Abraham Lincoln i jego misja ocalenia Unii w latach 1861–1865

Abstract

Abraham Lincoln was elected the sixteenth President of the United States in 1860. The years of his tenure coincided with the time of the war among the states. The primary goal of Lincoln was not to liberate the black but to maintain the unity of the Union of the states. This article considers Lincoln's efforts to save the country from disunity and division as his ultimate life mission. The mission was confirmed by his speeches (e.g. the Gettysburg Address) and his decisions, for instance, to retain by force the border states, to sign the Conscription Act, to detain the exchange of war prisoners, etc. All these Lincoln's deeds led to earlier ending of the war and to maintaining the unity of the state. Lincoln completed his mission and restored the Union. Unfortunatedly, he did not live long enough to admit peacefully the southern states to the Union.