Abraham Lincoln is famous because he was the 16th president of the United States, served from 1861 to 1865, and led the country during the American Civil War. He has become one of the most well-known presidents in American history because of his leadership during this time period and his great speeches, which included the Gettysburg Address.
Lincoln was a strong believer in democracy and equality for all people—he believed that everyone should have equal rights, regardless of race or gender. During his presidency, he helped pass legislation to end slavery in America.
Lincoln led the country through some of its darkest days: the Civil War broke out when southern states seceded from the Union after Congress passed laws that would end slavery in those states (the South). He issued an executive order freeing slaves in these states on January 1st, 1863—a controversial move at the time because many people thought it would cause more problems than it solved by causing civil unrest among blacks who were now free but didn’t know how to survive without being slaves anymore!
Lincoln’s assassination sparked an outpouring of grief across the country. In response to this tragedy, Congress passed legislation designating February 12th as a national holiday honoring Lincoln’s birthday—it has been celebrated every year since then. Also in response to Lincoln’s death, many monuments and memorials were erected throughout Washington D.C.; these include several statues that stand outside of the White House and a memorial dedicated to him at Gettysburg National Cemetery.
