Who was President during the Civil War?

Abraham Lincoln was the President during the Civil War, which occurred from 1861 to 1865. He played a crucial role as a leader during this tumultuous period in American history, striving to preserve the Union and advocating for the abolition of slavery. Lincoln's commitment to these causes was evidenced by pivotal actions such as the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all enslaved people in Confederate states were to be set free.

The other figures mentioned, while significant in their own right, were not presidents during the Civil War. Ulysses S. Grant was a key Union general during the war and later became President, but he did not hold the office during the conflict itself. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson served as Presidents before the Civil War, with Washington being the first President of the United States and Jefferson being the third. Their presidencies occurred long before the onset of the Civil War, making Abraham Lincoln the only correct answer to this question.