Abraham Lincoln: Preserving the Union

Overview

Abraham Lincoln rose from a frontier log cabin to become America’s 16th president, leading the nation through the Civil War and preserving the Union. Self‑taught and driven, he became a lawyer, legislator, and a central figure in the new Republican Party. Elected in 1860, he guided the country through secession, issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and delivered the Gettysburg Address—an enduring statement of democratic ideals. His leadership ended tragically when he was assassinated in 1865, but his legacy as the Great Emancipator and defender of self‑government remains unmatched.