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Abraham Lincoln February 12, 1809 (Hodgenville, KT) – April 15, 1865 (Petersen House, Washington D.C.) Political Party: Republican, National Union Term: March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865 Vice President: Hannibal Hamlin (1861- 1865), Andrew Johnson (March 4, 1865 – April 15, 1865)

The United States had not one, but two identities during Lincoln’s presidency. The Civil War had rocked the nation, and the United States had split into two sovereignties: the Union and the Confederacy. The Confederate government was fighting for independence. Forever being under the impression that they were being controlled and manipulated by the north, the southern states sought to create a new identity and formed the Confederacy. The Union epitomized the northern manner of the United States; much the same before the Civil War as during it, they fought for the preservation of the union. The Emancipation Proclamation was the turning point in the United States’ quest for a new identity. It cemented the United States as a country, though presently fragmented, that would fight for civil rights. Lincoln’s issue of the proclamation was the beginning of the civil rights movement that would shape the United States and its people for decades to come.

President Lincoln inherited a divided nation. He originally set out to preserve the Union, but the defiance of the Confederacy caused him to change his goal. Lincoln made many steps and tried to work with the south to avoid secession, but when the south continued to use violence Lincoln realized he would have to undermine their strength. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation which both freed the slaves and destroyed the last shreds of the South’s power. Even after defeat Lincoln still respected the Confederacy and looked towards peaceful resolution and re-admittance. Lincoln and his administration took a bad situation and used it to transform the nation, for that they deserve an A+.

Faced with a nation in revolt, Abraham Lincoln’s first and foremost goal as president was to preserve the Union. Lincoln used his inaugural address to forewarn the south about his policies towards secession and slavery. He stated that he had no intention of abolishing slavery; that it was not within his Constitutional rights. In an attempt to preserve the Union Lincoln supported the Corwin Amendment, which protected slavery in those states in which it was already implemented. On the topic of force however, he did say that while he would not attack first, he was willing to meet southern attacks on the Union and the Federal government with force. Lincoln stuck to his word in the case of Fort Sumter. The south attacked the fort in response to supplies, not reinforcements, sent over Confederacy lines. After the attack, Lincoln issued a call for arms, and thus the first steps of the Civil War were taken. The steps taken by Lincoln during the war were critical. Without his guidance the Union surely would have fallen with the men who fought for it.

Lincoln was a man of intense political ability. Backed by both a Republican and Unionist administration, Lincoln and his legislation were respected and passed. Lincoln often made decisions without the consent of congress, but because they shared the same ideals there was little to no opposition. Lincoln supported Congress’ decision to pass the 13th Amendment, and thy in turn supported his naval blockade. Without the support of his administration Lincoln undoubtedly would have run into obstruction, which would have severely impacted the amount of good that could have come out of this great man.

The most positive outcome of Lincoln's presidency was the Civil War. Mounting tension between the north and the south reached their breaking point shortly before Lincoln's term when many southern states seceded from the Union. After the attack on Fort Sumter, Lincoln issued a call of arms for the country, and thus the Civil War began. The Civil War led to many civil rights movements for the United States. Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation gave freedom to the slaves of the rebellious Confederate states. Weary that once the war was over slavery would rise again, Lincoln urged for the passing of a constitutional amendment that would forever outlaw slavery in all of the United States. The amendment that was ratified was the Thirteenth Amendment. Like Lincoln intended it officially outlawed slavery in the United States. Lincoln’s actions during the Civil War preserved the union of the United States; one cannot do much better than that. In contrast, the Civil War can also be described as the worst action of Lincoln during his presidency. The Civil War is America's deadliest war. It resulted in the loss of over 1 million American lives. While Lincoln is most known for his Emancipation Proclamation's benefits for the slaves, one cannot forget those on the other end of the stick. Those who lost slaves lost investments and a labor force to carry out work that would raise a profit. After being defeated by the Union and stripped of a work force, the South’s economy crumbled. With public debt increasing fifteen times the original, both the north and the south were struck with hard times. The only difference is that the south had suffered more than the north, and would not be able to rebuild its economical standing for quite some time. One often sees the Confederacy as the villain in regards to the Civil War, but one cannot forget that they were still part of the Union in Lincoln's eyes. They suffered after the war, and there was little help provided for them from Lincoln's administration, some of Congress even went so far as to look for harsher punishment for the readmitted states. The Civil War run by Lincoln gave many benefits to the Union and African Americans, but it proved to be devastating for both the south and the nation's economy.

Abraham Lincoln made many decisions that impacted future generations to come. Unarguably, his most influential decision would be his support of the Thirteenth Amendment. While Lincoln had freed slaves in the Confederate states earlier, the Thirteenth Amendment greatly impacted the country. Proposed by Congress and supported by Lincoln, the Thirteenth Amendment formally gave freedom to people of all races in the United States. It also declared slavery an illegal institution in the country. The African Americans freed after the ratification of the amendment then had to find a way to integrate into the country. This led to many more civil rights institutions and movements, such as the Freedman’s Bureau. The Thirteenth Amendments, coupled with the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, also gave rise to the Woman’s Rights movement. Seeing that African American’s now had many more rights women started to call for them as well. The Thirteenth Amendment was the pivotal force behind many social reforms that would impact the nation. After its ratification the United States had to figure out how to respect both the rights of the newly freed people and those who still yearned for their own. It would take many years before the nation was shaped into one that could truly call its self a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Abraham Lincoln can accurately be named as one of the best presidents in United States history. Backed by a supportive administration, there was no end to what the president could do. Decisions made during his term have dramatically changed the history of the United States. He took a nation in revolt and managed to keep control and preserve a union that the first settlers of America fought to establish. Lincoln took great measures to fight for freedom for all people of the Union. He was a tireless, benevolent, and respectful leader. He treated those whom others despised and did not trust with compassion and respect. He freed a people from bondage, and worked to retain the rights to those he fought against. Although the United States was worse for wear after his presidency, it now contained an unbreakable bond that would prove to be imperative to the nation’s growth and success. Without this man’s contributions to the nation, there is no telling where we would be right now.

Works Cited: "Abraham Lincoln." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Oct. 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. . "American Civil War." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Oct. 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. . Sidey, Hugh, and Michael Beschloss. "Abraham Lincoln." //The White House//. White House Historical Association, 2009. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. . Stodola, Sarah. "Civil War at 150: Debt Lessons from Lincoln." Civil War at 150: Debt Lessons from Lincoln. The Fiscal Times, 12 Apr. 2011. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. .