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Lincoln's View Of Readmitting The Confederate States

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As stated in the handout, Lincoln had evident and negative views on secession. He took issue with it as it was unlawful, unpractical (the states cannot physically separate from the US), and a sign that America could not uphold a democracy. So, readmitting the Confederate states would align directly with his position regarding secession. It would show that the US is united and that a government for and by the people could truly work. Naturally, it would make sense that Lincoln would be in support of readmitting the South. However, the North would take issue with this as they were fighting directly with the South during the war. Just because they got readmitted doesn t mean their values and views will change. They would still be the same people who committed the same acts of treason. …show more content…

Lincoln didn t even believe the Confederacy could leave of its own volition. They would always be legally bound to the US, no matter their beliefs. So there would be no readmission if they never left in the first place. Even if they did succeed in separating from the Union, it would show the failure of democracy. America having the first and only major successful democracy was a triumph that Lincoln was not prepared to let dissolve. He stated in his address to Indianapolis, Indiana,...constantly bear in mind that not with politicians....but with you...Shall the Union and shall the liberties of this country be preserved to the latest generation? With this, Lincoln shows how he is impartial to readmitting the Confederacy. He asks the then-current citizens of America if they consider how the absence of democracy will affect those in the future. Lincoln was not willing to let go of the milestone the South threatened to take

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