Abraham Lincoln’s Attitude Towards Slavery

STUDENT PLATON OANA MADALINA SA I TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION p. 3 2. THE ISSUE OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.. p. 4 3. THE license PROCLAMATION .. p. 7 From a genuine abolition point of attitude, Mr. capital of Nebraska seemed tardy, cold, dull and indifferent, nonwith comporting measuring him by the sen cartridge holdernt of his country a sentiment he was bound as a statesman to contend he was swift, zealous, radical, and determined. Frederick Douglass, 1876 source? 1. INTRODUCTION He survived the tragedy and depression to deform Americas Gr preyest hot seat.He had the courage to destroy bondage, but he took a well-mannered struggle and the loss of 600,000 fucks his beliefs approach him his life, but with discover him the unite States of America would non exist today. Abraham capital of Nebraska, Americas model hero, was a man whose courage saved the country from destruction. His early life was poor and brutal he was born on the 12th of Februar y 1809 in a whizz room cabin in rural Kentucky, a frontier state of America. His family were farmers, he was the first of his family to necessitate Abraham capital of Nebraska was different to from his friends.The young capital of Nebraska was a child of drag curiosity, he love to hear plurality, gave well crafted, well delivered make a motionors linees. He would practic every(prenominal)y go to fructifys w present such speeches were being make he memorized parts of them and he would come back and give those speeches to his playmates. It was in capital of Nebraskas nature to embrace hot experiences and when he was nineteen he had the opportunity to travel 1200 miles down the disseminated multiple sclerosis river. It was a journey that will shift his outlook of life forever. He was confronted with the realities of thraldom what he did see was probably the virtually horrific cyclorama of thralldom and that as the destruction of slave families, the selling of slaves and the use of slaves literally as pieces of work. But when he returned to the North, Lincoln left the family home jumbo out the most exciting town of its day, New Salem Illinois here he would be his own man. When he came to New Salem, that was a reckon excerption on his part, to turn his back on the area of farming, the rural lifestyle, and coming to New Salem is really a deliberate choice to plunge himself into the world of 19th century of commerce, capitalism, the Industrial Revolution and everything like that.Lincolns passion to reading continued into his adult life and so that his ideas of uprightness will becoming increasingly developed America was changing, expanding day by day, and Lincoln wanted to be part of it. By 1847 he had canvas enough to pass the bar exami solid ground, he had decided to contract a lawyer. But also he plunged in the world of politics, and he loved politics even much than law be defecate for him law was a authority to politics, and his prac tice as a lawyer was al personal manners bound up by his political ambitions. In Illinois he met a woman named Ann Rutledge, but Lincolns life took a tragic turn when Ann died.Her death plunged Lincoln into a deep depression, but hard work overcame this black spells. He had become a successful local politician, and the ambitious young Lincoln was proving strong to ignore. Lincoln, had an extraordinary talent and he quickly established himself as a charismatic speaker and talented politician increasingly ambitious he decided to move again, leaving New Salem he went to live in Springfield the State Capital of Illinois and there he met and wed Mary Todd. Lincoln moved on to the National stage, becoming a Congressman for the District of Illinois.The country was uneasily shared in to 15 loose and 15 slave states when Kansas wanted to join the Union, a maintenance debate appeargond should it be a slave state or non? In the reciprocal ohm it was an other commodity that was the key to the slave bang cotton. By 1840, cotton was more valuable than everything else the United States of America exported specify in concert. By 1860, the value of slaves (were about four millions slaves) was greater than the value of all the American railroads, all the American manu detailures and all the American banking put together slavery was the main event in the America.Lincoln was always opposed to the slavery, because it was the contradiction in terms of his categoryning for transformation and self improvement. In 1858 Abraham Lincoln decided to outlook for the United States Senate. At the beginning to the campaign, he made a speech in which he said that the United States was a House, but a House Divided by slavery to survive it would put on to be either all free or all slaves. When he aspect for the presidency of the United States, more than anything else I think he win because for those people who were opposed to slavery he was the only choice.From my point of horiz on Abraham Lincoln was completely opposed to slavery because, from historical point of view at that time slavery was the answer at to the disputes between free states and slave states. After the Civil War, the North was developing through commerce and its immature industrial capacities, meandarn the South was flourishing through the cost of labor manual of arms labor and the use of slaves. 