Abraham
Lincoln was born to a poor family but became the 16th President of the United
States and remains one of America's greatest icons. In the mid-19th century, the
nation was deeply divided over the issue of slavery. Because he was strongly against
slavery, Abraham Lincoln's election as President in 1860 intensified the tensions.
Before he was even inaugurated, seven Southern slave states seceeded and formed
the Confederate States of America, and a month after his inauguration, the nation
was embroiled in the Civil War. Although his handling of the presidency during
a time of war remains controversial, Abraham Lincoln is best remembered for helping
to preserve the Union and for abolishing slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation
and the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Lincoln,
forever to be remembered as Honest Abe and the Great Emancipator, became the first
president to be assassinated five days after the Confederate General, Robert E.
Lee surrendered.
