GOVERNMENT Policies During the CIVIL WAR [APUSH Review Unit 5 Topic 9] Period 5: 1844-1877

How Did Abraham Lincoln’s Leadership During the Civil War Impact American Ideals?

Overview of Lincoln's Leadership

• The video introduces the topic of how Abraham Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War influenced American ideals, following a previous discussion on the fighting of the war.

• A brief review is provided regarding Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which aimed to free enslaved people in Confederate states but did not affect those in border states.

Emancipation Proclamation as a Military Strategy

• The Emancipation Proclamation served primarily as a military tactic rather than a moral statement, effectively undermining European support for the Confederacy by framing the war around slavery.

• It allowed many enslaved individuals to escape to Union camps and some even joined Union forces against their former owners, showcasing its dual role in both military strategy and social change.

The Gettysburg Address: Reframing the War

• Lincoln's Gettysburg Address (November 19, 1863) further transformed the purpose of the Civil War into a struggle for ending slavery while unifying national ideals.

• Delivered at a cemetery dedication, it was overshadowed by Edward Everett’s lengthy speech; however, Lincoln's concise address reframed public perception of the war in just four minutes.

Key Themes from the Gettysburg Address

• In his address, Lincoln emphasized that America was founded on liberty and equality, questioning whether such a nation could endure through civil strife.

• He honored fallen soldiers by stating that their sacrifices consecrated the battlefield more than any words could express and called for continued dedication to their cause.

Call to Action and Legacy

• Lincoln urged living Americans to commit themselves to ensuring that those who died did so not in vain but for a new birth of freedom under God.