Samantha+-+Lincoln+-+F08

=**Abraham Lincoln**= February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865 Party: Republican In office: March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865 (was assassinated as the Civil War was coming to a close) Vice Presidents: First Term: Hannibal Hamlin (1861-1865) Second Term: Andrew Johnson (1865- became president because Lincoln was assassinated)

**Outline:**
Ever since elementary school we have learned about two presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. These guys were posed as the heroes of this country and now I see why. I would have to give Abraham Lincoln a A+ because I don't think we could ask for a much better president. He went from being a poor school boy to fighting and losing the senate seat to Douglas to sliding into the presidency and handling a Civil War marvelously. When he was elected, he didn't have a lot of time to think about how to handle the south. The south had already seceded by this point and he had to act quickly. One of his goals as president was to win the war against the Confederates and eventually get the Confederates back into the union. He also wanted to abolish slavery. Both of these goals were accomplished in his first term. The north won the war thanks to Lincoln's close supervision and selection of top generals in the Union. It can be assumed that Lincoln and his congress had a good relationship. They approved most of what he proposed such as the plan to reinforce Fort Sumter. Also he proposed many ideas of strategy for the war that they fully supported. The Emancipation Proclamation was a famous document written by Lincoln that his congress also supported. Another important example of where his administration followed him up was in the suspended habeas corpus. They made 13,000 arrests. The Emancipation Proclamation was really popular amongst the people of the north. Many abolitionists and free soilers were happy slavery was finally going to come to an end. This was the same effect when Lincoln proposed the thirteenth amendment. The most negative feedback from the people came about with the civil war. Most were happy with him but Copperbacks (oppents of the war) didn't want to go to war and abolitionists or Radical Republicans criticized him for taking to long to abolish slavery. For the most part Lincoln won his people over with his great speeches and presidential decisions. Abraham Lincoln made a huge impact on the people of America. His accepting morals, such as letting the south come back into the Union as easily as Buchanan had let them leave, and his ability to govern our country with such strength in his decisions. He knew he could always count on somebody to back him up. The most important people he affected were the slaves. Where would we be today without the Emancipation Proclamation and the thirteenth amendment? Would slavery still be practiced in the united states? If Lincoln hadn't stood up for what is right and abolished slavery for good who knows where we would stand today. In conclusion, Abraham Lincoln deserved his A+ because he earned his way from a poor Kentucky boy to one of the most successful presidents ever to take office. He was a well achieved man. His strong morals helped him to lead America through the hard time of the Civil War and remained strong even when lives and battles were lost. He was considered a martyr and men that worked for him said "His ambition was a little engine that knew no rest." Many historians considered him the best president in US history. I can only imagine if he had lived to serve a second term.

**Works Cited:**
"Abraham Lincoln." __The White House__. 29 Oct. 2008 .

"Abraham Lincoln." 29 Oct. 2008 .

"Abraham Lincoln." __Wikipedia__. 29 Oct. 2008 .