Timeline about Abraham Lincoln By schlake9 Mar 12, 1834 Lincoln was elected Illinois Legislature. Mar 12, 1849 Lincoln returned to law practice. Mar 12, 1854 Lincoln returned to the political stage. Mar 12, 1856 Lincoln helped organize the Illinois branch of the new Republican party. Mar 12, 1858 Lincoln challenged the Democrat Stephen A. Douglas for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Mar 12, 1858 With the election even though Douglas won the debates made Abraham Lincoln famous. Mar 12, 1860 Lincoln expcted to bring about the eventual extinction of slavery. Mar 12, 1861 Abraham Lincoln preserved the Union during the civil War. Mar 12, 1863 Abraham Lincol followed by Marin Luther King Jr. and helped end segregation. Mar 12, 1863 Lincoln often expressed values to slavery in public and private.