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Abraham Lincoln Dbq Essay

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Name: NISSI EKANEM

Date: 05/08/2018

CRN: 58679

DBQ ESSAY

Abraham Lincoln and the Struggle for Union and Emancipation, 1861–1865

Even though Abraham Lincoln is remembered as the president that "abolished" slavery, it is also important to remember that there were two sides of the story. “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; and if I could do it by freeing some and leaving others, I would also do that”. This quote is from Abraham Lincoln's letter to newspaperman Horace Greeley. Abraham Lincoln was a politician, and the president of a country that seemed to be falling apart at the time. Lincoln's number one goal was to preserve the …show more content…

Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation to "free" the slaves. This would weaken the southern work force, since the south's economy was sorely based on slavery. Freeing slaves not only weakened the south, it also strengthened the North because it gave black slaves the chance to fight for their "freedom" in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment of 1863, which recruited black soldiers that was of great service to the Union. Not only did the 54th's add to their number, but their service, especially at Fort Wagner changed the course of the war. So, putting one and two together, it is easy to conclude that Abraham Lincoln set the slaves free to preserve the union. "Ordering the slaves free" was a war strategy. If there was another way of preserving the union that did not involve freeing any slave, he would have gone for …show more content…

Lincoln spoke to the committee to buy their side, so they can support the Emancipation. At that time, the American Civil war was already in place and was going on and he had just announced the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. He put forward the fact that freeing the slaves would weaken the Southern forces or what he called "rebels" because the slaves were their laborers and freeing them would reduce their numbers and ultimately tilt the scales for the North. Lincoln doubted arming the blacks because he felt the fire arms would end up with the South and that they did not even have enough arms to "equip their white

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He says, “If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them.” This persuaded the border states to stay with the North because the only issue they had was keeping slavery. In addition, when to publish the Emancipation Proclamation was an issue, but Lincoln was told not to do so. He waited to publish the Emancipation Proclamation after a victory because if he issued it after a loss, he would have seemed

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If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union (35).’ This letter is very important because it contradicts everything that Lincoln said in his First Inaugural Address just seven months before this was written. In his address he stated that he didn’t have the authority from the constitution to interrupt slavery, but after the letter he was willing to ignore the whole Constitution and emphasize more or less powers in the dictatorship.

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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.

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