Abraham Lincoln: Freed the Slaves and Saved the Union

What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did? Lincoln freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation), saved (or preserved) the Union, or led the United States during the Civil War. As the 16th President (1861-1865), Lincoln guided America through its greatest crisis—the Civil War. His leadership preserved the United States as one nation and ended slavery. Lincoln is remembered as one of America’s greatest presidents for these accomplishments.

For the citizenship test, acceptable answers include: freed the slaves, saved/preserved the Union, or led the United States during the Civil War.

The Essential Facts

For the citizenship test, remember that Abraham Lincoln:

Freed the slaves: Issued the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) and supported the Thirteenth Amendment

Saved (or preserved) the Union: Led the North to victory in the Civil War, keeping the United States united

Led the United States during the Civil War: Served as president throughout the war (1861-1865)

Any one of these answers is correct. These are Lincoln’s most important accomplishments.

Lincoln’s Early Life

Abraham Lincoln’s background shaped his character:

Born: February 12, 1809, in Kentucky
Childhood: Grew up in poverty in Kentucky and Indiana
Education: Almost entirely self-taught; attended school less than one year total
Reading: Lincoln educated himself through extensive reading
Work: Worked as rail-splitter, flatboatman, store clerk, surveyor, postmaster
Law: Taught himself law and became a successful lawyer in Illinois
Family: Married Mary Todd in 1842; had four sons (only one survived to adulthood)

Lincoln’s humble origins made him sympathetic to common people. His self-education showed remarkable intelligence and determination.

Political Career Before Presidency

Lincoln’s political career developed gradually:

Illinois Legislature (1834-1842):
Served four terms in Illinois state legislature as a Whig (political party opposing Democrats).

U.S. House of Representatives (1847-1849):
Served one term in Congress. Opposed Mexican-American War as unjust. Did not run for reelection.

Return to Law (1849-1854):
Practiced law in Illinois, becoming one of the state’s leading lawyers.

Re-entry to Politics (1854):
Returned to politics opposing Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed slavery’s expansion. Joined new Republican Party formed to oppose slavery’s expansion.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858):
Ran for Senate against Stephen Douglas. Seven debates drew national attention. Lincoln argued slavery was morally wrong and should not expand. Lost the election but gained national prominence.

Presidential Election (1860):
Republican Party nominated Lincoln for president. In a four-way race, Lincoln won with 40% of popular vote and majority of electoral votes. He did not carry a single Southern state.

Lincoln’s election triggered Southern secession. Seven states seceded before he took office.

President During the Civil War

Lincoln’s presidency was defined by the Civil War:

Fort Sumter (April 1861):
Days after Lincoln’s inauguration, Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This started the Civil War. Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to suppress the rebellion.

Preserving the Union:
Lincoln’s primary goal was preserving the Union. He believed secession was illegal and the Union was permanent. He was willing to fight to keep the nation together.

Initial Setbacks:
Union forces suffered defeats in 1861-1862. Lincoln struggled to find competent generals. The war went badly for the North initially.

Expanding War Goals:
While preserving the Union was Lincoln’s primary goal, he increasingly saw ending slavery as essential to victory and morally necessary.

Finding Grant:
Lincoln finally found an effective general in Ulysses S. Grant. Lincoln promoted Grant to command all Union armies (1864). Grant’s strategy of relentless pressure on Confederate forces eventually brought victory.

Winning the War:
By 1865, Union forces were defeating the Confederacy. Richmond, the Confederate capital, fell in April 1865. General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1865. The war was won.

Lincoln’s steady leadership through four years of war preserved the United States as one nation.

The Emancipation Proclamation (1863)

Lincoln’s most famous act was freeing enslaved people:

Background:
Lincoln personally opposed slavery but initially focused on preserving the Union. By 1862, he decided emancipation was both morally right and strategically necessary.

Preliminary Proclamation (September 22, 1862):
After Union victory at Antietam, Lincoln announced he would free enslaved people in Confederate territory on January 1, 1863, unless Confederate states returned to the Union.

Final Proclamation (January 1, 1863):
Lincoln declared enslaved people in Confederate-controlled areas to be “then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

What It Did:

• Freed enslaved people in Confederate territory (about 3.5 million)
• Did not free enslaved people in border states or Union-controlled Confederate areas
• Changed the war’s purpose from preserving Union to ending slavery
• Prevented European intervention (Britain and France could not support a slave power)
• Allowed Black men to join Union army (about 200,000 served)

Limitations:
The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order that could be challenged or reversed. Lincoln knew permanent abolition required a constitutional amendment.

Thirteenth Amendment:
Lincoln pushed for the Thirteenth Amendment permanently abolishing slavery. Congress passed it in January 1865. States ratified it in December 1865, after Lincoln’s death.

