Abraham Lincoln was one of the most famous presidents of the United States. Lincoln was known as the president who ended slavery. He was also the president who delivered the famous speech known as the Gettysburg Address. In addition to ending slavery, it ultimately united the Northern and Southern states when the Southern states seceded from the Union. In fact, the Emancipation Proclamation was created following the South's secession from the Union, in the hopes that it would somehow solve the problem. The Emancipation Proclamation, however, was an act he accomplished that demonstrated liberalism, or equality, during his presidency. Lincoln demonstrated leadership and left an untouchable legacy through liberalism with the Emancipation Proclamation. His leadership and legacy were demonstrated by the creation of the Emancipation Proclamation, uniting the North and South, and by the famous Gettysburg Address. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay For example, Lincoln demonstrated leadership and liberalism through the Emancipation Proclamation. Because he wrote the Proclamation itself, this demonstrates liberalism. That being said, President Lincoln was not initially against slavery. This is demonstrated because "although Lincoln originally abhorred slavery, he did not attempt to abolish it after taking office or after the Civil War began in April 1861" (Proclamation of 'emancipation). Although he did not initially plan to abolish slavery, Lincoln attempted to free slaves by declaring: "That as of January 1, 1863 A.D., all persons held as slaves in any State or designated part of a State the people who will then be in rebellion against the United States will then, henceforth and forever, be free” (Emancipation Proclamation). The reason Lincoln decided to produce this document was the South's secession. The Emancipation Proclamation, in turn, waged war against slavery, not state's rights. Many seemed to think that the war was initially about slavery, which is proven false by Lincoln's thoughts on the war which states: "Although Lincoln always hated the institution of slavery, during the first year of the war, he repeatedly emphasized that the goal of the conflict was the maintenance of the Union rather than the emancipation of slaves” (Trefousse). The Emancipation Proclamation was ultimately what ended slavery; “Although slavery was destroyed by the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) and the Thirteenth Amendment (1865), the legal status of freedmen remained unclear” (Sandoval-Strausz). Even though Lincoln did not initially intend to free any slaves, the act of the Emancipation Proclamation was still an act of liberalism. Second, Lincoln's leadership and untouchable legacy were also demonstrated during his reunification of the Northern and Southern states. Although peace had not yet been fully restored before Lincoln's death, he played an important role in leading the states toward Reconstruction. After all, Lincoln had created the Emancipation Proclamation because of the secession of the North and South. Lincoln was easily credited with bringing the North and South together, since he had been there during the war and early Reconstruction. Reconstruction began the year he was assassinated, 1865, and ended in 1877. Despite this, his contribution stated: "President Abraham Lincoln had proposed clemency to the South in 1863, providing for pardonswidespread and a "10% plan" by which a rebel State would be recognized as having regained all its rights in the Union when 10 percent of the 1,860 voters took an oath of loyalty and agreed to end slavery. (Hoar). Lincoln ultimately vetoed the plan as Radical Republicans opposed it. Although the plan failed, Lincoln still took credit for bringing the Northern and Southern states together, despite the failure of his Reconstruction plan. Although he had little influence in Reconstruction, Lincoln's leadership and legacy carried over into the reunification of the North and South. Finally, Lincoln's leadership and legacy were caused by the famous Gettysburg Address. The 272-word speech was one of the most famous speeches in American history. Everyone knows the first five words, “Eighty and seven years ago…”. Even if they don't know where it comes from, people tend to know these words. The speech was delivered less than six months after the conclusion of the Gettysburg Campaign, which was one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War. The battle was so hard that “the losses on both sides were immense with more than 7,000 killed and 44,000 wounded or missing” (Phelps). The speech contained items such as: “Quoting from the Declaration of Independence, Lincoln spoke of the great achievement of the Founding Fathers in creating a nation on the principle that all men are created equal. Lincoln presented the Civil War as a test of this noble ideal, but he made no direct reference to slavery, focusing instead on the preservation of self-government” (Stock). One of the most powerful lines of the speech was: "It is rather for us to be here devoted to the great task which remains before us: that from these honored dead we draw increased devotion to that cause for which they have given the last full measure of dedication. ; that we are here resolutely resolved that these deaths should not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, will experience a new birth of freedom; and this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth” (Lincoln). This is an important phrase because it explains that the people who died would not have died for no reason. Thanks to their deaths, people have a new freedom and they won't be leaving anytime soon. The man who spoke before him at the ceremony, Edward Everett, had spoken for more than two hours while Lincoln spoke only 272 simple words. Even though Everett's speech was much more complex and exemplary in itself, by now people have forgotten it over time. At the time, people were less impressed by Lincoln's speech than by Everett's. Even Lincoln didn't think it was a good speech. People's reactions seemed to be: "Many of the fifteen thousand spectators who heard it that day were surprised that it was so short. Lincoln himself thought it had been a failure. But once the Gettysburg Address was reprinted in newspapers across the country and people had time to think about it, they began to express their appreciation for his remarks” (Hillstrom). Schoolchildren now memorize the Gettysburg Address, and some have probably never heard of Everett's speech. Because of the notoriety of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, his leadership and legacy were unmatched. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Lincoln's unparalleled legacy and leadership was demonstrated through the liberalism of the Emancipation Proclamation, his work to reunify the.