ipl-logo

Abraham Lincoln Abolitionist Analysis

813 Words4 Pages

Abraham Lincoln had an evolution when it came to dealing with slavery. Many believe Lincoln was an abolitionist, so what is an abolitionist? An abolitionist is one who abhors slavery in every aspect, wants slavery ended, and all rights and privileges’ of the white man given to the black man. “They didn’t care about working within the existing political system, or under the Constitution, which they saw as unjustly protecting slavery and slave owners. Leading abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison called the Constitution a covenant with death and an agreement with Hell, and went so far as to burn a copy at a Massachusetts rally in 1854.” (Pruitt, 2012) Now with the definition of an abolitionist known, we can address Lincoln’s evolution towards …show more content…

It set him apart because almost all abolitionists’ fought against the Constitutions’ dictate; abolitionists’ supported runaway slaves and were against those who would return a runaway slave. Lincoln personally did not like the hunting down of slaves to be returned to an owner. However his political support of the Constitution and the Fugitive Slave Law had to make it obvious that in the beginning, Lincoln was far from an abolitionist. 1. Also, as Lincoln ran for President in 1860 he promised to leave slavery as is, in the states that it currently existed. Lincoln did not believe that slave owners were evil; he just believed they were products of their environment. In a speech in Peoria in 1854 Lincoln said: “They are just what we would be in their situation. If slavery did not now exist amongst them, they would not introduce it. If it did now exist amongst us, we should not instantly give it up.” (Wilson, 2017) The evolution of Lincoln being considered an abolitionist was about to come full circle. The Civil War was in full swing, and The Emancipation Proclamation was about to be …show more content…

As previously mentioned the Civil War and The Emancipation Proclamation was the key to Lincolns’ coming full circle on abolition and being considered an abolitionist. Consequently, the Emancipation Proclamation did not immediately free a single slave. Yet, as abolitionist Wendell Phillips understood, Lincoln’s proclamation had moved slavery to “the edge of Niagara,” and would soon sweep it over the brink. Advancing Union troops became the agents of slavery’s destruction. “I became free in 1863, in the summer, when the yankees come by and said I could go work for myself,” recalled Jackson Daniel of Maysville, Alabama. As Lincoln now saw it, “the old South is to be destroyed and replaced by new propositions and ideas” — a system of free labor. (Henretta, 2016) In conclusion, we see that Abraham Lincoln by definition was far from being an abolitionist at first. However, we see that his evolution from letting slavery be, to limiting slavery, and finally to completely abolishing slavery had come full circle. Lincoln will go down in history as the man whom abolished slavery in America, but to call him an absolute abolitionist may be pushing the

Show More
Related

Lincoln Slavery Dbq Essay

169 Words | 1 Pages

In this Document, President Lincoln declared that all slaves in rebellion states were to be “forever free” at the issued date of the document. Although this Document did not in fact free most slaves , it was considered to be one of the most important turning points of the war, and it had preserved the fight for freedom in the nation at the time. When the Emancipation Proclamation had taken its effect, a couple million salves were freed. Lincoln, at first, had no stance on Slavery, mostly at the beginning of his term, however that had changed, and when this document was issued, it was clear that President Lincoln was not in favor of slavery. However, slavery still existed in the South (Confederate States) until there was a victor, and in this

Read More

Emancipation Dbq Research Paper

96 Words | 1 Pages

This argument is not very persuasive as Abraham Lincoln had decided to move towards the goal of emancipation as thousands of refugees and republican radicals had urged him to do so, whereas his ultimate goal was to preserve the Union as long as possible. He also stated if he could be able to save the Union without freeing any slave he would do so, or if he could save it by freeing all the slaves he would also do so. Hence, emancipation wouldn't have been his goal unless it also aided in keeping the Union togethe

Read More

Emancipation Proclamation Dbq Essay

418 Words | 2 Pages

The civil war became a different war as the gleaming sun set over the bloody fields of Antietam. After the union had partially won the battle, Abraham Lincoln changed the war as he wrote one of the most controversial, and most crucial documents in American history: the Emancipation Proclamation (Dudley 166). Mr. Lincoln’s preliminary proclamation declared that on January 1, 1863, all slaves remaining in areas of the South “in rebellion would be declared then, thenceforward, and forever free” (Dudley 167). The Emancipation Proclamation paved the way to the abolition of slavery, and is by far one of the most important accomplishments made in history.

Read More

Lincoln Racist Dbq

867 Words | 4 Pages

Lincoln talks about the union in Document G and said the following: “But you say that sooner than yield your legal right to the slave—especially at the bidding of those who are not themselves interested, you would see the Union dissolved.” If the South successfully separated from the North the Confederacy would no longer be under the control of the Union and Lincoln’s access to freeing the slaves would minimal. This “new nation” that Lincoln was trying to create and put into effect had a strong foundation based upon Constitutional rights which declare that all men are created equal. Yes, maybe Lincoln at this point wanted to keep the Union together, which can most definitely be perceived as racist too but slavery on the back burner for the time being, but in the end, he encouraged and defended the rights of all humans.

