the small community of New Salem, Illinois, where over a period of years he worked as a shopkeeper, postmaster, and eventually general store owner. It was through working with the public that Lincoln acquired social skills and honed a storytelling talent that made him popular with the locals.

Not surprising given his imposing frame, Lincoln was an excellent wrestler and had only one recorded loss—to Hank Thompson in 1832—over a span of 12 years. A shopkeeper who employed Lincoln in New Salem, Illinois, reportedly arranged bouts for him as a way to promote the business. Lincoln notably beat a local champion named Jack Armstrong and became somewhat of a hero. (The National Wrestling Hall of Fame posthumously gave Lincoln its Outstanding American Award in 1992.)

When the Black Hawk War broke out in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans, the volunteers in the area elected Lincoln to be their captain. He saw no combat during this time, save for “a good many bloody struggles with the mosquitoes,” but was able to make several important political connections.

As he was starting his political career in the early 1830s, Lincoln decided to become a lawyer. He taught himself the law by reading William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England . After being admitted to the bar in 1837, he moved to Springfield, Illinois, and began to practice in the John T. Stuart law firm.

In 1844, Lincoln partnered with William Herndon in the practice of law. Although the two had different jurisprudent styles, they developed a close professional and personal relationship.

Lincoln made a good living in his early years as a lawyer but found that Springfield alone didn’t offer enough work. So to supplement his income, he followed the court as it made its rounds on the circuit to the various county seats in Illinois.

On November 4, 1842, Lincoln wed Mary Todd , a high-spirited, well-educated woman from a distinguished Kentucky family. Although they were married until Lincoln’s death, their relationship had a history of instability.

When the couple became engaged in 1840, many of their friends and family couldn’t understand Mary’s attraction; at times, Lincoln questioned it himself. In 1841, the engagement was suddenly broken off, most likely at Lincoln’s initiative. Mary and Lincoln met later at a social function and eventually did get married.

The couple had four sons— Robert Todd , Edward Baker, William Wallace, and Thomas “Tad”—of whom only Robert survived to adulthood.

Before marrying Todd, Lincoln was involved with other potential matches. Around 1837, he purportedly met and became romantically involved with Anne Rutledge. Before they had a chance to be engaged, a wave of typhoid fever came over New Salem, and Anne died at age 22.

Her death was said to have left Lincoln severely depressed. However, several historians disagree on the extent of Lincoln’s relationship with Rutledge, and his level of sorrow at her death might be more the makings of legend.

About a year after the death of Rutledge, Lincoln courted Mary Owens. The two saw each other for a few months, and marriage was considered. But in time, Lincoln called off the match.

In 1834, Lincoln began his political career and was elected to the Illinois state legislature as a member of the Whig Party . More than a decade later, from 1847 to 1849, he served a single term in the U.S. House of Representatives. His foray into national politics seemed to be as unremarkable as it was brief. He was the lone Whig from Illinois, showing party loyalty but finding few political allies.

As a congressman, Lincoln used his term in office to speak out against the Mexican-American War and supported Zachary Taylor for president in 1848. His criticism of the war made him unpopular back home, and he decided not to run for second term. Instead, he returned to Springfield to practice law.

By the 1850s, the railroad industry was moving west, and Illinois found itself becoming a major hub for various companies. Lincoln served as a lobbyist for the Illinois Central Railroad as its company attorney.

Success in several court cases brought other business clients as well, including banks, insurance companies, and manufacturing firms. Lincoln also worked in some criminal trials.

In one case, a witness claimed that he could identify Lincoln’s client who was accused of murder, because of the intense light from a full moon. Lincoln referred to an almanac and proved that the night in question had been too dark for the witness to see anything clearly. His client was acquitted.

As a member of the Illinois state legislature, Lincoln supported the Whig politics of government-sponsored infrastructure and protective tariffs. This political understanding led him to formulate his early views on slavery, not so much as a moral wrong, but as an impediment to economic development.

