Biography of Mary Todd Lincoln, Troubled First Lady

Mary Todd Lincoln (December 13, 1818–July 16, 1882) was the wife of President Abraham Lincoln. She became a figure of controversy and criticism during her time in the White House. After his death and the deaths of three of her children, she suffered great grief and was emotionally erratic. Fast Facts: Mary Todd Lincoln Known For:  Wife of Abraham Lincoln, she was a controversial first ladyAlso Known As: Mary Ann Todd LincolnBorn:  December 13, 1818  in Lexington, KentuckyParents: Robert Smith Todd and Eliza (Parker) ToddDied: July 16, 1882 in Springfield, IllinoisEducation: Shelby Female Academy, Madame Mantelles boarding schoolSpouse: Abraham LincolnChildren: Robert Todd Lincoln, Edward Baker Lincoln, William Willie Wallace Lincoln, Thomas Tad Lincoln  Ã‚  Notable Quote: I seem to be the scape-goat for both North and South. Early Life Mary Todd Lincoln was born on December 13, 1818, in Lexington, Kentucky. Her family was prominent in local society, at a time when Lexington was dubbed The Athens of the West. Mary Todds father, Robert Smith Todd, was a local banker with political connections. He had grown up near the estate of Henry Clay, a major figure in American politics in the early 19th century. When Mary was young, Clay often dined in the Todd household. In one often-told story, 10-year-old Mary rode to Clays estate one day to show him her new pony. He invited her inside and introduced the precocious girl to his guests. Mary Todds mother died when Mary was 6 years old, and when her father remarried Mary clashed with her stepmother. Perhaps to keep peace in the family, her father sent her away to the Shelby Female Academy, where she received 10 years of quality education at a time when education for women was not generally accepted in American life. One of Marys sisters had married the son of a former governor of Illinois and had moved to the state capital of Springfield. Mary visited her in 1837 and likely encountered Abraham Lincoln on that visit. Mary Todds Courtship With Abraham Lincoln Mary also settled in Springfield, where she made a major impression on the towns growing social scene. She was surrounded by suitors, including attorney Stephen A. Douglas, who would become Abraham Lincolns great political rival decades later. By late 1839, Lincoln and Mary Todd had become romantically involved, though the relationship had problems. There was a split between them in early 1841, but by late 1842 they had gotten back together, partly through their mutual interest in local political issues. Lincoln greatly admired Henry Clay. And he must have been impressed by the young woman who had known Clay in Kentucky. Marriage and Family of Abraham and Mary Lincoln Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd on November 4, 1842. They took up residence in rented rooms in Springfield, but would eventually buy a small house. The Lincolns had four sons, three of whom died before adulthood: Robert Todd Lincoln was born on August 1, 1843. He was named for Marys father and would be the only Lincoln son to live to adulthood.Edward Baker Lincoln was born on March 10, 1846. Eddie became ill and died on February 1, 1850, weeks before his fourth birthday.William Wallace Lincoln was born on December 21, 1850. Willie became ill while living in the White House, perhaps because of polluted water. He died in the White House on February 20, 1862, at the age of 11.Thomas Lincoln was born on April 4, 1853. Known as Tad, he was a lively presence in the White House and Lincoln doted on him. He became ill, probably with tuberculosis, in Chicago and died there on July 15, 1871, at the age of 18. The years the Lincolns spent in Springfield are generally considered the happiest of Mary Lincolns life. Despite the loss of Eddie Lincoln and rumors of discord, the marriage seemed happy to neighbors and Marys relatives. At some point, animosity