The Early Years
Essential Question: How did Lincoln's first campaign statement align with the Whigs?
Abraham Lincoln first ran for office in 1832, when he announced his candidacy for the state house of representatives through a campaign statement. Watch the close reading video, which is from Professor Matthew Pinsker at Dickinson College. The text of the letter can be found here.
After viewing the video, consider the following questions:
1. Why did Abraham Lincoln feel the need to write a campaign statement?
2. What are some of the issues he discussed in his statement?
3. What are some the reasons Lincoln may have come up short in his bid for office?
4. What are some of the characteristics in this document that showed Lincoln's potential as a politician?
Do some research on the Whigs and then answer the following questions:
1. Who were the Whigs and why were they formed?
2. Who were some of the leaders of the Whig party?
3. What were some of the weakness of the Whigs?
4. What were some of the policy positions of the Whigs?
Essential Question: How did Lincoln's first campaign statement align with the Whigs?
Abraham Lincoln first ran for office in 1832, when he announced his candidacy for the state house of representatives through a campaign statement. Watch the close reading video, which is from Professor Matthew Pinsker at Dickinson College. The text of the letter can be found here.
After viewing the video, consider the following questions:
1. Why did Abraham Lincoln feel the need to write a campaign statement?
2. What are some of the issues he discussed in his statement?
3. What are some the reasons Lincoln may have come up short in his bid for office?
4. What are some of the characteristics in this document that showed Lincoln's potential as a politician?
Do some research on the Whigs and then answer the following questions:
1. Who were the Whigs and why were they formed?
2. Who were some of the leaders of the Whig party?
3. What were some of the weakness of the Whigs?
4. What were some of the policy positions of the Whigs?
Link to close reading of Lincoln's First Campaign Statement by Professor Matthew Pinsker of Dickinson College.
This web site was created by J.B. Duncan as a part of the Gilder Lehrman Online Course "Understanding Lincoln" which was conducted by Professor Matthew Pinsker of Dickinson College. J.B. teaches U.S. History at Morton Ranch High School in Katy, Texas.