The Power of the Presidency
One theme of Across Five Aprils is that the presidency is a powerful position and an exceptional leader is needed to keep a country together during war. Abraham Lincoln is thought of by many as the best president in United States history. He was the leader who led the U.S. through the Civil War and brought back the Union. In Across Five Aprils, Lincoln is shown as a wise leader who does not want to declare war and is quick to forgive the south once they have been defeated, even when it causes him to be criticized. He then becomes a role model for Jethro, and Jethro writes to him about the deserters like Eb, and the President’s reply shows that he has been thinking about this. This creates a permanent link between Jethro and the President, and Jethro is truly heartbroken when the President is killed by an assassin at the end of the story.
Abraham Lincoln is mostly remembered for his important role as the leader in keeping the United States together during the Civil War. He is also remembered for the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in the United States.
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After 7 states seceded from the Union, war was inevitable. Lincoln made the decision to fight not because of his beliefs about slavery, but because he felt he had the obligation to protect the Union at all costs. The Civil War began when the South attacked Fort Sumter, South Carolina, on April 12, 1861. Lincoln was blamed for the attack with his decision to resupply the fort, which had become an outpost for a hostile nation. The Southern navy then fired the first shot of the war at Fort Sumter. A 34 hour battle ensued, forcing the defenders to