developed between Mary Lincoln and her husbands law partner William Herndon. He would later write scathing descriptions of her behavior, and much of the negative material associated with her seems to be based on Herndons biased observations. As Abraham Lincoln became more involved in politics, first with the Whig Party and later with the new Republican Party, his wife supported his efforts. Though she played no direct political role, in an era when women could not even vote she remained well-informed on political issues. Mary Lincoln as White House Hostess After Lincoln won the election of 1860, his wife became the most prominent White House hostess since Dolley Madison, the wife of President James Madison, decades earlier. Mary Lincoln was often criticized for spending too much money on White House furnishings and on her own clothing. She was also criticized for engaging in frivolous entertainments at a time of deep national crisis, but some defended her for trying to lift her husbands mood as well as the nations. Mary Lincoln was known to visit wounded Civil War soldiers and took an interest in various charitable endeavors. She went through her own very dark time, though, following the death of 11-year-old Willie Lincoln in an upstairs bedroom of the White House in February 1862. Lincoln feared that his wife had lost her sanity, as she went into a prolonged period of mourning. She also became very interested in spiritualism, a fad that first caught her attention in the late 1850s. She claimed to see ghosts wandering the halls of the White House and hosted seances. Lincolns Assassination On April 14, 1865, Mary Lincoln was seated beside her husband at Fords Theater when he was shot by John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln, mortally wounded, was carried across the street to a rooming house, where he died the following morning. Mary Lincoln was inconsolable during the long overnight vigil, and according to most accounts, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton had her removed from the room where Lincoln was dying. During the long period of national mourning, which included a lengthy traveling funeral that passed through northern cities, she was barely able to function. While millions of Americans participated in funeral observances in towns and cities throughout the country, she stayed in a bed in a darkened room in the White House. Her situation became very awkward as the new president, Andrew Johnson, could not move into the White House while she still occupied it. Finally, weeks after her husbands death, she left Washington and returned to Illinois. Troubled Later Years In many ways, Mary Lincoln never recovered from her husbands murder. She first moved to Chicago and began to exhibit seemingly irrational behavior. For a few years, she lived in England with her youngest son Tad. After returning to America, Tad Lincoln died and his mothers behavior became alarming to her oldest son Robert Todd, who took legal action to have her declared insane. A court placed her in a private sanatorium, but she went to court and was able to have herself declared sane. Death Suffering from a number of physical ailments, Mary Lincoln sought treatment in Canada and New York City and eventually returned to Springfield. She spent the final years of her life as a virtual recluse and died on July 16, 1882, at the age of 63. She was buried beside her husband in Springfield. Legacy A well-educated and well-connected woman from a prominent Kentucky family, Mary Todd Lincoln was an unlikely partner for Lincoln, who had come from humble frontier roots. She is known mostly for the great losses she suffered in her lifetime and the emotional instability that resulted. Sources â€Å"The Life Of Mary Todd Lincoln.†Ã‚  eHistory.Turner, Justin G., and Linda Levitt Turner.  Mary Todd Lincoln: Her Life and Letters. From International Publishing Corporation, 1987

