Changes

To further help Lincoln win reelection, absentee voting was instituted for the first time.  This enabled thousands of Union soldiers to vote by mail rather than show up at the polling booths in their home town.  Much later absentee voting was allowed for everyone, so that could vote by mail while away from their voting booth.

To further help Lincoln win reelection, absentee voting was instituted for the first time.  This enabled thousands of Union soldiers to vote by mail rather than show up at the polling booths in their home town.  Much later absentee voting was allowed for everyone, so that could vote by mail while away from their voting booth.

Lincoln showed his "moderate" political views by vetoing the Wade-Davis Bill in 1864, which would have imposed a very harsh reconstruction plan on the South demanded by Radical Republicans in the North.  That Bill, which never became law, would have established virtually impossible conditions for Confederate states to rejoin the union by requiring a majority in each state to take an oath of loyalty to the United States before it could be admitted.  Lincoln, fearful of a backlash by Radical Republicans, used a "pocket veto" to prevent this from becoming law.  A "pocket veto" is an unusual procedure allowed under the Constitution whereby legislation is considered vetoed if the President does nothing within ten days and Congress has adjourned; doing nothing is a less controversial way of dealing with a crisis than doing something people do not like.

Lincoln showed his "moderate" political views by vetoing the Wade-Davis Bill in 1864, which would have imposed a very harsh reconstruction plan on the South demanded by the northern "Radical Republicans," which was a group of congressmen most determined to punish the South for slavery and the Civil War.  That Bill, which never became law, would have established virtually impossible conditions for Confederate states to rejoin the union, by requiring a majority in each Sate to take an oath of loyalty to the United States before it could be admitted.  Lincoln, fearful of a backlash by Radical Republicans for blocking their bill, used a "pocket veto" to prevent this from becoming law.  A "pocket veto" is a procedure allowed under the Constitution whereby legislation is considered vetoed if the President does nothing within ten days and Congress has adjourned; doing nothing is a less controversial way of dealing with a crisis than doing something people do not like.

Lincoln then defeated McClellan in the election of 1864, aided by the exclusion of southern voters from the election (who would have voted against Lincoln).  McClellan dropped out of national politics after losing this election,, but much later McClellan became Governor of New Jersey (1878-81).

Lincoln then defeated McClellan in the election of 1864, aided by the exclusion of southern voters from the election (who would have voted against Lincoln).  McClellan dropped out of national politics after losing this election,, but much later McClellan became Governor of New Jersey (1878-81).

In March 1865, Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address is the opposite of his First: he now saw the world and the Civil War in moral rather than legal terms.  His Second Inaugural Address is filled with religious spiritual, reflecting that at least Lincoln had personally found his way.  He is one of the few public officials to increase his faith while wielding earthly power.

In March 1865, Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address is the opposite of his First: he now saw the world and the Civil War in moral rather than legal terms.  His Second Inaugural Address is filled with spiritual references, reflecting that Lincoln had at least personally found his way.  He is one of the few public officials to display an increase in faith while wielding earthly power.

== Surrender ==

== Surrender ==