Lincoln on Slavery

Lincoln's views on slavery were further shaped by his own experiences with enslaved people. He had known enslaved people since he was a child, and he had seen firsthand the brutality of slavery. In 1857, he met with a group of African Americans who had escaped from slavery. He was deeply moved by their stories, and he vowed to do everything he could to end slavery.

When Lincoln became president in 1861, he was determined to preserve the Union. However, he also knew that he could not do so without addressing the issue of slavery. In his Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, Lincoln declared that all slaves in the Confederate states were free. This was a major turning point in the Civil War, and it helped to ensure the Union victory.

Lincoln believed that slaves deserved to be free. He argued that all people are created equal and that they have certain inalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He also believed that slavery was harmful to both the slave and the slave owner.

Lincoln's views on slavery were shaped by his own personal experiences, his religious beliefs, and his understanding of the American Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. He believed that slavery was morally wrong and that it was incompatible with the principles of democracy and equality. He also believed that slaves deserved to be free.

Did Lincoln Do Enough for the Slaves?

Whether or not Lincoln did enough for the slaves is a complex question that has been debated by historians for many years. Some historians argue that Lincoln could have done more to help the slaves, such as by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation sooner or by providing more support to the freedmen after the war. Other historians argue that Lincoln did the best he could given the political realities of the time.

It is important to remember that Lincoln was a politician, and he had to balance his personal beliefs with the need to maintain the support of the public and Congress. He also had to be careful not to alienate the border states, which were still slave states at the beginning of the Civil War.

Given these constraints, it is fair to say that Lincoln did a great deal for the slaves. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed millions of slaves. He also supported the passage of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery throughout the United States. In addition, Lincoln supported the creation of the Freedmen's Bureau, which provided assistance to freed slaves during the Reconstruction era.

Lincoln's efforts to help the slaves were not always successful. However, he did lay the foundation for the end of slavery in the United States. He also helped to ensure that the freed slaves had a chance to build new lives for themselves after the war.

My View

I believe that Lincoln did enough for the slaves given the political realities of the time. He was a courageous and principled leader who risked his own political career to fight for the abolition of slavery. He also laid the foundation for the end of slavery in the United States and for the creation of a more just and egalitarian society.

Lincoln's Views on Slavery and What He Felt Slaves Deserved to Have

Abraham Lincoln was a complex and evolving figure on the issue of slavery. He began his political career as a Whig who opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories. However, he also believed that the Constitution protected slavery in the states where it already existed.

In the 1850s, Lincoln became increasingly critical of slavery. He argued that slavery was morally wrong and that it was incompatible with the principles of democracy and equality. In his famous "House Divided" speech of 1858, Lincoln declared that "If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do, and how to do it." He went on to say that "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved—I do not expect the house to fall—but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other."