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Abraham Lincoln   February 12, 1809-April 15, 1865 Republican Years in Office: 1861-1865 Vice Presidents: Hannibal Hamlin 1861-1864, Andrew Johnson 1865

I would give the presidency of Abraham Lincoln an A. President Lincoln was exactly the person that America needed to guide the country through the horrors of the Civil War. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Address are two of the most famous speeches in American history. Thanks to Lincoln’s dedication to his country, the Union was restored and slavery was abolished in America.

In his first Inaugural Address, Lincoln presented his goals for the nation. At a time of unprecedented turmoil in America Lincoln strived to find the most productive course of action to take in navigating the country. President Lincoln originally had no desire to interfere with slavery in places where it was already established. He did however emphasize the fact that secession was illegal and that he would use any means necessary to prevent it. As the long, devastating Civil War dragged on, Lincoln changed his stance on the continuation of the slavery. Due to the Emancipation Proclamation and the approval of the Thirteenth Amendment, slavery is outlawed in the United States and its territories. Lincoln could not keep the Confederate states from seceding, but he did see to it that the nation was reunited. Lincoln’s patient, conciliatory approach guided the country through one of its darkest hours.

Lincoln’s supporters maintained a majority in both houses of Congress. Lincoln and Congress worked together successfully throughout the Civil War era. Congress supported Lincoln early on in his presidency with the declaration of war against the Confederacy as well as the approval of a volunteer army. Also during Lincoln’s first term, Congress passed the Morrill Land-Grant College Act that granted federal lands to state universities for the furthering of education. Congress also passed the National Bank Act that promotes the sale of war bonds and also creates a national paper currency. As the Civil war comes to a close, Congress approved the Thirteenth Amendment, effectively ending slavery. Congress further supports Lincoln’s ideals with the creation of the Freemen’s Bureau which aids freed African Americans in the South. Lincoln and Congress had an excellent rapport which strengthened the Union government.

The decision from Lincoln’s presidency that had the most positive impact on the nation was his delivery of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation was designed to end slavery in the deep southern states. Despite the fact that the proclamation did not take immediate effect, it started the process which ended slavery all together in America. The decision that Lincoln made that had a negative impact on the nation was allowing Sherman’s March. General Sherman marched his army throughout the south burning and pillaging all the cities in their path. Sherman’s March destroyed hundreds of homes and left a path of destruction in its wake. Sherman’s March was an unnecessary and violent process that made the south suffer even more. Lincoln did not call for Sherman’s campaign, but he also did nothing to prevent his march.

President Lincoln’s decision to go to war over the issue of secession has had a major influence on presidents that have followed him. Lincoln was determined to keep the nation from breaking apart completely and he therefore used any power he had to insure that the nation was reunited. President Lincoln did what he thought was right for the nation and refused to surrender in the face of adversity. Lincoln’s hard work and determination led the country through the storm of the Civil War. Following the Civil War, reconstruction of the devastated south was a process that continued into the terms of the presidents that followed Lincoln.

President Lincoln deserves the grade of an A for his presidency. Lincoln led the Union into the tragedy of the Civil War and emerged with the country fully intact on the other side. Lincoln did not allow the Confederates to accomplish their goals of forming a new nation separate from the U.S. Lincoln stood true to his beliefs that if the country was divided, it could not succeed. Lincoln’s presidency left the nation far better off because the Civil War was over and done with and the horrible plague of slavery had ended. President Abraham Lincoln is one of the best and most iconic presidents in American history.