Abraham Lincoln: a true American that made the United States a more unified nation, and a more peaceful place to be. Lincoln was a man of great wisdom and determination, and these traits are what made him into one of the greatest peacemakers of the time. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, a reconstruction plan, helped in ending the horrible Civil War, and many other great things in which made him such a remembered peacemaker. Abraham Lincoln was born Sunday, February 12, 1809, in a log cabin near Hodgenville, He was the son of Thomas and Nancy and he was named for his paternal grandfather. Thomas Lincoln was a carpenter and farmer. Both of Abraham's parents were members of a Baptist congregation which had separated from another church due to opposition to slavery. As Abraham grew up, he loved to read and preferred learning to working in the fields. He was the only president to have a patent: Lincoln invented a device to free steamboats that ran aground. On November 6, 1860, Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the United States, beating Democrat Stephen A. Douglas, John C. Breckinridge of the Southern Democrats, and John Bell of the new Constitutional Union Party. He was the first president from the Republican Party.Lincoln is regarded by many Americans as the greatest president to ever hold office in the history of the United States, and his reputation is definitely well deserved. Lincoln wasn't scared to stand up and fight for what he knew was right. He was convinced that within the branches of government, the presidency alone was empowered not only to uphold the Constitution, but also to protect, and defend it. He was able to lead our country and preserve the Union, keeping the United States from splintering during the devastating times of the Civil