Abe Lincoln as President (Page 4)

Listen

After the historic victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, the situation had vastly improved for the Union, but the war was far from over. On November 22, 1863, President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery at Gettysburg. The 272 word speech, which followed a two hour address by Harvard professor Edward Everett, would become one of the greatest speeches in American history.

In March of 1864, President Lincoln appointed General Ulysses S. Grant Commander of the Army of Potomac, the main branch of the Union Army. Finally, after nearly three years of war, the President had found a general who would pursue fleeing Confederates. Grant, known as "Unconditional Surrender Grant" after his exploits at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, in 1862, was by this time a Union hero after leading the Army of the Tennessee to numerous victories in the West, including those at Shiloh and Vicksburg. Grant would spend 1864 waging his bloody Overland Campaign through much of the state of Virginia, suffering massive casualties while gradually diminishing the numbers and spirit of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Eventually, Grant would corner Lee's Army at Petersburg, Virginia, where he staged a ten-month siege. During the siege, Lincoln would visit Grant's headquarters at City Point, outside of Petersburg, where his presence excited and inspired the Union soldiers.

Meanwhile, Union General William T. Sherman struck another blow to the spirit of the Confederacy with his destructive march through the state of Georgia, which would become known as Sherman's March to the Sea. Sherman's Army destroyed farms, railroad lines, and virtually anything in its path. After Sherman's capture of Atlanta, Georgia, President Lincoln easily won re-election to a second term. In contrast to his campaign platform in 1860, Lincoln made the emancipation of slaves a primary emphasis. Over 78 percent of Union soldiers would support his bid for a second term as President.

On April 9, 1865, the Confederate States of America surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. The Civil War was over and the Union would be preserved. At this point, President Lincoln had to consider the complicated task of reconstructing the Union and how to re-integrate the Confederate states back into the United States.

Lincoln believed in a policy of forgiveness and took a moderate approach to reconstruction, hoping to reconstruct the Union as quickly as possible rather than indefinitely punish the rebel states. Unfortunately, the President did not have much of a chance to preside over Reconstruction. Just five days after the end of the war, Southern sympathizer and actor John Wilkes Booth assassinated the President while he was watching a play at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. Lincoln's bodyguard had abandoned his post, allowing Booth access to the Presidential box. Lincoln died at 7:22 the next morning at the Peterson House across the street from the theater. Upon his death, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton uttered the timeless words "Now, he belongs to the ages."

After the Battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, the situation had __________________ for the Confederacy.
1. improved
2. remained the same
3. worsened
4. become impossible
When did President Lincoln give his Gettysburg Address?
1. Before the Battle of Gettysburg
2. After the Battle of Gettysburg
3. During the Battle of Gettysburg
4. After the war was over
Which of the following was not true about Ulysses S. Grant?
1. He was known "Unconditional Surrender" Grant
2. He had led the Army of the Tennessee to many victories
3. He was the general President Lincoln was looking for since the war started.
4. He led the Confederacy to victories in the Overland Campaign
How would you best describe Grant's Overland Campaign?
1. A campaign through Virginia that caused many casualties but strengthened the Confederate spirit
2. A campaign through Virginia that caused many casualties and weakened the Confederate spirit
3. A campaign through Virginia that crushed the spirit of the Union
4. A campaign through Virginia in which Lee's Army of Northern Virginia defeated Grant.
Which of the following was a major reason why President Lincoln was elected to a second term in 1864?
1. Because the South seemed to be winning the war
2. People were happy that the slaves were free
3. After the capture of Atlanta, it seemed as if the war was coming to an end
4. There were no other candidates who ran against him
Which of the following describes how Union soldiers probably felt about President Lincoln?
1. Most liked him
2. All liked him
3. Most disliked him
4. All disliked him
What did Lincoln think about the process of Reconstruction after the Civil War?
1. He believed the Southern states had to be punished
2. He believed the Southern states should never be allowed to be states
3. He believed the Southern states would be readmitted to the Union as quickly as possible
4. He believed that some states should return to the Union and others should not.
When was Abraham Lincoln assassinated?
1. Just days before the end of the Civil War
2. Just days after the end of the Civil War
3. 1864
4. During his first term as president
Which of the following is NOT true?
1. Lincoln died at Ford's Theater
2. Lincoln died at the Petersen House
3. Lincoln's bodyguard may have been asleep or not where he was supposed to be
4. Lincoln died the morning after he had been shot
What does the word "timeless" mean in the sentence below?

Edwin M. Stanton uttered the timeless words "Now, he belongs to the ages."
1. irrelevant
2. aspiring
3. always relevant
4. taking a long time