Infoplease biography of abraham

In another significant event, Abraham interceded with God on behalf of the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. When God revealed His intention to destroy these cities due to their sinful behavior, Abraham pleaded with God to spare them if even a few righteous people could be found there. God agreed, and Abraham negotiated with God, asking Him to spare the cities for the sake of as few as ten righteous people.

Unfortunately, not even ten righteous individuals could be found, and Sodom and Gomorrah were ultimately destroyed as a result of their wickedness. Abraham holds a central and revered position in three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, he is considered the father of the Jewish people and a key figure in the Abrahamic covenant.

In Christianity, Abraham is celebrated as a model of faith, and his story is often cited in the New Testament to illustrate faith in God. After his death, Abraham was buried in the Cave of Machpelah, which he purchased from Ephron the Hittite. Lincoln's long search for a winning combination finally brought generals Ulysses S. Grant and William T.

Sherman to the top; and their series of victories in dispelled the mutterings from both Radicals and Peace Democrats that at one time seemed to threaten Lincoln's reelection. He was reelected in , defeating Gen. George B. McClellan, the Democratic candidate. He died the next morning. Lincoln's marriage to Mary Todd in was often unhappy and turbulent, in part because of his wife's pronounced instability.

See also Josephus' Jewish Antiquities. Modern biblical scholarship has revealed anachronisms in Genesis that cloud attempts to place chronologically Abraham's historical existence. See T. Millard and D. 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 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 s, 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. 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 , Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act , which repealed the Missouri Compromise , allowing individual states and territories to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery.

Lincoln joined the Republican Party in In , the Supreme Court issued its controversial Dred Scott decision, declaring Black people were not citizens and had no inherent rights. Lincoln decided to challenge sitting U. Senator Stephen Douglas for his seat. Senate campaign against Douglas, he participated in seven debates held in different cities across Illinois.

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 , political operatives in Illinois organized a campaign to support Lincoln for the presidency.

Chase of Ohio. In the November general election, Lincoln faced his friend and rival Stephen Douglas, this time besting him in a four-way race that included John C. Lincoln received not quite 40 percent of the popular vote but carried of Electoral College votes, thus winning the U. He grew his trademark beard after his election. Following his election to the presidency in , Lincoln selected a strong cabinet composed of many of his political rivals, including William Seward, Salmon P.

Chase, Edward Bates, and Edwin Stanton. In the early morning hours of April 12, , the guns stationed to protect the harbor blazed toward the fort, signaling the start of the U. 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.