Abraham Lincoln was a very brave man who sacrificed it all to keep the United States as one country union. I think he knew very well what he was up against. Without his bold leadership and other highly skilled union leaders the south would be a much different place today, and America wouldn't be close to as powerful as it is today. Its unfortunate that Whig President Zachary Taylor died so soon. He was a great leader in Key West, FL that kept slavery and confederates out. The leaders of the confederacy eventually gained control of our monetary system in 1913 at Jekyll Island. This was their great revenge in my belief. But if it wasn't For Lincoln, there would have been 2 countries so we are extremely fortunate he was able to win that war.