Together, the Emancipation Proclamation and Thirteenth Amendment ended over 240 years of legal slavery in America.

Gettysburg Address (1863)

Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address became one of history’s most famous speeches:

Context:
On November 19, 1863, Lincoln spoke at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg, site of the war’s bloodiest battle.

The Speech:
Lincoln spoke for only two minutes (about 270 words). The speech redefined the war’s meaning:

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

“Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure…

“It is for us the living…to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Significance:

• Redefined the war as a test of democracy and equality
• Connected the war to the Declaration of Independence’s principle that “all men are created equal”
• Gave meaning to soldiers’ sacrifice
• Expressed democratic ideals in memorable language
• Became one of the most quoted speeches in American history

The Gettysburg Address showed Lincoln’s vision: the war was about whether a nation dedicated to equality and self-government could survive.

Lincoln’s Leadership Qualities

Lincoln’s leadership made him effective:

Intelligence:
Self-educated but highly intelligent. Read extensively. Understood complex issues deeply.

Communication:
Excellent writer and speaker. Communicated complex ideas in simple, memorable language. Told stories and jokes to make points.

Political Skill:
Managed competing factions. Built coalitions. Made shrewd appointments. Balanced different interests.

Patience:
Waited for the right moment to act. Issued Emancipation Proclamation only after Union victory. Did not rush into decisions.

Firmness:
When necessary, Lincoln acted decisively. Suspended habeas corpus during wartime. Replaced ineffective generals. Pushed for Thirteenth Amendment.

Humility:
Despite his power, Lincoln remained humble. Admitted mistakes. Listened to advice. Did not let ego cloud judgment.

Compassion:
Showed mercy. Pardoned deserters. Wanted reconciliation with the South after victory. His second inaugural address called for “malice toward none” and “charity for all.”

Moral Conviction:
Believed deeply in equality and democracy. Saw slavery as morally wrong. Willing to fight for principles.

Resilience:
Endured personal tragedies (son’s death, wife’s mental illness) and political setbacks without giving up.

These qualities made Lincoln one of history’s great leaders.

Second Inaugural Address (March 1865)

Lincoln’s second inaugural address showed his vision for peace:

Context:
Delivered March 4, 1865, as the war was ending. Victory was near.

Tone:
Rather than celebrating victory, Lincoln sought reconciliation and healing.

Famous Passage:
“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.”

Message:
Lincoln wanted to reunite the nation peacefully. He sought to heal divisions, not punish the South. He hoped for reconciliation and justice.

This address showed Lincoln’s magnanimity in victory and his vision for Reconstruction.

Assassination (April 1865)

Lincoln’s life ended tragically:

Date: April 14, 1865 (Good Friday)
Location: Ford’s Theatre, Washington, D.C.
Assassin: John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer and actor
Method: Booth shot Lincoln in the head while Lincoln watched a play
Death: Lincoln died the next morning, April 15, 1865, at 7:22 AM
Age: 56 years old

Booth’s Plot:
Booth conspired with others to kill Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William Seward. Only the attack on Lincoln succeeded. Booth escaped but was tracked down and killed on April 26, 1865.

Timing:
Lincoln was assassinated just five days after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. The war was effectively over. Lincoln would not live to guide Reconstruction.

National Mourning:
The nation mourned intensely. Lincoln’s funeral train traveled from Washington to Springfield, Illinois, allowing millions to pay respects. He became a martyr for the Union cause.

Impact:
Lincoln’s assassination deprived the nation of his leadership during Reconstruction. His successor, Andrew Johnson, lacked Lincoln’s skill and vision. Reconstruction was less successful than it might have been with Lincoln’s guidance.

Lincoln’s Legacy

Abraham Lincoln left an extraordinary legacy:

Preserved the Union:
Without Lincoln’s leadership, the United States might have split into two or more nations. He kept the country united.

Ended Slavery:
Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and support for the Thirteenth Amendment ended slavery. Four million people gained freedom.

Expanded Democracy:
By preserving the Union and ending slavery, Lincoln ensured America would continue its democratic experiment and expand freedom.

Established Federal Supremacy:
The Civil War established that federal authority superseded state authority. States could not secede. This created a stronger national government.

Redefined America:
Lincoln’s vision of America as dedicated to equality and self-government shaped national identity. The Gettysburg Address made equality central to American ideals.

Presidential Leadership:
Lincoln established the model of strong presidential leadership during crisis. He expanded presidential powers during wartime while maintaining democratic principles.

Racial Justice:
While Lincoln’s views on racial equality were limited by his time, his actions against slavery began the long struggle for racial justice that continues today.