In 1854, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act , which repealed the Missouri Compromise , allowing individual states and territories to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery. The law provoked violent opposition in Kansas and Illinois, and it gave rise to today’s Republican Party .

This awakened Lincoln’s political zeal once again, and his views on slavery moved more toward moral indignation. Lincoln joined the Republican Party in 1856.

In 1857, the Supreme Court issued its controversial Dred Scott decision, declaring Black people were not citizens and had no inherent rights. Although Lincoln felt Black people weren’t equal to whites, he believed America’s founders intended that all men were created with certain inalienable rights.

Lincoln decided to challenge sitting U.S. Senator Stephen Douglas for his seat. In his nomination acceptance speech, he criticized Douglas, the Supreme Court , and President James Buchanan for promoting slavery then declared “a house divided cannot stand.”

During Lincoln’s 1858 U.S. Senate campaign against Douglas, he participated in seven debates held in different cities across Illinois. The two candidates didn’t disappoint, giving stirring debates on issues such as states’ rights and western expansion. But the central issue was slavery.

Newspapers intensely covered the debates, often times with partisan commentary. In the end, the state legislature elected Douglas, but the exposure vaulted Lincoln into national politics.

With his newly enhanced political profile, in 1860, political operatives in Illinois organized a campaign to support Lincoln for the presidency. On May 18, at the Republican National Convention in Chicago, Lincoln surpassed better-known candidates such as William Seward of New York and Salmon P. Chase of Ohio. Lincoln’s nomination was due, in part, to his moderate views on slavery, his support for improving the national infrastructure, and the protective tariff.

In the November 1860 general election, Lincoln faced his friend and rival Stephen Douglas, this time besting him in a four-way race that included John C. Breckinridge of the Northern Democrats and John Bell of the Constitution Party. Lincoln received not quite 40 percent of the popular vote but carried 180 of 303 Electoral College votes, thus winning the U.S. presidency. He grew his trademark beard after his election.

Lincoln’s Cabinet

Following his election to the presidency in 1860, Lincoln selected a strong cabinet composed of many of his political rivals, including William Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, and Edwin Stanton.

Formed out the adage “Hold your friends close and your enemies closer,” Lincoln’s cabinet became one of his strongest assets in his first term in office, and he would need them as the clouds of war gathered over the nation the following year.

Before Lincoln’s inauguration in March 1861, seven Southern states had seceded from the Union, and by April, the U.S. military installation Fort Sumter was under siege in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. In the early morning hours of April 12, 1861, the guns stationed to protect the harbor blazed toward the fort, signaling the start of the U.S. Civil War , America’s costliest and bloodiest war.

The newly President Lincoln responded to the crisis wielding powers as no other president before him: He distributed $2 million from the Treasury for war material without an appropriation from Congress; he called for 75,000 volunteers into military service without a declaration of war; and he suspended the writ of habeas corpus, allowing for the arrest and imprisonment of suspected Confederate States sympathizers without a warrant.

Crushing the rebellion would be difficult under any circumstances, but the Civil War, after decades of white-hot partisan politics, was especially onerous. From all directions, Lincoln faced disparagement and defiance. He was often at odds with his generals, his cabinet, his party, and a majority of the American people.

On January 1, 1863, Lincoln delivered his official Emancipation Proclamation , reshaping the cause of the Civil War from saving the Union to abolishing slavery.

The Union Army’s first year and a half of battlefield defeats made it difficult to keep morale high and support strong for a reunification of the nation. And the Union victory at Antietam on September 22, 1862, while by no means conclusive, was hopeful. It gave Lincoln the confidence to officially change the goals of the war. On that same day, he issued a preliminary proclamation that slaves in states rebelling against the Union would be free as of January 1.

The Emancipation Proclamation stated that all individuals who were held as enslaved people in rebellious states “henceforward shall be free.” The action was more symbolic than effective because the North didn’t control any states in rebellion, and the proclamation didn’t apply to border states, Tennessee, or some Louisiana parishes.

