What is one notable action taken by Abraham Lincoln?

Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation is a landmark action in American history, as it marked a pivotal moment in the fight against slavery in the United States. Issued on January 1, 1863, during the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation declared that all enslaved people in the Confederate states were to be set free. This executive order not only transformed the character of the Civil War by making the abolition of slavery a central goal but also allowed for the enlistment of African American soldiers into the Union Army, ultimately incorporating their fight into the broader struggle for freedom and equality.

The Emancipation Proclamation was a strategic military move as well, aimed at weakening the Confederate states' ability to sustain their war efforts. It also set the stage for future legislation towards civil rights, influencing the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States entirely. This historic proclamation remains one of Lincoln's most significant contributions to American society and its values of freedom and justice.