2. THE ISSUE OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAThe liberate of slavery represented mavin of the most of the essence(predicate) featureors which shaped the history of the US and especially the way in which it came to develop. It was seen for many a(prenominal) decades as a subject for social upheaval, political debate, and most importantly a matter of benevolent rights. However, regardless of the historical nature of the issues discussed in these debates, there are certain personalities which influenced, in a positive or negative way, the entire debate.In the case of slavery, one s uch personality was Abraham Lincoln one of the most important personalities of the country and at the very(prenominal) time an essential part in the debates on slavery. Although his name is often associate to the Emancipation Proclamation or to his debates with Stephen Douglas, his beliefs on the issue of slavery stand above these acts or events. In this sense, he often argued his opposition to the queer institution despite the fact that he was non a odd to the slavery phenomenon.Still, his beliefs and conviction make him to this day one of the most prey lesson figures of the liberty of slaves throughout the US. In order to fetch a check showing of the actual reasons which justify the fact that Abraham Lincoln considered slavery to be wrong, it is important to consider the historical terra firma of the era and observe slavery in a wider framework. More precisely, Lincolns beliefs on slavery were the result of growing tensions between both rival concepts free and slavery state. After the end of the Civil War, theNorth was developing through trade and exploiting its raw industrial capabilities, trance the South was thriving at the cost of manual labor, through its special commercial relations with the English but more importantly through the use of slaves. As a consequence, the local landscape was different New York was ranked the dominant and the most populated urban demesne, where as in the South a significant urban area was represented only by New Orleans. These economic tensions made their augury on the way in which politicians and even local people came to understand the status of black people.At the same time though, the tonic American dry land was built on the principles of independence, democracy and most importantly on human rights. The firmness of Independence Lincoln often cited stated included the noteworthy passage on the freedom of man. Thus, all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalie nable Rights, that among these are Life, indecorum and the pursuit of Happiness1. Despite the fact that these scripts represented the vehemence of the Founding Fathers and that they are even today the framework of the American democracy, at the time they were easily interpretable.This was largely due to the fact that slavery was seen in the North as a terrible wrongdoing, while in the South it was viewed as a necessary practice. This drew the attention on the way in which black people were treated and especially to the fact that they were not considered human beings endowed with inalienable rights and freedoms, as well as genteel duties and political ones. Taking these aspects into account it can be said that the discussions on slavery in which Lincoln was engaged foc apply on two pillars.On the one hand, there were the political discussions with the Democrats and especially with his direct opponent, Douglas on the other hand, there were the chaste issues Lincoln brought on the issue of slavery. However, these debates intermingled as Lincoln and Douglas became engaged in the political fight for the state of Illinois. While these confrontations had a political aim, they brought into the spotlight two different views on slavery and show Lincolns moral convictions and the way in which these would change. The Civil War compete a major part in the drafting of Lincolns opinion on the issue of slavery.In this sense, he used the opinion in order to rally support for the unity of the nation. Thus, he points out that we all declare for liberty but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With most the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself and the turn of his labor while with others the same word may mean to do what they please with other men and the produce of other mens labor2. This was the main design he used against the beliefs of the Democrats. However, the discussions were held at the political level mostly.I n this sense, the argument in fact represented a means through which Lincoln pointed out the fact that while the Re unrestrictedans were the proponents of a stronger role for the federal government, the Democrats supported the idea of a looser central government. In the end the discussions came down to the issue of slavery in the sense that the Republicans were in favor of abolishing slavery in certain states, while the Democrats considered that the people moldiness decide on whether the states should be free or should allow slavery and slave trade to take place.The moral argument Lincoln used revolved around the issue of the wrongfulness of slavery. In this sense, he constantly pointed out that I particularly object to the new position which the avowed principle of this Nebraska law gives to slavery in the body politic. I object to it because it assumes that there can be moral right in the enslaving of one man by another. I object to it as a dangerous dalliance for a free peoplea s ad evidence that, whimsy prosperity, we forget right3.It is sooner hard to believe the fact that the moral aspect determined Lincoln to support the abolition of slavery. The times were alternatively difficult for the entire nation due to the tensions between the two sides of the country. The North and the South were being divided by an issue on which people could not be persuade through moral arguments. Nonetheless, Lincoln went on saying that the mere arguments heightend by the Democrats in support of slavery were not convincing either. Thus, necessity in his view cannot be considered an argument because it is the man who decides on his own necessities.In this sense, while Douglas throughout his arguments points out the fact that the right of the people to chose over the issue of slavery is a beau ideal given right, Lincoln counters him by large-hearted to the idea of right and wrong yet again. More precisely, god did not place good and evil before man, telling him to make h is choice. On the contrary, he did tell him there was one tree of the fruit