Abraham Lincoln as “The Railsplitter”
November 18th, 2009Filed under: Exhibitions
The Railsplitter, 1860, Oil on canvas, 9’ high x 6 ½’ wide
On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected sixteenth president of the United States. He won as “The Railsplitter” candidate, a nickname acquired the previous May when Illinois Republicans convened at Decatur to endorse a favorite son for president.
Lincoln was the likely choice but his supporters felt he needed a catchier nickname than “Old Abe” or “Honest Abe.” Thus, Richard J. Oglesby and John Hanks, a first cousin of Lincoln’s mother, located a split-rail fence supposedly built by Lincoln in 1830. When they walked into the hall carrying two of the rails—decorated with flags, streamers, and a sign that read, “Abraham Lincoln/The Rail Candidate”—the crowd went wild.
Although Lincoln claimed he could not say for certain that he had split those particular rails, he said that “he had mauled many and many better ones since he had grown to manhood.” By now, Lincoln was a prominent lawyer, not a backwoodsman. But, he had split rails in his youth, and the image held enormous appeal to voters (all male) who shared similar backgrounds and cultural beliefs about the merits of hard work and self-reliance.
Several days after the state convention, the Republican Party held its national convention in Chicago and nominated Lincoln for president. Lincoln did not actively campaign for office (as was the custom), but his supporters staged a lively campaign. An unknown artist created this mythical, life-size portrait of Lincoln to be used at public rallies; notice that there’s an image of the White House on the distant horizon.
The Railsplitter is one of the many artifacts that help tell the story of Abraham Lincoln Transformed, an exhibition that examines the fundamental change in his views about slavery and the Union that changed America. The exhibition runs through April 12, 2010.
> Learn more about Abraham Lincoln Transformed
The Railsplitter is also featured in the 2009 Adopt an Artifact program. Donations to this program support all of the Museum’s activities.
> Learn more about Adopt an Artifact
Tags: Abraham Lincoln Transformed, Civil War, Libby Mahoney, Olivia Mahoney, painting, Railsplitter
