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//**Abraham Lincoln:**// February 12, 1809-April 15, 1865 1861-1865, 1865-Death Hannibal Hamlin (1861-1865) Andrew Johnson (1865)
 * //Political Party://** Republican
 * //Terms://** 2 terms
 * //Vice President by term://**

 There is no doubt that Abraham Lincoln was the best president to step forth upon this nation. If Lincoln were to be graded on a ranking scale, he deserves an A. Lincoln’s leadership skills and determination helped to end the Civil War and reunite the nation. He also issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves only in areas still in rebellion against the United States. Lincoln is definitely a martyr, because he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater who didnt like Lincoln's principles.

As soon as Lincoln entered office, South Carolina and other southern states rejoiced over his victory. It gave them an excuse to secede and seven states separated. Later after the call of troops to Fort Sumter, four more states seceded from the Union. Lincoln’s goal was to keep the remaining slaves states, the Border States as they were called, in the Union. Lincoln told the Border States, which consisted of Missouri, Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia, that he was not fighting to free the blacks, but to save the Union. Lincoln succeeded in accomplishing this goal and the Border States did not secede.

One of Lincoln’s foreign policy goals was toward preventing foreign intervention during the Civil War. The south needed foreign aid, specifically from the British, in order to win the war. To prevent aid Lincoln proclaimed blockades on southern ports. To enforce the blockades, Lincoln put naval officers on each of the ports and they would seize British ships. The British recognized the blockades and did not want to start another war with the United States, so they backed off. As a result, the south’s hope for foreign aid diminished and Lincoln accomplished his goal.

President Lincoln had a well working relationship with Congress. During his two terms, he only vetoed a couple of bills. This was probably due to the fact that the majority of the House of Representatives and Senate was Republicans in both the 37th and 38th Congress. The actual breakdown was… 37th Congress-House of Rep: 108 R-44 D, Senate: 31 R-10 D 38th Congress-House of Rep: 86 R-72 D, Senate: 36 R-9 D Obviously, Lincoln had the advantage in Congress. As a result he passed many laws, some of which include the Homestead Act, Morrill Act, and National Banking Act. The Homestead Act allowed people in the east to obtain land in the west. The Morrill Act was primarily intended to establish agricultural and mechanical colleges in each state. Another law Lincoln helped pass was the National Banking Act. This law established a national currency and created a network of national banks throughout the country. It is evident that Congress was on Lincoln’s side throughout the Civil War, and therefore it is safe to say that Lincoln’s relationship with Congress was peaceful.

The most important decision passed by Lincoln was the Emancipation Proclamation. As already stated, the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves only in areas that were in rebellion against the United States, but not in areas that remained loyal. At the time, proclamation was stronger than emancipation. Some slaves did run away to the Union, but most of them were still working for the south, as sharecroppers. Although the Emancipation Proclamation did not fully abolish slavery at the time, it created a stepping stone on the way of abolishing slavery.

Lincoln and his administration did not make any bad decisions, but if one were to be chosen it would have to be disobeying the Constitution. He proclaimed a blockade, increased the size of the Federal Army, advanced two million dollars to private citizens, and suspended the writ of habeas corpus all without congressional consent. This is unconstitutional. This exercised Lincoln’s arbitrary power. Although these ended up to be good decisions in the future, Lincoln first and foremost disobeyed the Constitution.

Abraham Lincoln absolutely influenced future presidents, as well as our nation today. After Lincoln was assassinated, Andrew Johnson, Lincoln’s successor, led the reconstruction of the nation. Reconstruction can be a difficult task, as Johnson had learned. Next, Lincoln passed the Emancipation Proclamation, which later led to the passing of the thirteenth amendment, which freed all slaves in the United States. This still stands in America, as there are no slaves. Without Lincoln, slavery could possibly still exist today.

All in all, President Lincoln left the country in a much better shape than before his presidency. Lincoln helped to reunite the Union and end one of the bloodiest wars in America. The Emancipation Proclamation, Homestead Act, Morrill Act, and National Banking Act all made key contributions to the nation. These laws were only possible with the help of Congress at Lincoln's side. Giving Lincoln’s administration anything lower than an A would be an offense to the greatest president ever to have stepped forth on this nation.


 * //Bibliography://**

"Abraham Lincoln | The White House." __The White House__. 31 Oct. 2009 .

"Historical Party Strength in U.S. House of Representatives." __U.S. Congress__. 31 Oct. 2009 []. "Historical Party Strength in U.S. Senate." __U.S. Congress__. 31 Oct. 2009 [].

Norton, R.J.. "Abraham Lincoln." __PERSONAL WEB PAGES - home.att.net__. 29 Dec. 1996. 31 Oct. 2009 .

Norton, R.J.. "The Accomplishments of President Abraham Lincoln." __PERSONAL WEB PAGES - home.att.net__. 29 Dec. 1996. 31 Oct. 2009 .