As a result, the Union army shared the Proclamation’s mandate only after it had taken control of Confederate territory. In the far reaches of western Texas, that day finally came on June 19, 1865—more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect. For decades, many Black Americans have celebrated this anniversary, known as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day, and in 2021, President Joe Biden made Juneteenth a national holiday.

Still, the Emancipation Proclamation did have some immediate impact. It permitted Black Americans to serve in the Union Army for the first time, which contributed to the eventual Union victory. The historic declaration also paved the way for the passage of the 13 th Amendment that ended legal slavery in the United States.

On November 19, 1863, Lincoln delivered what would become his most famous speech and one of the most important speeches in American history: the Gettysburg Address .

Addressing a crowd of around 15,000 people, Lincoln delivered his 272-word speech at one of the bloodiest battlefields of the Civil War, the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Pennsylvania. The Civil War, Lincoln said, was the ultimate test of the preservation of the Union created in 1776, and the people who died at Gettysburg fought to uphold this cause.

Lincoln evoked the Declaration of Independence , saying it was up to the living to ensure that the “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth,” and this Union was “dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

A common interpretation was that the president was expanding the cause of the Civil War from simply reunifying the Union to also fighting for equality and abolishing slavery.

Following Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the war effort gradually improved for the North, though more by attrition than by brilliant military victories.

But by 1864, the Confederate armies had eluded major defeat and Lincoln was convinced he’d be a one-term president. His nemesis George B. McClellan , the former commander of the Army of the Potomac, challenged him for the presidency, but the contest wasn’t even close. Lincoln received 55 percent of the popular vote and 212 of 243 electoral votes.

On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee , commander of the Army of Virginia, surrendered his forces to Union General Ulysses S. Grant . The Civil War was for all intents and purposes over.

Reconstruction had already began during the Civil War, as early as 1863 in areas firmly under Union military control, and Lincoln favored a policy of quick reunification with a minimum of retribution. He was confronted by a radical group of Republicans in Congress that wanted complete allegiance and repentance from former Confederates. Before a political debate had any chance to firmly develop, Lincoln was killed.

Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, by well-known actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington. Lincoln was taken to the Petersen House across the street and laid in a coma for nine hours before dying the next morning. He was 56. His death was mourned by millions of citizens in the North and South alike.

Lincoln’s body first lay in state at the U. S. Capitol. About 600 invited guests attended a funeral in the East Room of the White House on April 19, though an inconsolable Mary Todd Lincoln wasn’t present.

His body was transported to his final resting place in Springfield, Illinois, by a funeral train. Newspapers publicized the schedule of the train, which made stops along various cities that played roles in Lincoln’s path to Washington. In 10 cities, the casket was removed and placed in public for memorial services. Lincoln was finally placed in a tomb on May 4.

On the day of Lincoln’s death, Andrew Johnson was sworn in as the 17 th president at the Kirkwood House hotel in Washington.

Lincoln, already taller than most, is known for his distinctive top hats. Although it’s unclear when he began wearing them, historians believe he likely chose the style as a gimmick.

He wore a top hat to Ford’s Theatre on the night of his assassination. Following his death, the War Department preserved the hat until 1867 when, with Mary Todd Lincoln’s approval, it was transferred to the Patent Office and the Smithsonian Institution. Worried about the commotion it might cause, the Smithsonian stored the hat in a basement instead of putting it on display. It was finally exhibited in 1893, and it’s now one of the Institution’s most treasured items.

Lincoln is frequently cited by historians and average citizens alike as America’s greatest president. An aggressively activist commander-in-chief, Lincoln used every power at his disposal to assure victory in the Civil War and end slavery in the United States.

Some scholars doubt that the Union would have been preserved had another person of lesser character been in the White House. According to historian Michael Burlingame , “No president in American history ever faced a greater crisis and no president ever accomplished as much.”

Lincoln’s philosophy was perhaps best summed up in his Second Inaugural Address , when he stated, “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

The Lincoln Memorial

Since its dedication in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington has honored the president’s legacy. Inspired by the Greek Parthenon, the monument features a 19-foot high statue of Lincoln and engravings of the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. Former President William Howard Taft served as chair of the Lincoln Memorial Commission, which oversaw its design and construction.

