Person’s Name: Abraham Lincoln
What made them important to the Civil War?
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, played a crucial role in the Civil War as the leader of the Union. He worked tirelessly to preserve the nation and maintain the integrity of the Union, which was threatened by secessionist movements in the South. His leadership, vision for American democracy, and commitment to ending slavery were pivotal in shaping the war's outcomes and future directions of the United States.
Were they Union / North or Confederacy / South?
Abraham Lincoln was a member of the Union (North).
Fact 1:
Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which declared that all enslaved people in the Confederate states were to be set free. This not only aimed to weaken the Confederacy's labor force but also framed the war as a fight for freedom, allowing African Americans to join the Union Army and adding a moral imperative to the Union cause.
Fact 2:
Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War included his famous Gettysburg Address delivered on November 19, 1863. In this speech, he reaffirmed the principles of liberty and equality, emphasizing national unity and the fight for a government "of the people, by the people, for the people." This address is considered a defining moment in American history, rallying support for the Union and the war effort while fostering the idea of a new birth of freedom in the United States.