Politics And Action Aiding Disaster Victims - 1601 Words

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Defining Federalism †¢ Federalism- A way of organizing a nation that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people; it is a system of shared power between units of power. o This is not a common way of administering a government even though the United States is not alone on following this philosophy. o We are subject to follow what the national government and state government regulates. †¢ Unitary government- A way of organizing a nation so that all power resides in the central government; most national governments today are unitary governments. o This is true for the United States from theShow MoreRelatedThe Process Of Decision Making1910 Words   |  8 Pagesprocess of decision making can be easily understood as selecting one course of action over other courses actions available. There are also steps that are involved in making decisions. 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Dating Younger Men Whats in It for You Free Essays

Demi Moore, Madonna, Halle Berry, Mariah Carey, what do these names have in common aside from being famous? They have all dated significantly younger men. These women are always attending parties, events, red carpets, meeting millions of people, so what made them choose the young boy over so many attractive, interesting men around their age? They are â€Å"cougars† some people would say, a term referring to women dating younger man, that according to sex and relationships columnist and writer Valerie Gibson was originated in Vancouver, British Columbia, as â€Å"a put-down for older women who would go to bars and go home with whoever was left at the end of the night. † Twenty years ago this would have been looked at as strange and unusual, but it’s becoming more common every day. We will write a custom essay sample on Dating Younger Men Whats in It for You or any similar topic only for you Order Now In 2003 a study by AARP revealed that 34 percent of all women over 40 in the survey were dating younger men, and 35 percent preferred it to dating older men. The most recent U. S. Census Bureau figures show that 12 percent of all marriages were between older women and younger men. What is all the craze about? What makes these young boys so appealing to older ladies? Some of the reasons why women enjoy dating younger men are the control they can exert over them, their sexual empathy, and the feeling of being younger. The first juicy little trait these women enjoy is having more control over their partner if he is younger than with a man at the same age. Older men are set in their ways of thinking, and because of past experiences, they have formed their character and personality and are not looking to change that. Young men are more willing to learn and being told what to do by their woman can give them a sense of stability and protection, which is also appealing for them. Some women have a motherly instinct that can be satisfied by dating someone younger, who they can take care of and at the same time tell them what to do. English writer Oliver James shares a thought in his article, â€Å"Why are so many older women into dating young men†: â€Å"They can use their wisdom to help their young men, while getting a lot back in return. Many young men also enjoy this feature of dating an older lady, which allows them to learn new things and be with a confident woman. (125) Furthermore, another important factor that these women are attracted to is the sensation of feeling young again. Dating a younger man can take them back to their college years and can even increase their ego and self image by realizing that they still attract the interest of a young man. This is the sensation these women experience while dating younger men; in the words of Dr. Jennifer Berman, urologist and expert in women’s sexual health, â€Å"feeling beautiful, feeling attractive, feeling young. Being appreciated as a woman for all that you are and all that you’ve learned and all that you’ve become. This fuels that high self esteem, making them even more attractive to their partner. Last but certainly not least, the compatibility under the sheets. Older women and younger men soon realize that they have something in common that makes the relationship so much better, their sex drive. Online column writer Chuck Ross, points out in his article, â€Å"The Sexual Peak Myth†, how â€Å"men hit their sexual peak at the age of 18 while women hit theirs at 30-35. † He further explains that â€Å"despite literally no scientific support for this theory, this has become â€Å"common knowledge† in our society. This makes complete sense, a women who is dating an older man, maybe in his 40’s or 50’s may have the same reading taste, enjoy listening to the same music and share their interest on visiting museums all over the world, but when it comes to the bedroom, they might be going in completely opposite directions. This issue is obviously non existent with young studs. Self proclaimed cougar and author of Hot Cougar Sex Llona Paris, shares her point of view: â€Å"Flirting with and bedding a hot younger guy can ignite a woman’s confidence. And attention from a beautiful older woman will stroke a man’s ego. A cougar knows what she wants, particularly in the bedroom. And because of her experience in the boudoir, she has a lot to share, which is interesting for younger men. † (78) Yvonne K. Fulright, a writer for Fox News website, on her article â€Å"Sink your teeth into the cougar†, reflects about how young men are aroused by their strong confidence, less inhibited personality and more mature sexuality than younger girls. This makes them look in control and secure about themselves, and they are not shy about sharing what the like in bed, and showing it to their young partners. This further analysis helps the reader understand even better, why young men are more than willing to experiment having a relationship with an older women. Its understandable why some women make this choice, being able to control their partner gives them a sense of security, the benefits of feeling forever young, and the excitement of a having a perfect match inside the bedroom. All this reasons can make a steady long lasting relationship between an older women and a younger man, contrary to what was believed years ago, a successful relationship doesn’t have to be composed of an older more experienced man and a younger wome How to cite Dating Younger Men Whats in It for You, Papers

Carbon Dioxide on the Planet. free essay sample

The Game with No Name A friend of yours would like to capture the adventures of Lewis and Clark in a video game, but she needs your help. She wants the game to be awarded Top 10 Kudos like Super Mario, Rock Band, and SimCity. Read all the directions first and follow them carefully to get this new expedition rolling. Evaluate each of the following websites and choose the three that provide the best explanation and description of the expedition. Explain each of your choices. †¢ Lewis and Clark http://www. pbs. org/lewisandclark/ †¢ Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation http://www. lewisandclark. org †¢ The Lewis and Clark Journey Log http://www. nationalgeographic. com/lewisandclark/journey_intro. html †¢ Lewis and Clark The National Bicentennial Exhibition http://www. lewisandclarkexhibit. org/index_flash. html Answer: The Lewis and Clark The National Bicentennial Exhibition gave a lot of information starting from the first day of their adventure, giving insight on how real it was and what they needed and saw in their journey. We will write a custom essay sample on Carbon Dioxide on the Planet. or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page †¢ The Lewis and Clark the journey of a corps discover gave a lot of information as well. â€Å"The Corps† gives biographical information about the members of the Corps of Discovery, from the most famous to the least known. The â€Å"To Equip an Expedition† provides a partial list of the supplies Lewis and Clark brought on the expedition.