The monument is the most visited in the city, attracting around 8 million people per year. Civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech on the memorial’s steps in 1963.

Lincoln has been the subject of numerous films about his life and presidency, rooted in both realism and absurdity.

Among the earlier films featuring the former president is Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), which stars Henry Fonda and focuses on Lincoln’s early life and law career. A year later, Abe Lincoln in Illinois gave a dramatized account of Lincoln’s life after leaving Kentucky.

The most notable modern film is Lincoln , the 2012 biographical drama directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln and Sally Field as his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln . Day-Lewis won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance, and the film was nominated for Best Picture.

A more fantastical depiction of Lincoln came in the 1989 comedy film Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure , in which the titular characters played by Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter travel back in time for the president’s help in completing their high school history report. Lincoln gives the memorable instruction to “be excellent to each other and... party on, dudes!”

Another example is the 2012 action film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter , based on a 2010 novel by Seth Grahame-Smith. Benjamin Walker plays Lincoln, who leads a secret double life hunting the immortal creatures and even fighting them during the Civil War.

Lincoln’s role during the Civil War is heavily explored in the 1990 Ken Burns documentary The Civil War , which won two Emmy Awards and two Grammys. In 2022, the History Channel aired a three-part docuseries about his life simply titled Abraham Lincoln .

• Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.
• I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me.
• No man is good enough to govern another man, without that other ’ s consent.
• I have learned the value of old friends by making many new ones.
• Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
• Whenever I hear anyone arguing over slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.
• To give the victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only, are necessary.
• Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit, and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors.
• Don ’ t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.
• Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.
• With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation ’ s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.
• I walk slowly, but I never walk backward.
• Nearly all men can handle adversity, if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
• I ’ m the big buck of this lick. If any of you want to try it, come on and whet your horns.
• We can complain because rose bushes have thorns.
• Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?
• It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.

Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn’t look right, contact us !

The Biography.com staff is a team of people-obsessed and news-hungry editors with decades of collective experience. We have worked as daily newspaper reporters, major national magazine editors, and as editors-in-chief of regional media publications. Among our ranks are book authors and award-winning journalists. Our staff also works with freelance writers, researchers, and other contributors to produce the smart, compelling profiles and articles you see on our site. To meet the team, visit our About Us page: https://www.biography.com/about/a43602329/about-us

Tyler Piccotti first joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor in February 2023, and before that worked almost eight years as a newspaper reporter and copy editor. He is a graduate of Syracuse University. When he's not writing and researching his next story, you can find him at the nearest amusement park, catching the latest movie, or cheering on his favorite sports teams.

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Abraham Lincoln: Biography

Abraham Lincoln is famous for the Gettysburg Address, abolishing slavery and being one of the four presidents who have been assassinated.

Abraham's father remarried and, as the frontier expanded and became more populated, so the quality of life increased. Lincoln soon broke out on his own and moved to New Salem. Here he was successful, and he managed a mill store.

When the Black Hawk War broke out, the volunteers elected Lincoln to be their captain. After the war, Lincoln announced his intention to stand for the Illinois Legislature. He was not elected, but had pockets of high popular support. In 1834, he tried again, and this time was successful. Lincoln served four terms in the legislature, becoming floor leader of his party.

At the same time, Lincoln was studying law, taking and passing the bar in 1836. He became engaged to Mary Owens from Kentucky after meeting in the early 1830s but on 16 August 1837, he wrote her a letter suggesting he would not blame her for ending the relationship as they had both had second thoughts. She never replied.

In 1842, Lincoln married Mary Todd, and their relationship, as well as the part she played in his subsequent career, remain a matter of some debate. The pair met in 1839 and were engaged in December 1840 but they called off a wedding scheduled for 1 January 1841 at Lincoln's initiative. However, after meeting again they finally married on 8 November 1842.

