Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be set free.
Lincoln was committed to preserving the United States as a single, united nation during the Civil War. His leadership helped guide the Union to victory.
Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, during the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Lincoln played a crucial role in the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which abolished slavery throughout the country.
Lincoln signed the Homestead Act into law in 1862, providing 160 acres of public land to settlers who agreed to live on and cultivate the land for at least five years.
Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act in 1862, authorizing the construction of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States.
Lincoln signed the National Banking Act in 1863, establishing a system of national banks and creating a uniform national currency.
Lincoln signed the Morrill Land-Grant Act in 1862, which provided federal land grants to states for the establishment of colleges.
Lincoln implemented a successful naval blockade of Confederate ports during the Civil War, effectively cutting off the South from foreign trade and weakening its economy.
Before his assassination, Lincoln outlined plans for the reconstruction of the Southern states after the Civil War, emphasizing reconciliation and the restoration of the Union.