Inspiration:
Lincoln inspires Americans and people worldwide. His rise from poverty to presidency embodies the American Dream. His leadership during crisis shows what’s possible through determination and principle.

How Lincoln is Remembered

Americans honor Lincoln extensively:

Monuments:

• Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. (completed 1922)
• Mount Rushmore includes Lincoln’s face
• Statues and memorials throughout the country

Currency:

• Lincoln appears on the penny (one-cent coin)
• Lincoln appears on the five-dollar bill

Holiday:

• Presidents’ Day (third Monday in February) honors Washington and Lincoln

Rankings:

• Historians consistently rank Lincoln as one of the three greatest presidents (with Washington and Franklin Roosevelt)

Cultural Impact:

• Countless books, movies, plays about Lincoln
• His speeches are memorized and quoted
• “Honest Abe” nickname reflects his reputation for integrity

Controversies:
While Lincoln is generally revered, some debates continue:

• His views on racial equality evolved but remained limited
• His suspension of habeas corpus during war was controversial
• His approach to Reconstruction (had he lived) is debated

Despite controversies, Lincoln remains one of America’s most admired historical figures.

Other Important Lincoln Accomplishments

Beyond freeing slaves and preserving the Union:

Homestead Act (1862):
Gave settlers 160 acres of land if they farmed it for five years. Encouraged western settlement.

Pacific Railway Act (1862):
Authorized transcontinental railroad construction. Connected East and West coasts.

Morrill Land-Grant Act (1862):
Provided land to states for agricultural colleges. Created many state universities.

National Banking System:
Created uniform currency and banking system. Strengthened federal control of finance.

Department of Agriculture:
Established federal department focused on farming.

These accomplishments, though overshadowed by the war, had lasting impacts on American development.

Why Lincoln Matters Today

Abraham Lincoln matters because:

Model Leader:
Lincoln exemplifies effective leadership during crisis: intelligence, patience, firmness, humility, and moral conviction.

Commitment to Equality:
Lincoln’s dedication to the principle that “all men are created equal” continues inspiring struggles for justice and equality.

Democratic Values:
Lincoln’s defense of government “of the people, by the people, for the people” remains central to American democracy.

National Unity:
Lincoln’s preservation of the Union created the strong, united nation that exists today.

Moral Courage:
Lincoln’s willingness to do what was right (ending slavery) despite political costs inspires moral courage in leaders.

American Dream:
Lincoln’s rise from poverty to presidency embodies the possibility of success through hard work and ability.

Connections That Matter

Understanding Lincoln connects to the Civil War. Lincoln led the Union to victory, preserving the nation and ending slavery.

Lincoln relates to the Emancipation Proclamation and Thirteenth Amendment. These documents ended slavery, Lincoln’s greatest accomplishment.

Lincoln also connects to Reconstruction. His assassination prevented him from guiding Reconstruction. Understanding Lincoln helps understand what was lost when he died.

For more on Lincoln, see our articles on the Civil War, Emancipation Proclamation, and Thirteenth Amendment in the uscis-questions category. To understand the war, read about its causes and battles. To learn about slavery’s end, explore articles on emancipation and Reconstruction.

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions

What did Abraham Lincoln do?
He freed the slaves, saved the Union, or led during the Civil War. Any of these answers is correct for the citizenship test.

When was Lincoln president?
1861-1865 (assassinated shortly after beginning his second term).

Was Lincoln always against slavery?
Lincoln personally opposed slavery but initially prioritized preserving the Union. His views evolved toward full abolition during his presidency.

Did Lincoln free all enslaved people?
The Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved people in Confederate territory. The Thirteenth Amendment (which Lincoln supported) freed all enslaved people.

Why is Lincoln considered a great president?
He preserved the Union during America’s greatest crisis and ended slavery. These are two of the most important accomplishments in American history.

Was Lincoln perfect?
No. His views on racial equality were limited by his time. He made political and military mistakes. But his accomplishments were extraordinary.

Why was Lincoln assassinated?
John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, killed Lincoln to avenge the South’s defeat and prevent Lincoln from guiding Reconstruction.

Could anyone else have done what Lincoln did?
Impossible to know, but Lincoln’s unique combination of skills—intelligence, communication, political acumen, moral conviction—made him exceptionally suited to the crisis.

Did Lincoln want to punish the South?
No. Lincoln favored reconciliation. His second inaugural address called for “malice toward none” and “charity for all.” He wanted to heal the nation, not punish it.

What should I memorize for the citizenship test?
Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, saved/preserved the Union, or led the United States during the Civil War. Any one answer is sufficient. Know these are Lincoln’s most important accomplishments. This is sufficient for the test.