Abraham Lincoln March, 1832 In March, 1832 Lincoln began his political career with his first campaign for the Illinois General Assembly. He had attained local popularity and could draw crowds as a nat
Abraham Lincoln March, 1832 In March, 1832 Lincoln began his political career with his first campaign for the Illinois General Assembly. He had attained local popularity and could draw crowds as a nat
Abraham Lincoln March, 1832
In March, 1832 Lincoln began his political career with his first campaign for the Illinois General Assembly. He had attained local popularity and could draw crowds as a natural raconteur in New Salem, though he lacked an education, powerful friends, and money, which may be why he lost. Lincoln served as New Salem's postmaster and later as county surveyor, all the while reading voraciously. He then decided to become a lawyer and began teaching himself law by reading Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England and other law books. His second campaign in 1834 was successful. He won election to the state legislature; though he ran as a Whig, many Democrats favored him over a more powerful Whig opponent. In the 1835–1836 legislative session, he voted to expand suffrage to white males, whether landowners or not. He was known for his "free soil" stance of opposing both slavery and abolitionism.
