Abraham Lincoln's Greatest President

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other,” states Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States. Lincoln was a self-made man who started out by helping his family around the farm to becoming the 16th president of the United States. As a presidential candidate from the Republican Party, Abraham Lincoln was opposed to the spread of slavery. The Republican Party promoted Lincoln as “Honest Abe Lincoln” and called for free land in the West, improved wages, and tariff increases to attract midwestern farmers, factory workers, and northern industrialists. One week after Lincoln had won the election, the southern states began seceding from the Union. His years as a president was tested by the Civil War between the North and
Abraham Lincoln is one of the greatest presidents in American history because he preserved the Union, emancipated African Americans, and increased the federal government’s role in the settlement of the western states and territories.
The first reason as to why Abraham Lincoln is one of the greatest presidents in American history is he preserved the Union. According to Hattaway (1985), Lincoln issued orders and made ultimate military decisions as a commander in chief during the Civil War. Lincoln was responsible for making and seeing the execution of strategic plans sufficient to bring victory. (p. 19-20) Hattaway (1985) also states that President Lincoln ordered into effect the anaconda plan proposed by Lieutenant General Winfield Scott, which included the naval