President Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He is best known for leading the country during the American Civil War, a conflict primarily over slavery and states' rights. Lincoln worked to preserve the Union and is credited with issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which began the process of freeing enslaved people in the Confederate states. Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. He had a humble upbringing and largely taught himself through reading. His leadership and vision for a united nation have made him one of the most revered figures in American history.