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== Lincoln is often considered the greatest president this country has ever had. His actions as president got the country through perhaps it's biggest crisis. However, the way he solved the countries problems were not always solved in ways that the citizens he was leading agreed with. For this reason Lincoln deserves a B. ==

== President Lincoln became president on March 4, 1861. On December 20, 1860 South Carolina seceeded from the Union. As Lincoln took office he faced an incredible challange. The country he was supposed to lead was split into two, the Union and Confederacy. Lincoln's biggest goal as president was to perserve the union. He did this by doing whatever he could and expanding his executive power. He wanted to enforce the laws of America and end secession. He also aimed to prevent foreign intervention in the civil war raging on American Land. He was sucessful in this goal. He was against slavery and wanted it gone in the country but he was more concerned with the goal of perserving the Union. ==


==During Lincoln's first two year's as president, the civil war began, the writ of habeus corpus was suspended by president Lincoln, and Emancipation Proclamation was issued. There was a Republican majority in congress. In the next session there was also a Republican majority and during this time the Freedman's Bureau was created. As President Lincoln's second term began both houses had a Republican majority which proved to be a problem when Andrew Jackson became president. Lincoln had his party in the houses and very few Democrats to work against so not much conflict was encountered. ==


==Lincoln did many great things during his presidency. The greatest and the worst was his determination to preserve the Union. He knew his job was to protect the country. He declared war not to end slavery but to instead get the southern states back. When he announced the intentions of the war many Northerners were dissapointed. They were excited to fight for a noble cause such as freedom just as the ancestors had done in the nations early history. The annoucement to fight to preserve the union took the spark out of the North and contributed to much desertion and a platue in enlistments in the Union Army. Lincoln's decision was smart however, by not bringing slavery into the war he didn't loose the border states. While fighting to preserve the Union Lincoln abused many executive powers. As his presidency started he expanded the Army and Navy, sent out state militias and spent 2 million dollars without the consent of congress. He made war without a Declaration of war. He also created his own judical review giving him the power as the final interperator of the constitution. Lincoln's goal was to perserve the union. He stated that it made no sense "to lose the nation and yet preserve the constitution." Many of his acts could be considered unconstitutional and an abuse of power but he ultimately saved the contry which was what he saw his job to be. ==


==Lincoln left an amazing legacy on the country. He kept America together. He also began the process of ending slavery in America with the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln did what few men could have done. He took a split nation, enforced war, broke rules, and ended with a united country, a new freedom and a man from humble beginings becoming a hero. Future generations would name him the countries best president, countless politicans would quote his speeches and letters and he would be a role model for people everywhere. ==


==Overall Lincoln achieved his goals. The union was safe, the slaves were free and although many people disliked his actions they saved our country. Lincoln deserves a B. He solved the problem, maybe not in the best way in therory but perhaps the only way in reality. ==

"Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties in Wartime." //The Heritage Foundation - Conservative Policy Research and Analysis//. Web. 31 Oct. 2009. . "Abraham Lincoln Biography - Biography -." //Biography.com//. Web. 31 Oct. 2009. . "American President: Abraham Lincoln." //Miller Center of Public Affairs//. Web. 31 Oct. 2009. .