By nearly every measure Abraham Lincoln was the central f...

By nearly every measure Abraham Lincoln was the central figure of the Civil War: his election to the presidency precipitated the secession of the Southern states, while in his role as commander-in-chief he led the Union to victory. Using Burlingame’s book, examine this role. How did Lincoln’s personality shape his presidency? How was it reflected in his management of the war? To what degree did it aid or hinder the Union war effort, and how?