The political landscape significantly affected the life of Abraham Lincoln, particularly during the tumultuous period leading to the Civil War. Rising tensions over slavery and states’ rights dominated national discourse. Lincoln's election in 1860 as a member of the Republican Party further polarized the nation and led to the secession of Southern states. His leadership during the Civil War emphasized the preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery, culminating in the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln’s presidency exemplified the profound impact of political issues on governance and societal change.