Why Abraham Lincoln?

Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as the greatest American president due to his leadership in preserving the Union during the Civil War and his role in ending slavery. At a time when the nation was on the brink of permanent division, Lincoln remained steadfast in his commitment to maintaining the United States as one nation. His ability to navigate political and military challenges, including his careful selection of generals and strategic military decisions, ultimately led the Union to victory. Despite immense pressure and personal loss, he demonstrated resilience, humility, and an unwavering dedication to democratic principles, ensuring that government “of the people, by the people, for the people” did not perish.

Lincoln’s greatest moral achievement was his role in abolishing slavery, fundamentally reshaping the nation’s identity. His Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 signaled a commitment to freedom, and his push for the 13th Amendment ensured the permanent end of slavery in the United States. Beyond his policies, Lincoln’s speeches, including the Gettysburg Address and his second inaugural address, articulated a vision of unity, equality, and national healing that still resonates today. His assassination in 1865 cut his presidency short, but his legacy endures as a symbol of leadership, courage, and the American ideal of liberty and justice for all.