sell his share. In his first campaign speech after returning from his military service, Lincoln observed a supporter in the crowd under attack, grabbed the assailant by his "neck and the seat of his trousers", and tossed him. In the campaign, Lincoln advocated for navigational improvements on the Sangamon River. He could draw crowds as a raconteur, but lacked the requisite formal education, powerful friends, and money, and lost the election. Lincoln finished eighth out of 13 candidates (the top four were elected), though he received 277 of the 300 votes cast in the New Salem precinct. Lincoln served as New Salem's postmaster and later as county surveyor, but continued his voracious reading and decided to become a lawyer. Rather than studying in the office of an established attorney, as was the custom, Lincoln borrowed legal texts from attorneys John Todd Stuart and Thomas Drummond, purchased books including Blackstone's Commentaries and Chitty's Pleadings, and read law on his own. He later said of his legal education that "I studied with nobody." Illinois state legislature (1834–1842) Lincoln's second state house campaign in 1834, this time as a Whig, was a success over a powerful Whig opponent. Then followed his four terms in the Illinois House of Representatives for Sangamon County. He championed construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and later was a Canal Commissioner. He voted to expand suffrage beyond white landowners to all white males, but adopted a "free soil" stance opposing both slavery and abolition. In 1837, he declared, "[The] Institution of slavery is founded on both injustice and bad policy, but the promulgation of abolition doctrines tends rather to increase than abate its evils." He echoed Henry Clay's support for the American Colonization Society which advocated a program of abolition in conjunction with settling freed slaves in Liberia. He was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1836, and moved to Springfield and began to practice law under John T. Stuart, Mary Todd's cousin. Lincoln emerged as a formidable trial combatant during cross-examinations and closing arguments. He partnered several years with Stephen T. Logan, and in 1844 began his practice with William Herndon, "a studious young man". U.S. House of Representatives (1847–1849) True to his record, Lincoln professed to friends in 1861 to be "an old line Whig, a disciple of Henry Clay". Their party favored economic modernization in banking, tariffs to fund internal improvements including railroads, and
{
        'QUESTION: What did Abraham Lincoln do before becoming president?',
        'ANSWER: Before becoming president, Abraham Lincoln worked as a storekeeper, surveyor, and eventually became a self-taught lawyer. He also served in the Illinois State Legislature and represented Sangamon County in the Illinois House of Representatives.',
        'SEPARATOR',
        'QUESTION: How many times did Lincoln run for political office before becoming President?',
        'ANSWER: Lincoln ran for political office twice before becoming President. First, he ran for the Illinois State Legislature and then for the Illinois House of Representatives.',
        'SEPARATOR',
        'QUESTION: Who influenced Lincoln\'s views on slavery?',
        'ANSWER: Henry Clay significantly influenced Lincoln\'s views on slavery. He supported the American Colonization Society, which aimed at resettling freed African Americans in Africa.',
        'SEPARATOR',
        'QUESTION: Which candidate did Lincoln lose to when running for the Illinois House of Representatives?',
        'ANSWER: When running for the Illinois House of Representatives, Lincoln lost to a powerful Whig opponent.',
        'SEPARATOR',
        'QUESTION: Why did Lincoln decide to study law independently?',
        'ANSWER: Lincoln chose to study law independently because he didn't have the necessary resources such as formal education, powerful connections, or money. Instead, he borrowed legal texts from other lawyers and taught himself.',
        'SEPARATOR',
        'QUESTION: What role did Lincoln play in the development of the Illinois and Michigan Canal?',
        'ANSWER: As a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, Lincoln actively campaigned for the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. Later, he even served as one of its commissioners.',
        'SEPARATOR',
        'QUESTION: What was Lincoln\'s position regarding voting rights?',
        'ANSWER: Lincoln believed in expanding voting rights. While serving in the Illinois House of Representatives, he voted to extend suffrage to all white men, regardless of whether they owned land.',
        'SEPARATOR',
        'QUESTION: With whom did Lincoln begin practicing law in Springfield?',
        'ANSWER: After moving to Springfield, Lincoln started practicing law under the guidance of John T. Stuart, who was Mary Todd's cousin.',
        'SEPARATOR',
        'QUESTION: What was Lincoln\'s viewpoint on the issue of colonizing freed slaves?',
        'ANSWER: Lincoln supported the idea of colonizing freed slaves in Africa through the American Colonization Society. This organization aimed to relocate former slaves to Liberia.',
        'SEPARATOR',
        'QUESTION: What was Lincoln\'s political affiliation?',
        'ANSWER: Throughout his career, Lincoln identified as a Whig. He considered himself an "old line Whig," a follower of Henry Clay.'
    }