Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) served as the 16th President of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He is most recognized for leading the nation during the American Civil War and working to end slavery. In 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. Lincoln also delivered the Gettysburg Address, a brief but profound speech redefining the purpose of the war and American democracy. His efforts culminated in the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery throughout the United States. Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865, and died the following day.