What was one important action taken by Abraham Lincoln?

Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation was a pivotal action in American history, as it declared that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. This executive order, issued on January 1, 1863, not only aimed to weaken the Confederacy during the Civil War by disrupting its labor force but also provided a moral impetus for the Union’s cause. It signified a shift in the purpose of the war, framing it as a fight not just for the preservation of the Union but also for human rights and the principle of liberty. The Emancipation Proclamation laid the groundwork for the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States, which was formally accomplished with the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865. This transformative action remains a cornerstone in the struggle for civil rights and equality.