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On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.  This historic document proclaimed all slaves ''in areas in rebellion'' to be "forever free."   

On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.  This historic document proclaimed all slaves ''in areas in rebellion'' to be "forever free."   

Lincoln began planning for a post-War South.  His plan for readmitting southern States to the Union (that is, readmitting their representatives to Congress) was issued in his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction in 1863:  don't prosecute Southerners, help reconstruct the South, and readmit states when 10% of the people take an oath of loyalty to the United States.  Lincoln was more generous to the South than many in the North were.

Already Lincoln was planning for a post-War South.  His plan for readmitting southern States to the Union (that is, readmitting their representatives to Congress) was issued in his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction in 1863:  don't prosecute Southerners, help reconstruct the South, and readmit states when 10% of the people take an oath of loyalty to the United States.  Lincoln was more generous to the South than many in the North wanted to be.  The North, after all, had substantially '''''more''''' casualties in the Civil War than the South did.

The Civil War continued.  The Union (North) had a lucky break when the Confederacy (South) lost its best general, perhaps the finest ever in American history:  "Stonewall" Jackson.  A brilliant teacher, General Jackson earned his nickname "Stonewall" in July 1861, when he led the famous "Stonewall Brigade" from the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia against the Union at the Battle of 1st Manassas.  There he and his unit withstood attack after attack by the Union Army, and emerged victorious against all odds.  "Look, there stands Jackson like a stone wall" against the assaults, it was said.  In May and June of 1862, Jackson led a brilliant military campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, winning at Front Royal, Winchester, Cross Keys and Port Republic.  But tragedy struck him a year later at the Battle of Chancellorsville when, at 9pm on May 2, 1863, he was accidentally fired upon by his own soldiers who mistook him for the enemy as nighttime made it difficult to see.  Known as "friendly fire," such incidents have caused a loss in life of many figures throughout history.  He died soon thereafter, and the Confederacy lost its most brilliant and daring commander.<ref>http://www.vmi.edu/archives.aspx?id=4933</ref>

But the Civil War was far from over.  The Union (North) had a lucky break when the Confederacy (South) lost its best general, perhaps the finest ever in American history:  "Stonewall" Jackson.  A brilliant teacher, General Jackson earned his nickname "Stonewall" in July 1861, when he led the famous "Stonewall Brigade" from the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia against the Union at the Battle of 1st Manassas.  There he and his unit withstood attack after attack by the Union Army, and emerged victorious against all odds.  "Look, there stands Jackson like a stone wall" against the assaults, it was said.  In May and June of 1862, Jackson led a brilliant military campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, winning at Front Royal, Winchester, Cross Keys and Port Republic.  But tragedy struck him a year later at the Battle of Chancellorsville when, at 9pm on May 2, 1863, he was accidentally fired upon by his own soldiers who mistook him for the enemy as nighttime made it difficult to see.  Known as "friendly fire," such incidents have caused a loss in life of many figures throughout history.  He died soon thereafter, and the Confederacy lost its most brilliant and daring commander.<ref>http://www.vmi.edu/archives.aspx?id=4933</ref>

Meanwhile, the Union Army (the North) was under new command after the firing of McClellan in late 1862, and it began winning battles against the Confederacy in 1863.  The key turning point occurred around July 4, 1863 in two different locations:  Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (July 1-3) and Vicksburg, Mississippi (July 4).  The losses of the South on those days have been described as "mortal blows."  It was Ulysses S. Grant who led the Union to victory at Vicksburg, and geographically that had the huge impact of cutting the South in half.

Meanwhile, the Union Army (the North) was under new command after the firing of McClellan in late 1862, and it began winning battles against the Confederacy in 1863.  The key turning point occurred around July 4, 1863 in two different locations:  Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (July 1-3) and Vicksburg, Mississippi (July 4).  The losses of the South on those days have been described as "mortal blows."  It was Ulysses S. Grant who led the Union to victory at Vicksburg, and geographically that had the huge impact of cutting the South in half.

1864 was an election year for the presidency, and McClellan ran against Lincoln.  Early in the year it looked like McClellan would win.   

1864 was an election year for the presidency, and McClellan ran against Lincoln.  Early in the year it looked like McClellan would win.   

"Copperheads" were northern "peace" or pacifist Democrats who opposed Lincoln's war efforts against seceded South, and they supported McClellan.

"Copperheads" were northern "peace" or pacifist Democrats who opposed Lincoln's war efforts against the seceded South, and they supported McClellan.  Quakers in the North, for example, would have likely supported McClellan rather than Lincoln.

But the Union Army started to win on the battlefield, and the more it won, the more popular Lincoln became among voters.  Union General William Tecumseh Sherman really broke the back of the South's morale and will to fight.  General Sherman brutalized Georgia by destroying everything in a 60-mile-wide path from Atlanta to the ocean, known as his "March to the Sea" in late 1864.  To this day some southerners are bitter about this destruction, which Sherman justified a way to crush the opponent and end the way.  To the South, General Sherman was as evil as a modern-day terrorist, and the popular movie ''Gone With the Wind'' decries the excessive hardship caused by Sherman and the Union troops.

But then the Union Army started to win on the battlefield, and the more it won, the more popular Lincoln became among voters.  Union General William Tecumseh Sherman really broke the back of the South's morale and will to fight.  General Sherman brutalized Georgia by destroying everything in a 60-mile-wide path from Atlanta to the ocean, known as his "March to the Sea" in late 1864.  To this day some southerners are bitter about this destruction, which Sherman justified a way to crush the opponent and end the War.  To the South, General Sherman was as evil as a modern-day terrorist, and the popular movie ''Gone With the Wind'' decries the excessive hardship caused by Sherman and the Union troops.

Lincoln was still worried about possibly losing the presidential election in 1864, and he even replaced his current Vice President with a Democratic southerner, Andrew Johnson, in order to help attract Democratic voters.  Lincoln wanted to appease voters (including the Copperheads) who were tired of the war, and broaden his support.   

Lincoln was still worried about possibly losing the presidential election in 1864, and he even replaced his current Vice President with a Democratic southerner, Andrew Johnson, in order to help attract Democratic voters.  Lincoln wanted to appease voters (including the Copperheads) who were tired of the war, and broaden his support.   

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 they 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 they could vote by mail while away from their voting booths.

Lincoln showed his "moderate" political views by vetoing the [[Wade-Davis bill|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 State to take an oath of loyalty stating that they had always been loyal to the United States, before the State could be readmitted.  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 showed pro-South views by vetoing the [[Wade-Davis bill|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 State to take an oath of loyalty stating that they had always been loyal to the United States, before the State could be readmitted.  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 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.

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

== Surrender ==

== Surrender ==