Abraham Lincoln of Oregon
Prior to being appointed Territorial Governor of Oregon, Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer and single term Representative. He would've most likely become a local Illinois politician, if not fading into the depths of history. Instead, Lincoln accepted the offer of recently elected Zachary Taylor to become the Territorial Governor of Oregon.
Territorial Governorship
Lincoln's first governorship would be burdened by political turmoil. Lincoln still had the unfortunate nickname of "Spotty" which became attached to his term. The Democratic legislature in the territory was opposed to almost everything Lincoln tried. The capital of the territory was moved from Oregon City to Salem, something Lincoln actually endorsed in a form of bipartisanship. He would also serve as part of an Indian Commission to make deals with the Native American tribes on the western side of the Cascade Mountains to move them to the eastern side. His big achievement in office was the repel of the 1849 black exclusion law and the passing of the Oregon Anti-Slavery Act of 1853, which banned Slavery in the Oregon Territory. This would be one of the causes of the American Civil War. His term would end unceremoniously in 1853 with the election of Franklin Pierce.
Lincoln considered returning to his home of Illinois or his birth state of Kentucky, but he chose instead to stay in Oregon, returning to his lawyer roots. He served quietly for many years until the 1860 Presidential Election. He ran for the Republican nomination, but lost out to Sen. William H. Seward for the President, with former Kansas Governor Andrew H. Reeder as Vice-President. The 1860 election would be won by Gov. Sam Houston of Texas as President with Sen. Jefferson Davis of Mississippi as Vice-President, both elected under the Constitutional Union ticket. After this, Lincoln would run for the Governorship of Oregon in 1862. He would win in a close victory in a race between the Republicans, Northern Democrats, Southern Democrats, and the Constitutional Union Party.
Oregon Governorship
Lincoln would be elected governor on the eve of the American Civil War. The conflict between Pro-Slavery and Anti-Slavery would come to a head when Sen. Stephen A. Douglas would introduce the Popular Sovereignty Act of 1862 which would allow slavery to expand farther westward. It passed the House and was introduced to the Senate. This prompted some politicians in the Abolitionsit Northern states to secede from the Union. This created the Union of American States and thus began the American Civil War.
The American Civil War (1962-1971)
Surprising to most at the time, Lincoln had the Oregon Legislature declare neutrality during the early stages of the War. Some in the state wished to secede and join the UAS or create a new Pacific Republic. Oregon would remain a neutral state until the election of 1864. Pres. Sam Houston had died in 1863, leaving Jefferson Davis to the President. The election of 1864 would see Davis reelected by a wide margin, except in Oregon and California where the Republican Party overwhelmingly won. After the election, Davis would declared Martial Law in Oregon and California. In response to this, the Californian and Oregonian Legislatures seceded from the United States and joined the Union of American States. (Colloquially referred to as Nationalists for the USA, Freedomites for the UAS). As the war progressed, Lincoln remained popular in the state, raising the 1st Army of Oregon to defend the state and suppress rebels. This war also brought him into conflict with the Native Americans, who would suffer greatly by his governorship. Many tribes were placed in reservations or massacred by the Lincoln Administration. This would cause lasting damage to the relationship between the Oregonian State Government and the Native Americans. The war would last much longer than necessary due to incompetence by Nationalist Generals. The war would end with the suicide of Jefferson Davis in 1868 and the ascension of Vice-President John C. Breckenridge. The Freedomite army had already taken most of the former Nationalist territory over and thus the Treaty of Louisville would end the war and reunite the nation. Almost everything would remain the same, excluding the abolition of slavery, equality of African-Americans, and the reconstruction of the United States. The Civil War would officially end in 1871, but both sides had stopped shooting at each other by early 1869. The election would be about how to best reunite and reconstruct the nation after such a disastrous conflict.
Post Civil War
Lincoln's governorship ended with the Civil War, but that was not the end of his Oregonian political plan. He was going to run for the House of Representatives in 1872 when the Republican nomination for president called his attention. The chosen candidate for President was Cassius Clay of Kentucky and Lincoln had been chosen to be the vice-president on the ticket. Lincoln accepted immediately. This would begin Lincoln's federal career.
The Election of 1872
The Election of 1872 was a fierce one, with both sides slinging out argument after argument. Lincoln's skill in speech would become apparent when he was debating Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee Thomas A. Hendricks. In all reality, the Republicans were sure to win the election. With the Democrats loosing the American Civil War, many felt betrayed, this showing in the voting records.
With a victory in federal politics. Lincoln began work with other Republican politicians and even a few Democratic politicians like Sen. Andrew Johnson. Lincoln would practically run Reconstruction, being slightly merciful to the former Nationalist States. This mercy would not include Former Nationalist General Nathan Bedford Forrest and his Ku Klux Klan, which would be harshly put down. This earned him the nickname of "The Father of Reconstruction". Clay would win reelection in 1876 as well, with Lincoln as his VP.
Death
While Lincoln would live for many years after his terms as Vice-President, Lincoln turned down the nomination for President in the 1880 presidential election, leaving it to Indiana Governor Benjamin Harrison (Who would win the election, despite being the youngest president to do so until the 20th Century.) Lincoln would retire to his home in Salem, Oregon. Lincoln didn't do much in politics after this, despite his living for another 12 years after his retirement. He quietly died in his sleep in 1892.
Legacy
Lincoln has become a focal point of Oregonian politics, with many in the state trying to emulate his charm when running for election. There is also the University of Lincoln in Eastern Oregon that is one of the most prestigious universities in the nation. Lincoln's record on Native Americans continues to haunt Oregonian politics and national politics, creating tension.
In popular culture
Lincoln has appeared as a significant character in multiple works, mostly those around the American Civil War.
Theatre and Film
- Lincoln appeared in the film "A Nation Divided" where he is scene as a villain in politics, causing trouble for the Nationalist Government, even sabotage.
- Lincoln also appeared in the 2010 musical, "Lincoln: An American Musical" written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Literature
- Lincoln appears in the Alternate History title "My Brother's Keeper" by H. N. Turtledove where Lincoln stays in Illinois and becomes Secretary of State in the election of 1860 as part of the Seward Administration during an earlier American Civil War.
- Lincoln appears as a character in the Supernatural Senators book series where Lincoln hunts ghosts and ghouls during the Reconstruction Era.
- Lincoln is the focal character in the alternate history novel "The Great Emancipator" by Stephen Stirling where Lincoln leads a John Brown style slave revolt against the federal government, leading to the creation of a Communist state on the North American Continent.
Video Game
- Lincoln appears as a major character in the third game in the Terminator Order series where he appears, serving the Knights of Ra against the player character.