The political biography of Abraham Lincoln highlights his journey from humble beginnings to becoming the 16th President of the United States. Born in 1809 in a log cabin in Kentucky, Lincoln faced numerous challenges, including limited formal education. He developed a passion for politics and law, eventually serving in the Illinois State Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives. Lincoln's presidency, from 1861 to 1865, was marked by the Civil War, a conflict over slavery and states' rights. He is best known for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which aimed to free enslaved people in Confederate states, and for delivering the famous Gettysburg Address. His leadership helped preserve the Union and set the stage for the abolition of slavery.