Read More

Compare And Contrast Lincoln And Frederick Douglass

815 Words | 4 Pages

Lincoln and Douglass were self-made, self-educated, and ambitious, and each rose to success from humble backgrounds. Douglass, of course, was an escaped slave. Douglass certainly and Lincoln most likely detested slavery from his youngest days. But Lincoln from his young manhood was a consummate politician devoted to compromise, consensus-building, moderation and indirection. Douglass was a reformer who spoke and wrote eloquently and with passion for the abolition of slavery

Read More

How Did Harriet Tubman Play In The Use Of The Underground Railroad

939 Words | 4 Pages

In 1808 Congress Banned any further importation of African American slaves. Then in 1831 In Boston, William Lloyd Garrison (1805-1871) Began a public anti-slavery newspaper, where ex-slave Frederick Douglass wrote his anti-slavery North star article. Which brought to many people's attention about the wrong in slaveholding. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865, the 16th President of the United States) said that any and all slaves in rebellious territories are forever free from slavery. Abraham was a Christian man, so him standing up and saying that what they were doing there was wrong, is showing that not every Christian believes that slavery was alright.

Read More

Civil War Dbq Essay

538 Words | 3 Pages

One of the most important wars in American history was the Civil War, it lead to change in beliefs and conviction in our borders. Fought from 1861 to 1865 many constitutional and social developments had to occur for our country to truly be free for everyone. Elections, conspiracies, assassinations, all to bring unity between the North and the South but also leading to a revolution. It pushed the South to rethink their belief that slavery is right and the Union to fight for the freedom that goes with being an American to all races.

Read More

Differences Between Lincoln And Frederick Douglass

691 Words | 3 Pages

Abraham Lincoln, Frederic Douglass, were one of the most appealing well-known speakers, people who did believe that slavery was morally wrong and devote their lives to fight for freedom. However, there are several differences between the view of the Constitution’s position differences between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Kansas-Nebraska Act indicated that the recognition of slavery should be determined by the decision of these residents (popular or squatter sovereignty). This act itself conflicted heavily with the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional, which was essentially seen as the admittance of slavery anywhere in the country. This act made a political issue of confrontation between North and South.

Read More

How Did Abraham Lincoln Deserve To Be The Great Emancipator

695 Words | 3 Pages

Although Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery, he did not deserve to be call “ The Great Emancipator” because he freed the slaves for war purpose, only part of the slaves were freed at first, and he did not know what to do to abolish slavery.

Read More

Civil War Dbq

734 Words | 3 Pages

Lincoln decided that he would rule slavery as illegal in new states added, but slavery would still be legal in current slave states. He could not please everyone, but this step was one that would lead to future decisions such as the Emancipation Proclamation and complete abolition of slavery by the Thirteenth Amendment. Obviously the social aspect of the issue of slavery caused a great divide in the United States, but it did lead to the unity of people in the Union, fighting for the end of enslavement, and the unity of the people in the Confederacy, fighting for slavery to

Read More

Similarities Between Davis And Abraham Lincoln

1098 Words | 5 Pages

He counties by asking everyone to object the Kansas Act and be clear on their stance. He expressed that a white man does not want to stand up for the Missouri Compromise and be considered a abolitionist; however, the nation must do what is morally correct. This is where Lincoln addresses the constitution and states we cannot hide from our beliefs like we did in the constitution; he says “ ….at the framing and adoption for the constitution, they forbore to so much as the mention of the word “slave: or “slavery” in the whole instrument….

Read More

Civil War Dbq

1682 Words | 7 Pages

His intentions were not just freeing the slaves, he was more about bringing the country back together and joining everyone. President Abraham Lincoln was against slavery, but his main concern was winning the war and bringing the North and South together again. He once wrote: “If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it.” Lincoln first off wanted to save the country before slavery, but if he could save slavery with the country he would do it. He doesn't want a separate country but the slaves to be free, he wants the country to be saved before anything, and then they could work the slaves issue after.

Read More

Frederick Douglass Abolition

395 Words | 2 Pages

The two documents “Abraham Lincoln Appraises Abolition (1854)” and “Douglass Looks Back on Abolition (1882)” refute each other on the subject of Abolition. Frederick Douglass took abolition as a very aggressive way to be against slavery while Abraham Lincoln saw it more intentionally than aggressive. Douglass was an avid abolitionist who really stretched for equality throughout blacks, females, and natives. He was apart of the newspaper The Liberator and was always making speeches on anti-slavery. Lincoln was Whig at the time of his speech but later became the leader of the Republican Party.

Read More

Was Abraham Lincoln An Abolitionist?

369 Words | 2 Pages

A common controversy in American history is the fact that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves. Many claim that he freed them with the Emancipation Proclamation but it’s more complex than that. There were many events that helped free slaves and the Emancipation was only a small portion of America’s journey to freedom and “equality”. In reality, Lincoln helped the process of freeing the slaves but, he did not do it himself. Lincoln was not an abolitionist.

Read More

Abraham Lincoln Informative Essay

514 Words | 3 Pages

This proclamation was issued to help end slavery, as Mr. Lincoln believed that slavery was very wrong. The Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery right when it was issued, as many people think, however the emancipation proclamation,"did not free all slaves in the United States. Rather, it declared free only those slaves living in states not under Union control." (pbs) The final document of the Emancipation Proclamation took effect on January 1, 1863.

Read More

More about Abraham Lincoln Abolitionist Analysis

Open Document