Lincoln's Greatest Case

In 1856, the steamboat Effie Afton collided with the first railroad bridge to cross the Mississippi River, leading to a fiery sinking that sparked a pivotal legal battle. Backed by steamboat interests, the case questioned whether future bridges and transcontinental railroads could cross the Mississippi, with the outcome having nationwide implications. Abraham Lincoln, then a prominent trial lawyer, played a key role in defending the bridge, contributing to his growing reputation and shaping the future of American transportation.