Slavery

Slavery is the act of holding a human being in bondage. From before this country was formed, slavery was a way of life, especially in the South. Many plantation owners depended on slaves in order to plant, cultivate, and harvest their crops. While many northern states had abolished slavery by the early 1800s, many states in the southern section of the United States still depended on slave labor. This became a hot topic in political circles, especially as the United States continued to expand into the west, adding new states that could change the balance of slave and free states.

Lincoln was born in Kentucky, a state where slavery continued to be a common way of life. As a young child, Lincoln moved to Illinois where the purchase of slaves was illegal, but Black Laws and unscrupulous slave owners continued to perpetuate the lifestyle. Lincoln's family was against...