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Abraham Lincoln 16th President of the United States Born: February 12, 1809 Died: April 15, 1865 Terms of Presidency: March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865 Vice President: Hannibal Hamlin (1861-1865), Andrew Johnson (1865) Political Party: Republican

President Abraham Lincoln, considered by many Americans to be, "Good Ol' Honest Abe," or even, "The man who freed the slaves." However Lincoln was not only honest and abolitionist, but he was also a President that was elected into office when the nation needed him most. Being the successor to President James Buchanan, Lincoln was gifted with a nation that was in turmoil and moments away from crumbling into extinction. The United States was divided between pro-slavery South and anti-slavery North. Although other factors came into play, Lincoln handled the seceding southern states with actions that almost seemed effortless. Also when Civil War erupted, Lincoln was able to later stop disputes and reconstruct the nation by welcoming back the southern states into the Union. For all these reasons President Abraham Lincoln rightfully deserves an A.

In Lincoln's inaugural address, he called upon issues such as secession and slavery. He informed Americans that he would do as much as he could to preserve the Union. But he goes on to say that seceding would be impossible for there were no physical boundaries between the North and South. Although if states were to secede he would take full control of the situation. When addressing the slavery uproar, Lincoln states that he would be neutral in the debate. For he believed that he had no just right to have a stand on the matter. Ironically, the South had already planned to secede due to the election of Lincoln giving them one more reason. When war between the North and South broke out, Lincoln kept his goals that he had set. After the war Lincoln had his second inaugural address where his main goal was once again to preserve the Union, this time while reconstructing the nation. Lincoln wanted to rebuild and start anew nation and worldwide.

The man known for "freeing the slaves," had received this recognition due to the Emancipation Proclamation. Although this went against his idea of being neutral in the slavery issue, the Emancipation Proclamation freed all the slaves in the Northern states. This was amazingly not very opposed because it did not include freeing slaves in the south and the act was able to satisfy the Union's border states. Not only did Lincoln foreshadow the full abolition with slavery, but he was able to put the final nail into the coffin of the Civil War. By writing the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln was finally able to end the Civil War. Then later he was able to start reconstructing the Union protecting the interest of every one in the United States.

Unpopular to the southern states, Lincoln was said to be the catalyst of the Civil War. The South used the election of Lincoln as their final reason to secede from the Union and when Lincoln ordered supplies to be sent to Fort Sumter, southern confederates attacked the fort and the Civil War began. Although avoiding war was virtually impossible, this was the only thing that Lincoln and his administration had done.

Contrasting to the Confederate President Davis' relationship with Congress, Lincoln's was quite healthy. The Republican dominated Congress was able to cooperate well and able to pass things such as the Homestead Act and the Morill Act. The relationship between Lincoln and Congress was most definitely the reason why Lincoln was such a successful president.

The affect that Lincoln had on the future of America can be seen through his acts with slavery and the Civil War. The Emancipation Proclamation foreshadowed the full abolition of slavery. Without Lincoln enforcing this, it is possible that America would still have slaves and slave owners. Lincoln's acts with the Civil War was able to maintain the Union. The success of maintaining the Union and reconstructing it can be seen as the current fifty states which include the states that had once seceded.

In conclusion, Lincoln is most deserving of an A. Foreshadowing the full abolition of slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation and more importantly preserving and reconstructing the nation after the Civil War. Lincoln was able to meet all of his goals as president and even go beyond these goals which also benefited the nation. Lincoln is a president that doesn't come around very often. Because of everything that Lincoln had accomplished the sixteenth president is most worthy of an A.

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" Abraham Lincoln ." Supercomputing '94. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. .

"Abraham Lincoln  | The White House." The White House. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. .

"Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address." LibertyOnlineÂ® Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. .

mid-1850s, the, Lincoln had acquired prominence in Illinois legal circles, especially through his involvement in litigation involving competing transportation interestsâ€”both the river barges, and the railroads. In 1849. "Lincoln, Abraham." Info:Main Page - New World Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2010. .

property, the accession of a Republican Administration their, and  their. "Abraham Lincoln First Inaugural Address - 1861." National Center for Public Policy Research - A Conservative Organization. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2010. .