Although Abraham Lincoln was president over a century ago, he is still considered one of our greatest presidents, and his legacy remains important Today. led to a split between the Northern and Southern states. During this period, the North became more industrialized while the South was more agricultural. The two sides developed different economies and ideas. On April 14, 1861, at Fort Sumter, tensions reached a fever pitch. leader at the start of the American Civil War. Strategically guiding the nation through this divisive period and considered one of the greatest presidents in American history, Abraham Lincoln left a legacy that endures in America today because of his preservation of the Union and of its conflict with slavery. , and steadfast leadership in times of crisis. Although Abraham Lincoln served the nation more than a century and a half ago, his unwavering belief in preserving the Union greatly influenced the development of the United States of America. By 1860, when Lincoln was named president, the South had already claimed secession from the Union. Citing irreconcilable differences between the two regions, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and other states felt the need to leave the Union and form their own Confederacy between 1861 and 1864. In his inaugural address, President Lincoln announced his supreme goal of maintaining and perfecting a perpetual Union. His agreement to allow slavery where it already existed and to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act demonstrated his ability, as a leader, to compromise for the benefit of the nation. Seeking to avoid war, Lincoln urged the Southern states to rethink their decisions and remain in the Union. He never recognized their existence as a separation...... middle of paper ...... freeing the slaves of the Confederate States, Lincoln managed to stop the expansion of slavery and made a step forward in the advancement of the freedom and rights of African Americans. As Lincoln once said: "With malice toward none, with charity toward all, with steadfastness in good, as God gives us to see good, let us strive to finish the work in which we are, to consolidate the bonds of the nation. injuries. » Works cited1. Brinkley, Alan. “Chapter 14: The Civil War.” American History: A Survey. 13th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1991. 370-403. Print.2. “Impact and Legacy.” American President: Abraham Lincoln: Impact and Legacy. Miller Center: University of Virginia, nd Web. December 3, 2012..3. Norton, RJ “The Accomplishments of President Abraham Lincoln.” The Accomplishments of President Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln Research Site, ndWeb. December 3. 2012. .