Lincoln Springfield, Illinois

1 lincoln

1.1 lincoln , politics
1.2 population
1.3 business
1.4 religion

lincoln
lincoln , politics

lincoln arrived in springfield area when young man in 1831, though not live in city until 1837. spent ensuing 6 years in new salem began legal studies, joined state militia , elected illinois general assembly. in 1837 lincoln moved springfield , spent next 24 years lawyer , politician. lincoln delivered lyceum address in springfield. farewell speech when left washington classic in american oratory.

winkle (1998) examines historiography concerning development of second party system (whigs versus democrats) , applies these ideas study of springfield, strong whig enclave in democratic region, studying poll books presidential years. rise of whig party took place in 1836 in opposition presidential candidacy of martin van buren , consolidated in 1840. springfield whigs tend validate several expectations of party characteristics largely native-born, either in new england or kentucky, professional or agricultural in occupation, , devoted partisan organization. abraham lincoln s career mirrors whigs political rise, 1840s springfield began fall democratic hands, immigrants changed city s political makeup. 1860 presidential election, lincoln barely able win home city.

population

winkle (1992) examines impact of migration on political participation in springfield during 1850s. widespread migration in 19th-century united states produced frequent population turnover within midwestern communities, influenced patterns of voter turnout , office-holding. examination of manuscript census, poll books, , office-holding records reveals impact of migration on behavior of 8,000 participants in 10 elections in springfield. voters short-term residents participated in 1 or 2 elections during 1850s, , fewer 1% of voters participated in 10 elections. instead of producing political instability, however, rapid turnover enhanced influence of more persistent residents. migration selective age, occupation, wealth, , birthplace. therefore, more persistent voters wealthier, more highly skilled, more native-born, , socially more stable nonpersisters. officeholders particularly persistent , socially , economically advantaged. persisters represented small core community of economically successful, socially homogeneous, , politically active voters , officeholders controlled local political affairs while residents moved in , out of city. members of tightly knit , exclusive core community , exemplified abraham lincoln, blunted potentially disruptive impact of migration on local communities. , population of 2013 117,006

business

the case of john williams illustrates important role of merchant banker in economic development of central illinois before civil war. williams began career clerk in frontier stores , saved begin own business. later, in addition operating retail , wholesale stores, acted local banker , organized national bank in springfield. active in railroad promotion , agent farm machinery.

religion

during mid-19th century, spiritual needs of german lutherans in midwest not being tended. result of efforts of such missionaries friedrich wyneken, wilhelm loehe, , wilhelm sihler, situation remedied deployment of additional lutheran ministers, opening of lutheran schools, , creation in ft. wayne, indiana of concordia theological seminary in 1846. seminary moved st. louis, missouri, in 1869, , springfield in 1874. through seminary, during last half of 19th century , first half of 20th century, lutheran church–missouri synod succeeded in serving spiritual needs of midwestern congregations establishing additional seminaries, , developing viable synodical tradition.