While Abraham Lincoln was President, he faced many issues. One issue dealt with the secession of some of the southern states. Since the United States had forts in the South, President Lincoln was going to need to send supplies to these forts. He knew this could start the Civil War. President Lincoln decided to announce he was sending unarmed ships with supplies to Fort Sumter. This would force the South to decide if they would attack our ships and start the Civil War.
When the Civil War began, President Lincoln had to ensure that certain states remained in the Union. For example, if Maryland seceded, Washington, D.C. would have been in Confederate territory. President Lincoln arrested those members of the Maryland legislature that supported secession. As a result, Maryland remained in the Union.
President Lincoln had to deal with a lack of success in the Eastern Front of the Civil War. General McClellan hesitated at times to move his army. Opportunities were lost to attack the South as a result of this failure to move the army. President Lincoln eventually replaced General McClellan.
There were people, called Peace Democrats, who believed we should stop fighting in the Civil War and make an agreement with the Confederacy. President Lincoln refused to do that, and eventually, the Union prevailed.
President Lincoln also needed to make a statement regarding slavery. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This symbolically freed the slaves in the South. It also made it clear that President Lincoln wanted to end slavery.
There were many issues facing President Lincoln while he was President.
Comments
Post a Comment