Abraham Lincoln was a brilliant politician. The Emancipation Proclamation was a great political move, and probably affected the outcome of the civil war more than any battle. England, and to a greater extent France were involved in great debate about the extent of aid to render to the Confederacy. The Emancipation Proclamation firmly placed the Union on the moral high ground, thus strongly influencing the two countries against substantial aid to the CSA.  Additionally by freeing slaves in the CSA only, and not in Border States Lincoln kept Border States from joining the Confederacy. It was a brilliant move politically, however one doesn’t have to dig very deep to realize it was just that, a political move.

 In general Presidents receive too much credit when things go well and too much blame when they don’t. Abraham Lincoln was president of the United States of America during the most troubling time in our nation’s history. In saving the Union, and the fact that slaves were freed (albeit more for political reasons than moral) he should rate as a one of the best.