ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY

November 8, 1805

Lewis and Clark Reach the Pacific Ocean

On this day in 1805, Lewis and Clark finally reached the Pacific Ocean a year and a half after they began their exploration of the West along the Missouri River. The members of the exhibition which began May 14, 1804 consisted of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and more than 30 other men.

Along the way, the group was able to map a great deal of the northern Louisiana Territory purchased by the United States from the French the previous year. They also met and opened diplomatic relations with the Indians and reinforced the United States claim to the Oregon Territory.

November 8, 1864

Abraham Lincoln is Elected to His Second Terms
as President of the United States

On this day in 1864 Abraham Lincoln was elected to his second term as President of the United States.

Born February 12, 1809 in a log cabin in Hardin County (now LaRue County) Kentucky, Abraham was the second of three children born to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks. With very little formal education, Lincoln was largely self-educated and worked various jobs including store keeper, mill operator, and surveyor.

In early 1830's Lincoln began to study law on his own, was elected to the state legislature in 1834, received his law license in 1836, and then married Mary Todd on November 4, 1842.

Over the next ten years, Lincoln would be elected to the U.S. Congress as a Whig candidate and became nationally known for his antislavery stance. Although Lincoln was against slavery, his number one priority was preserving the Union which inevitably lead to the Civil War.

In the months leading up to the election in 1864, the calls for negotiating an end to the war were loud, however the military situation began to improve dramatically giving Lincoln the momentum he needed to win the election.