Abraham Lincoln, Research Paper Example

The notion of Abraham Lincoln as “The Great Emancipator” in most respects is quite appropriate.  Lincoln did much to end slavery for African-Americans in the United States, as it can be seen from his rise to presidency, to work in the Civil War.  However, while Lincoln certainly deserves much credit, he was not open to equality between the two races, as he has expressed.

Early Opposition to Slavery

Before his presidency, Lincoln can be seen to have a consistent opposition to that of slavery.  Lincoln’s “Peoria Speech” prior to his decision to run for United States Senate in 1854 is demonstrative of this:

[The Kansas-Nebraska Act has a] declared indifference, but as I must think, covert real zeal for the spread of slavery, I cannot but hate it. I hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slavery itself. I hate it because it deprives our republican example of its just influence in the world — enables the enemies of free institutions, with plausibility, to taunt us as hypocrites — causes the real friends of freedom to doubt our sincerity, and especially because it forces so many really good men amongst ourselves into an open war with the very fundamental principles of civil liberty — criticizing the Declaration of Independence, and insisting that there is no right principle of action but self-interest.

Basler 255

This stance would serve as Lincoln’s position towards slavery on his way to becoming president.

Later in 1858 Lincoln ran for Senate, which brought about the important Lincoln-Douglas debates of the same year.  This famous political debate demonstrated the two politicians’ views on slavery, where Douglas followed the Freeport Doctrine in allowing settlers to decide on slavery.  Although Lincoln lost, he won political supporters (Cawardine, 89-90).

1960 Election

The 1960 Presidential Election revealed much regarding Lincoln’s views.  Previous to these events, it must be clarified that Lincoln, at least politically, was specifically against the expansion of slavery.  He was not necessarily an abolitionist, of course until this time, in which his stance was further clarified.  Lincoln, in expressing a Biblical analogy, believed that a house divided would not stand, to which he applied to slavery in the United States.

Lincoln was elected the 16^th President of the United States on November 6, 1860.  He won primarily on the strength of Northern support.  There were growing fears as to succession in the United States if he was elected president, which accounted for his lack of support, combined with his stance on slavery.

Lincoln had some conflicting views following the 1960 election.  He stated that slavery could remain in states in which slavery was present, yet rejecting its expansion.  These conflicting views were most likely politically motivated.  Lincoln wanted to preserve the Union, although he was certainly reaching aforementioned views of abolition.

Secession of the South and the Civil War

Southern states made their intentions clearer as Lincoln’s election became more eminent. By 1861 seven states declared themselves a new nation, known as the Confederate States of America: South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas (Donald 267).  The Confederacy selected Jefferson Davis as their provisional President on February 9, 1961.  The Confederacy was established by the time Lincoln took office, and had to follow the failure of the Peace Conference of 1961.  For Lincoln, not wanting to engage in a hostile solution, he waited for an attack to reach the Union first.

The start of the Civil War became apparent for Lincoln, when on April 12, 1861, Union troops were shot at and subsequently forced to surrender.  Further states threatened secession, with only Virginia seceding from the Union.  Still politically motivated, Lincoln promised not to interfere with states such as Delaware in slavery.

The Emancipation Proclamation and the 13^th Amendment

One of the monumental occurrences with Lincoln to slavery was the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.  Put into effect on the first day of 1863, Lincoln was the key figure to free slaves in areas which were not under Union control, allowing Union armies to liberate Confederate territory.  Lincoln utilized the liberation of the slave states as a war goal, upon which he would build.

Lincoln continued building upon this with the 13^th Amendment.  The 13^th Amendment permanently abolished slavery throughout the United States.  Before his death the amendment passed in early 1865.  Before the death of the great president, Abraham Lincoln saw the execution of his stance against slavery in the United States.

Racism in Abraham Lincoln

“The Great Emancipator” of Abraham Lincoln has a great deal of validity.  However, we cannot carry the extent of this title beyond its denotative power, in that of the emancipation of African-Americans.  Lincoln had ended slavery in his time as a president, yet he is also believed to have been racist.

Generally it must be noted that Lincoln’s stance against slavery was not in account of the situation, at least not prominently.  Lincoln held these views for the good of the Union.  He truly did not believe that half of the country should have slavery, which accounts for his views.

In the same discussion, Lincoln should be given credit for his stances against slavery.  Although they began and originated in what was good for the Union, Lincoln also expressed the rights of African-Americans in the United States.  However, as we get into the racism of the great president, we cannot exempt him from his racist views.

Abraham Lincoln’s racist views were documented.  Although some believe that the upcoming references were to that of political strategy to gain voters, most attribute this to Lincoln’s racist views.  Of course, while Lincoln had racist views, this is not to undermine his pivotal role in the elimination of slavery and in the way Lincoln stood up for the rights of blacks, at least to some extent.

The extent ended in the suffrage of African-Americans for Lincoln.  A speech in Columbus, Ohio in 1859 placed Lincoln against suffrage.  From the 1858 debate Lincoln also reinforces these views quite blatantly:

I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races – that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And in as much as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.

Lincoln

Certainly Lincoln was not supportive of the suffrage of blacks.

The racism of Lincoln puts a negative into his successful efforts for the freedom and rights of blacks in America.  Although he later gave some support in his second term to suffrage for blacks, Lincoln still demonstrated racist tendencies.  In 1865 he supported a type of “limited” suffrage for blacks.  Lincoln was advocating suffrage for more intelligent blacks who were integral to the nation.

Conclusion

Lincoln could definitely be considered “The Great Emancipator.”  His views towards the emancipation in the United States were clear before he rose to prominence in the United States.  Lincoln boldly held to emancipation in the country throughout his terms as president, leading to the important Emancipation Proclamation and the 13^th Amendment.

Lincoln however did not seem to hold these views for the rights of blacks, at least in regards to equality.  The primary motive for emancipation seems to have been for the good of the nation, to keep the Union strong, according to Lincoln.  While Lincoln did support the rights of blacks, they were not seen to be found within a morality to that of equality of blacks to whites.  The Union seemed to be more important than that of equal rights.

Although “The Great Emancipator” could be attributed to Lincoln, he was quite racist.  Regardless of context, we cannot attribute this title beyond what he did, in that of emancipation.  Yet Lincoln still is an incredibly important, though racist, figure in the opposition to slavery in the United States.

Works Cited

Basler, Roy. Abraham Lincoln: His Speeches and Writings. Cleveland: De Capo Press, 2001. Print.

Carwardine, Richard. Lincoln. Harlow, Britain: Pearson, 2003. Print.

Donald, David. Lincoln. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1996. Print.

Lincoln, Abraham. “Fourth Joint Debate at Charleston. Mr Lincoln’s Speech. Lincoln, Abraham. 1897. Political Debates Between Lincoln and Douglas.” Bartleby.com. Web. May 23, 2010.