American History Hotline: Abraham Lincoln Before the Presidency – What He Learned as a Lawmaker

Podcast: American History Hotline
Host: Bob Crawford (iHeartPodcasts)
Guest: Chris DeRose, author of Congressman Lincoln
Date: January 21, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Bob Crawford is joined by historian and author Chris DeRose to answer a listener’s question about Abraham Lincoln’s early political life, focusing on his years as a lawmaker—both in Illinois and during his single term in Congress. The conversation centers on Lincoln’s political ambitions, his principled stand against slavery, and the influence of these experiences on his later presidency. The episode offers rich context for Lincoln’s lesser-known congressional career and vividly ties it to broader themes in American history leading up to the Civil War.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Why Focus on Lincoln's Congressional Years?

• [01:24–02:36]

  • Lincoln is one of the most written-about historical figures, but little attention is paid to his time in Congress.
  • The only federal experience Lincoln had before his presidency was a single term in Congress, making it pivotal in understanding his approach to government and leadership.

  Quote:

  "When Lincoln raises his right hand, takes the oath of office as president in the tumultuous month of March, 1861, all that he knows about the federal government, all that he's experienced is this one term as a member of Congress 12 years earlier."
  – Chris DeRose [01:52]

2. Lincoln's Political Ambition and Party Dynamics in Illinois

• [02:37–04:36]

  • Lincoln, a member of the minority Whig Party in predominantly Democratic Illinois, saw Congress as the only avenue for career advancement.
  • Ambition was necessary, not inherently negative, provided it was channeled toward principle.

  Quote:

  "If you're ambitious and you stick to your principles, it's not necessarily a bad thing. It's really hard to get to Congress if you're not ambitious."
  – Chris DeRose [03:21]

• The contradictory nature of Illinois as a 'free state' that practiced de facto slavery due to Southern migration and legal loopholes.

  Quote:

  "The Liberator [...] said that Illinois is for all intents and purposes a slave state."
  – Chris DeRose [04:36]

  • Lincoln distinguished himself in the Illinois legislature by risking his career to vote against pro-slavery measures, unlike most upwardly mobile politicians.

  Quote:

  "Lincoln was really the only young, upwardly mobile politician who still voted against those pro-slavery resolutions which easily passed the Illinois House."
  – Chris DeRose [06:10]

3. Lincoln in Congress: Opposition to the Mexican-American War and the Spot Resolutions

• [07:02–11:24]

  • Lincoln opposed the Mexican-American War, believing President Polk had manufactured the conflict to gain territory.
  • He delivered the famous “Spot Resolution” speech, questioning whether American soldiers were killed on American soil or in disputed territory.

  Quote:

  "Was this really America or was it Mexico? And was this manufactured to stir up popular opinion in favor of a war that the president wanted?"
  – Chris DeRose [08:25]

  • Contrary to popular belief that Lincoln was an insignificant congressman, research shows his words carried weight in Congress, drawing responses from major figures like Stephen Douglas and being noted by peers.

  Memorable Moment:
  Chris shares his excitement about finding an original eyewitness mention of the Spot Resolution speech in a 19th-century congressman’s letters (David Outlaw), illustrating the enduring resonance of Lincoln's words in the House.
  [09:47–10:51]

4. Slavery: Lincoln's Consistent, Principled Anti-Slavery Record

• [12:13–16:42]

  • Lincoln persistently voted against slavery, not just as President but throughout his legal and political career.
  • In Congress, he supported the Wilmot Proviso (banning slavery in new territories), and often lived with prominent abolitionists such as Joshua Giddings at Mrs. Spriggs' boarding house.
  • He introduced a bill to emancipate slaves in Washington D.C.
  • Opposed compensating 'owners' for escaped slaves used by the army (Pacheco slave case), arguing one cannot have a property interest in a human being.

  Quote:

  "Lincoln lived in a boarding house in Washington, D.C., with the most prominent abolitionists of the era…."
  – Chris DeRose [13:36]

  Quote:

  "Abraham Lincoln consistently voted to deny Pacheco's purported owner compensation, saying that you can't have a property interest in a human being."
  – Chris DeRose [16:34]

5. The One-Term Tradition and Lincoln’s Path in Congress

• [18:50–21:04]

  • Lincoln served only one term in Congress, in part because he helped establish a one-term precedent among Whigs in his district to fairly rotate the seat.
  • His anti-war stance further hurt his re-election chances in war-supporting Illinois.

  Quote:

  "Lincoln wisely introduces a resolution to cap him at one term.... So part of it is that one-term precedent that Lincoln himself introduced."
  – Chris DeRose [19:24]

6. Transitioning Toward the Senate and National Politics

• [21:04–25:15]

  • Lincoln's loss in the Senate race reflected changing party dynamics and the intensifying national conflict over slavery, especially after the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
  • The Act’s repeal of the Missouri Compromise split parties along regional lines and reignited Lincoln’s political activism, paving the way for his prominence as a national anti-slavery figure.

  Quote:

  "The repeal of the Kansas-Nebraska act, in the words of Lincoln, who sat out of politics for almost a decade, aroused him as no other issue had before."
  – Chris DeRose [23:25]

  • Lincoln became nationally known through his debates with Stephen Douglas—even as a two-time Senate loser—as a powerful and eloquent spokesperson against slavery.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Lincoln was really the only young, upwardly mobile politician who still voted against those pro slavery resolutions which easily passed the Illinois House."
  – Chris DeRose [06:10]

• "When Lincoln raises his right hand, takes the oath of office as president in the tumultuous month of March, 1861, all that he knows about the federal government, all that he's experienced is this one term as a member of Congress 12 years earlier."
  – Chris DeRose [01:52]

• "I think it's becoming de rigueur to talk about Lincoln as an emancipator of convenience...and it's simply not true. Abraham Lincoln voted against slavery for decades and risked his political career to do so at many intervals."
  – Chris DeRose [12:26]

• "So even a guy who went over to the Senate to watch a different speech that day took notice of Abraham Lincoln's words in the House."
  – Chris DeRose [10:46]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:24] Listener Question and Framing Lincoln's Congressional Career
• [04:36] Illinois’ Paradoxical Status on Slavery
• [07:02] Lincoln’s Opposition to Mexican War – Spot Resolutions
• [12:13] Lincoln’s Consistent Anti-Slavery Voting Record
• [14:21] Living with Abolitionists / D.C. Kidnapping Incident
• [18:50] Why Lincoln Only Served One Term in Congress
• [21:23] The Impact of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and Senate Races
• [24:00+] Lincoln’s Rise to National Prominence After Senate Defeats

Takeaways

• Lincoln’s political ambition was tied to deeply held principles; he sacrificed easier advancement by consistently opposing slavery, even when it was unpopular or risky.
• His time in Congress, though brief, revealed the skills, values, and rhetorical abilities that would define his presidency.
• Far from being a minor player in Congress, Lincoln was respected and influential, laying groundwork for his later role as an anti-slavery leader.

For fans of American history and Lincoln, this episode vividly demonstrates how early political choices and courage in the face of popular opposition foreshadowed Lincoln's national leadership—and that the seeds of the emancipator were present long before the White House.