In 1844, they bought a house in Springfield near Lincoln's law firm and she took care of the house diligently on a limited budget. They had four sons including Robert Todd Lincoln, who was born in 1843 and was their only child to reach adulthood.

Edward, who was born in 1846 died of tuberculosis in 1850, 'Willie' was born in 1850 and died in 1862, while son Tad was born in 1853 and died of heart failure at the age of 18 in 1871.

In 1846, Lincoln was elected to the U.S. Congress. His career got off to a stormy start, as he was not a staunch supporter of the war with Mexico, and he believed that slavery should be abolished. Both of these beliefs were not popular in his district of Illinois, and he was not re-elected.

Over the next 12 years, Lincoln practiced law and built up his firm. In 1854, the contentious issue of slavery erupted, with a bill brought by Stephen Douglas to organise the Kansas-Nebraska Territory.

This bill so incensed Lincoln that he re-entered the political fray. However, Lincoln failed to receive the nomination for senator in 1855 and, convinced his former party, the Whigs, were essentially dead, he joined the new Republicans, becoming a prominent figure in the party.

When Douglas returned to Illinois to fight for re-election to the Senate, Lincoln pressed Douglas for a discussion on the issue of slavery. These discussions became the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates and, although Douglas was re-elected, Lincoln had gained national recognition.

In 1860, Lincoln was elected presidential candidate for the Republican Party, although it was not an easy election. He was elected president but, as a result, seven Southern states seceded from the Union.

In Lincoln's inauguration speech, he said that secession was anarchic and illegal. He told The Union that while he would not interfere with slavery, he would hold or repossess all Federal property. Civil war broke out soon after.

It was a difficult time for Lincoln, but his tactics began to prevail. In his Gettysburg address, after a great victory for the North, Lincoln proclaimed that the end of the civil war stood for freedom and equality for all.

However, the war dragged on, and critics began to question Lincoln's strategy and his chances for re-election.

Following victory in the war, Lincoln was re-elected. In his second inaugural address, Lincoln urged the North and South to come together and bury past differences, "With malice toward none; and charity for all".

Lincoln never had an opportunity to govern outside war time as, on 14 April 1865, an assassin killed him.

He was shot while watching the play 'Our American Cousins' at the Ford Theatre by well-known actor and Confederate spy John Wilkes-Booth. Booth originally planned to kidnap the president but Lincoln made a speech on 11 April about voting rights for black people, angering Booth. After being in a coma for nine hours, Lincoln died on 15 April. His body lay in state until 21 April and was taken on a tour of the north by train for three weeks, with thousands attending memorial services for him.

In 2012, Steven Spielberg directed a biopic of the president's life called 'Lincoln'. Daniel Day-Lewis subsequently won a Best Actor Oscar® for his portrayal of the leader.

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The History Channel will air a new Abraham Lincoln documentary over Presidents Day weekend from Feb. 20 starting at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Abraham Lincoln is based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s best-selling book Leadership: In Turbulent Times .

Across seven and a half hours, viewers will learn about the life of the 16th President of the United States, from his impoverished childhood to his days as a lawyer and politician and his assassination just five days after the end of the Civil War.

The documentary will feature live-action scenes featuring Daytime Emmy nominee Graham Sibley as Lincoln, along with interviews with notable guests including President Barack Obama , Gen. Stan McCrystal, and historians Christy Coleman, Dr. Allen Guelzo, Dr. Edna Greene Medford, Harold Holzer, Dr. Caroline Janney, Dr. Catherine Clinton, among others.

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Black Patriots: Heroes of the Civil War Premieres on Monday, February 21st at 11PM ET/PT

A one-hour documentary executive produced and narrated by NBA legend, historian, and activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , and Deborah Morales of Iconomy Multi-Media & Entertainment, takes a close look at the Civil War, and heroic figures like formerly enslaved man turned war hero Robert Smalls and Union spy Mary Richards, to well-known heroes like influential abolitionist Frederick Douglass and Underground Railroad pioneer Harriett Tubman.

