Before Lincoln became President, in
1834, he was on the state legislature. After that, he became a
lawyer, and even after he was in the congress for a term. Later
Lincoln wanted to be a Senator but sadly, he lost. He joined the
Republican Party in 1856. Again, Lincoln ran to be a senator.
He ran against a man named, Stephen A. Douglas. They had seven
debates with each other, but Douglas had failed. The Republicans
nominated Lincoln for President in 1860, and he was elected by
the popular vote. By being President, Lincoln built the Republican
Party into a stronger organization.
