The Suez Canal is a man-made waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea. It enables a more direct route for shipping between Europe and Asia, effectively allowing for passage from the North Atlantic to the Indian Ocean without having to circumnavigate the African continent.
The canal was built to connect the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans for the purpose of trade between Europe and Asia. It runs from north to south across the Isthmus of Suez, it has a longitude of 120 miles. It was completed in 1869 and opened to service in 1870.
President Lincoln had a very interesting stance on the issue regarding slavery. He personally opposed slavery, however favored popular sovereignty in the western territories. He likewise opposed the spread of slavery, but surprisingly was willing to tolerate it where it already existed.