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• Cast & crew
• User reviews
• Abraham Lincoln
• TV Mini Series

Through a poverty-ridden childhood on the American frontier, Lincoln is determined to leave his mark on the world. Through a poverty-ridden childhood on the American frontier, Lincoln is determined to leave his mark on the world. Through a poverty-ridden childhood on the American frontier, Lincoln is determined to leave his mark on the world.

• Graham Sibley
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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Abraham Lincoln’ On History, A Docuseries-Drama Hybrid About The Life And Presidency Of Lincoln

Where to stream:.

• Abraham Lincoln (2022)
• Abraham Lincoln

Stream It Or Skip It: 'Manhunt' On Apple TV+, A Thriller About The Search For John Wilkes Booth After Abraham Lincoln's Assassination

'the view': sunny hostin warns ana navarro to "not twist history around" after she claims republicans are the "party of abraham lincoln", bill maher asks if we should "cancel god" over bible's slavery talk in new special '#adulting', stream it or skip it: 'lincoln's dilemma' on apple tv+, a docuseries about abraham lincoln's complex road to emancipating america's enslaved people.

Presidents’ Day weekend 2022 should be redubbed “Lincoln Docuseries weekend,” as we have two major docuseries projects debuting. But while Apple’s Lincon’s Dilemma is more focused and straightforward, History’s  Abraham Lincoln , part of a series of presidential docuseries/drama hybrids produced by historian Doris Kearns Goodwin based on her books, is more expansive. But just because they cover a lot of the same ground doesn’t mean that one way is necessarily better than the other. Read on for more.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot:  A train in Harrisburg, PA. A woman tells the conductor that her uncle is frail. That “uncle” is actually Abraham Lincoln, traveling in disguise from his home in Illinois to Washington, DC to his inauguration.

The Gist:   Abraham Lincoln is a three-part docuseries/drama hybrid, directed by Malcolm Venville, that takes a comprehensive look at Lincoln’s life, from his childhood in Kentucky, Indiana and the Illinois frontier to his stewardship of a divided country during the Civil War.

The series, which is executive produced by Doris Kearns Goodwin, punctuates its many interviews, with historians like Goodwin, Edna Greene Medford, Dr. Caroline Janney and luminaries like Barack Obama and Gen. Stanley McCrystal, with scripted reenactments. In those reenactments, Graham Sibley plays Lincoln, Jenny Stead plays Mary Todd Lincoln, Stefan Adegbola plays Fredrick Douglass, and Richard Lothian plays Stephen Douglas.

The first two-hour episode starts viewers out with Lincoln’s hardscrabble childhood on the frontier, where he had to bury his mother then fend for himself and his sister when his father set off to find a new wife. He learned to be a hard worker, but he also was a voracious reader, and he wanted a life for himself that didn’t include hard labor as a component. He was also a skilled storyteller, weaving truth, white lies, folksiness and a lot of humor to keep people’s attention.

We see Lincoln’s time as a young lawyer, his courtship with Mary Todd, his depression when his career and relationship go up in smoke, only to rise a year later, his time in Congress when he came out against the Spanish-American War, and his success as a litigator after his time in Congress. But the emphasis of the episode, like  Lincoln’s Dilemma , which also came out the same weekend, is Lincoln’s views on slavery.

Goodwin and the other historians make sure to point out that Lincoln was anti-slavery, but was not an abolitionist. He was against the institution spreading north and into the country’s newly acquired territories. As the country was tearing itself apart over the issue, Lincoln managed to find a platform when he ran for Senate and had his famous debates with the pro-slavery incumbent, Stephen Douglas. He narrowly lost that race, but his showing in those debates, where he was able to boil down complicated issues into everyday talk, set him up to aim for higher office in 1860.

