Abraham Lincoln
Perhaps one of the most significant persons in the war was Abraham Lincoln. Like most generals, Lincoln was both criticized and appraised throughout his terms serving during the war. From the beginning of the war which began with Fort Sumter, to the end of the war, the Surrender at Appomattox, Lincoln held firm despite rough disputes.
April 12, 1861, marked the first major battle of the Civil War. Confederate troops began attacking the isolated, Union occupied fort. President Lincoln had made the decision to send a supply truck with no weapons or dangerous troops. Despite his efforts, Confederate troops attacked the fort for thirty-four long hours. Eventually, Union forces surrendered.
Although many would not think that President Lincoln had a military status, he actually had the highest one of all. As commander-in-chief, Lincoln used his authority to make battle plans, test weapons, and dealt with the promotion and demotion of officers. Even though Lincoln had a military status, there was not even a possibility of him going into battle. If the President would have gotten injured or killed, the Union would most definitely lost the war. Because Lincoln did not go into battle, he needed generals to lead his army. Finding generals was not as easy as it seems. Lincoln had a hard time finding generals that suited his needs. Some generals that served throughout the war included McDowell, Fremont, McClellan, Pope, and Burnside.
President Lincoln did not want to get rid of slavery. He wanted to "contain the spread of the cancer." Throughout the war, he later realized that the only way to end the war for now, was to completely destroy slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, freed slaves in territories not already under Union control. The Proclamation did not free many slaves as a result to its limited power. One thing the Emancipation Proclamation did do was make the war no only a fight to save the Union, but a fight for slavery.
Coming up to the election of 1864, President Lincoln felt he would not be reelected as a result of the war.To his surprise he was elected for his second term. In his second inaugural address, Lincoln said "Lasting peace among ourselves." One of his last defining moments was " Malice towards none and charity for all." In conclusion, President Lincoln impacted the history of the United States of America.
April 12, 1861, marked the first major battle of the Civil War. Confederate troops began attacking the isolated, Union occupied fort. President Lincoln had made the decision to send a supply truck with no weapons or dangerous troops. Despite his efforts, Confederate troops attacked the fort for thirty-four long hours. Eventually, Union forces surrendered.
Although many would not think that President Lincoln had a military status, he actually had the highest one of all. As commander-in-chief, Lincoln used his authority to make battle plans, test weapons, and dealt with the promotion and demotion of officers. Even though Lincoln had a military status, there was not even a possibility of him going into battle. If the President would have gotten injured or killed, the Union would most definitely lost the war. Because Lincoln did not go into battle, he needed generals to lead his army. Finding generals was not as easy as it seems. Lincoln had a hard time finding generals that suited his needs. Some generals that served throughout the war included McDowell, Fremont, McClellan, Pope, and Burnside.
President Lincoln did not want to get rid of slavery. He wanted to "contain the spread of the cancer." Throughout the war, he later realized that the only way to end the war for now, was to completely destroy slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, freed slaves in territories not already under Union control. The Proclamation did not free many slaves as a result to its limited power. One thing the Emancipation Proclamation did do was make the war no only a fight to save the Union, but a fight for slavery.
Coming up to the election of 1864, President Lincoln felt he would not be reelected as a result of the war.To his surprise he was elected for his second term. In his second inaugural address, Lincoln said "Lasting peace among ourselves." One of his last defining moments was " Malice towards none and charity for all." In conclusion, President Lincoln impacted the history of the United States of America.