The episode ends in a logical spot: With the siege at Fort Sumter starting shortly after his inauguration. That fort’s fall is what drags the union into battle against the newly-formed Confederate States of America.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Abraham Lincoln has more of a biographical bent than  Lincoln’s Dilemma  or  Lincoln: Divided We Stand .  This isn’t the first time or the last that History and Doris Kearns Goodwin have teamed for a docuseries/drama hybrid about a president:  Washington  aired two years ago and  Theodore Roosevelt  is set to air in May.

Our Take: Like the aforementioned  Washington , Abraham Lincoln makes good use of its scripted sequences, with Venville and the series’ writers having the freedom to create these well-done vignettes of Lincoln’s life without needing to figure out a plot to tie them all together. It also helps that Sibley embodies Lincoln so completely, both in his craggy-faced, stooped-over physicality and the folksy manner that endeared him to so many.

The interviews — which this time around, include Goodwin along with Obama and other experts, along with some that overlap with  Lincoln’s Dilemma —  are all engaging, and never veer into the hagiography that accompanies biographies of Lincoln. The focus of  Abraham Lincoln is broader than Lincoln’s Dilemma, and at times isn’t quite as biting in its analysis, but it does its best to be honest about Lincoln’s views on slavery, and how surprising his nomination and win really were.

Where this series shines is some of the details it gives about how he got the nomination, where he started with a surprisingly high number of delegates at the Republican National Convention and then slowly got the required votes via multiple rounds of voting, thanks to some horse trading by his representatives. It also pointed out how he put each of his election rivals in his cabinet, knowing that he wanted experts in their fields who won’t be yes men.

Yes, there is a lot of overlap between this series and  Lincoln’s Dilemma . But both are worth watching; it just depends on how you want your Lincoln history delivered to you.

Parting Shot: Lincoln gets word that Fort Sumter has fallen to the Confederacy and says, “We’re at war.”

Sleeper Star: Jenny Stead, as the emotional but powerful Mary Todd Lincoln, shows exactly what kind of steadying influence she was in her husband’s life, and why she was as important an advisor to him as anyone in his administration.

Most Pilot-y Line: At the RNC, Lincoln’s representative Judge David Davis (Joe Vaz) pumps his fist and says “Yes! Yes!” when Lincoln secures the nomination. Sure, that could have been something people did back in 1860, but we doubt it.

Our Call: STREAM IT.  Abraham Lincoln  is a bit more ambitious and bigger in scope than recent Lincoln-centric docuseries, but it treats its audience with respect, both via well-done reenactments and fantastic interviews.

Will you stream or skip the docuseries-drama hybrid #AbrahamLincoln on @HISTORY ? #SIOSI — Decider (@decider) February 21, 2022

Joel Keller ( @joelkeller ) writes about food, entertainment, parenting and tech, but he doesn’t kid himself: he’s a TV junkie. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Salon, RollingStone.com , VanityFair.com , Fast Company and elsewhere.

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The 12 Best Documentaries About Abraham Lincoln

Jul 22, 2023 | Best Of , History , People

Abraham Lincoln is a towering figure in American history. His legacy has been the subject of endless books, films and documentaries, but which ones are the best? In this article we take a look at some of the most acclaimed documentaries about Abraham Lincoln. From his life as an up-and-coming lawyer to his time as President during one of America’s most turbulent times, these documentaries tell the story of one man who changed our nation forever. So if you’re looking for an entertaining way to learn more about this iconic leader, then read on!

1. Abraham Lincoln – The Great Emancipator

Discover the story of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. This documentary dives into his life and legacy; exploring how he earned the title “The Great Emancipator”. Uncovering his rise from humble beginnings to one of America’s most influential figures in history, this film also looks at how he fought against slavery and pushed for a united country during a time of great division.

2. Abraham Lincoln Biography History Channel Documentary

Abraham Lincoln was one of the most influential figures in American history. This documentary explores his life and legacy, from his humble beginnings as a frontier lawyer to becoming the 16th president of the United States. Learn about how he guided America through civil war and emancipation, ultimately redefining our idea of democracy for generations to come. From The History Channel comes this captivating look at Abraham Lincoln’s incredible journey!

3. The Last Night of Abraham Lincoln – Part 1: Assassination

This documentary was shot at amazing locations across America with over 80 historical actors recreating authentic scenes from that era. From Centre Hill Mansion, Virginia to Strasburg Pennsylvania Railroad, witness the reconstruction of Ford’s Theatre box and summer residence of Lincoln Family in D.C., as you relive the events leading up to his death like a Shakespearian plot! Watch now and experience “Lincoln’s Last Night” first hand!

4. The Last Night of Abraham Lincoln – Part 2: Immortality

Abraham Lincoln is an iconic figure in American history, and his life story is one of courage and perseverance. This docu-drama tells the fascinating tale of President Lincoln’s last night on Earth, from his murderer John Wilkes Booth’s Shakespearian plot to the stunning locations used for filming. With a cast of over 80 historical actors recreating scenes from the White House to Strasburg Railroad, this two-part documentary will take you back to the era when Abraham Lincoln was president and changed America forever.

5. A President At War – Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was one of the greatest presidents in American history. He faced many challenges during his tenure, but none greater than the Civil War. This documentary takes a look at how he led his nation through this tumultuous period and examines what made him such an inspirational leader. From military strategy to political maneuvering, we’ll explore all aspects of Lincoln’s presidency and discover why he is still revered today as one of our country’s most beloved leaders.

6. Abraham Lincoln (1930) D.W. Griffith

Abraham Lincoln was one of the most influential presidents in American history. In this documentary, you will learn about his legacy and the events that shaped him into a great leader. The film is composed of episodic biographies, battles and moments in time where history was written with the help of President Lincoln’s actions. You’ll see Sheridan rides, explore how he changed America forever and understand why he still lives on today as an icon for freedom and justice.

7. Abraham Lincoln: The Railsplitter

Abraham Lincoln was an iconic American figure, and his story is one of courage and perseverance. This documentary will take you on a journey to explore the life of this great man from his childhood in Kentucky to his presidency as “The Railsplitter”. Follow along as we look at the important events that shaped Lincoln’s legacy and learn how he overcame adversity to become one of America’s most beloved presidents.

8. Abraham Lincoln: A Journey To Greatness

Discover the story of one man who changed history. From a frontiersman to an icon, learn about Abraham Lincoln’s journey and how he became one of the most famous figures in American History. Uncover his struggles as a young lawyer, husband and father before becoming president – all while navigating through some of the most difficult times in US history. This documentary is an exploration into this great leader’s life and legacy!

9. Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln: Two Leaders

Discover the story of two great leaders who changed history: Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass . Born into slavery, Douglass was a powerful abolitionist leader whose influence guided Lincoln to become “The Great Emancipator”. Learn how these two men pushed forward the cause of freedom and equality in America with this documentary about their lives and legacies!

10. The Unbelievable Journey of Abraham Lincoln’s Corpse

Take a virtual journey with me through the life of our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. From his rise to power to his untimely death and all the way through to the construction of his tomb, I will take you on an unbelievable tour that few have experienced before. Follow along as we uncover secrets about this great man’s life and witness how his legacy lives on today!

11. They’ve Killed President Lincoln

The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln remains one of the most shocking events in American history. In 1971, David Wolper produced a documentary “They’ve Killed President Lincoln” which explored the tragedy and its aftermath. The program can be found on a collection of programs called “Lincoln: Trial By Fire”. This powerful documentary takes viewers back to 1865 as it examines the political turmoil that followed Lincoln’s death and explores how his legacy has endured throughout history. Don’t miss this incredible look at an unforgettable moment in U.S. history!

12. The Complete Story of Abraham: The Father of Nations

Discover the story of Abraham, the Father of Nations like you’ve never seen it before. Uncover how his commitment to God set humanity on a course that changed everything and established the nation of Israel and 12 tribes in Arabia. This video explores Abraham’s journey as he embraces monotheism with power unleashed through God’s mercy. Join us for an incredible journey into this inspiring man’s life! 🚀

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