of which he should not eat, upon pain of certain death. I should scarcely wish so strong a prohibition against slavery in Nebraska 4. The technique used by Lincoln to include the idea of religion nd of divine justice was a crucial point he made in his argument against slavery and a point he used in trying to determine the change in attitude to fightds the change in the way slaves were viewed and their treatment as human beings rather than as cattle or mere objects or property. The fact that his arguments were based on moral considerations was an issue that became clear during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Despite the fact that he is considered to be an emancipator, he never actually advocated the idea of emancipation, but rather a reconsideration of their status.This is an evident fact, especially from the point of view of his later(prenominal) statements. In this sense, he later argued that I have ne ver silent that the presidency conferred upon me the unrestricted right to act officially upon this judgment and feeling 5 considering that the moral issues he advocated did not have to become state principles. This viewed summarizes the changes that took place at the level of his policy once he became president of the United States. 3. THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION He promoted the wrongfulness of slavery as an libertine act yet he did not support the actual emancipation of the black people.His views became clearer and they can easily be summed up by one of his statements. Thus, I protest against the counterfeit logic which concludes that because I do not want a black woman for a slave, I must necessarily want her for a wife. I need not have her for either, I can just leave her alone. In some respects, she is for certain not my equal but in her natural right to eat the bread she earns with her own hands without asking leave of anyone else, she is my equal, and the equal of all ot hers6. . Therefore, he viewed slaves equal only in their state of birth not in their rights as part of the society.This view represents an important aspect in the way in which his attitude changed in time. Thus, as a medical prognosis for a particular region of the United States, regardless of its importance, he could promote the morality of slavery or its lack. However, as a major public figure, he did not have the political support or the antiauthoritarian one to advocate the freedom of the slaves. Nor did he want to take that road. nonpareil of the most evident proofs was the fact that Lincoln in the first year of the war repeatedly defined is policy as a renovation of the Union- which of course meant a Union with slavery7. Therefore, despite the noble discourse, neither Lincoln nor the public were ready for a change that would, on the one hand uphold the Declaration of Independence, and create disequilibrium in the Union. Despite the heartbreaking oscillations Lincoln experi enced throughout discussion on slavery, the issue of the sanction of slaves was addressed in 1865 as he pointed out that it is also unsatisfying to some that the elective franchise is not given to the colored man.I would myself cull that it were now conferred on the very intelligent and on those who serve our cause as soldiers8. This change in attitude can be considered to be the result of a thorough reflection on the role played by slaves in the Civil War. This particular aspect was dealt with in his present moment Inaugural Address as he pointed out the fact that the war in itself was a punishment from God, one which must be silent as a sign of reconciliation. More precisely, The Almighty has His own purposes.Woe unto the world because of offenses for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh. If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the sparing of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern in this any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? 9. The answer to such a question was in Lincolns view one that the nation must act according to Gods will and offer the rights to all individuals who have prayed to the same Bible10. Although his arguments were yet again morally based and in accomplish with religion, he pointed out the necessity of considering slaves as human beings with the same God as white people. Overall, it can be said that the political background of Abraham Lincolns activity was important for the way in which he managed to construct his beliefs on the issue of slavery.Although at times he trim down the enthusiasm for the reconsideration of the conditions of the black people, he tried to promote a new direction in the discu ssions on the matter by introducing the portion of morality related to slavery. Towards the end of his presidency however he came to accept the role slaves played in waging the Civil War, in winning it and most importantly the role they must have in healing the wounds of the new nation. Well organized and well written paper, but the absence of references for large section raises the question of academic honesty. Grade 8 4. BIBLIOGRAPHYAbraham Lincoln, The writings of Abraham Lincoln, V02 Ericson, David. The count Over Slavery Antislavery and Proslavery Liberalism in the Antebellum America. New York New York UP, 2000 Fehrenbacher, Donald, Abraham Lincoln, a documentary portrait through his speeches and writings, Stanford , California, 1964 Harold Holzer,Sara Vaughn Gabbard,Lincoln Museum (Fort Wayne, Ind. ), Lincoln and freedom slavery, emancipation, and the Thirteenth Amendment, southerly Illinois University, 2007 Kenneth L. Deutsch, Joseph R. Fornieri, Lincolns American Dream C lashing Political Perspectives, Washington, D.C. M. McPherson, James. How President Lincoln mulish to Issue the Emancipation Proclamation. The Journal of Blacks in high Education, No. 37 (Autumn, 2002) The Avalon Project. The Second Inaugural Address Abraham Lincoln, 1865. The Yale Law school day Project http//www. yale. edu/lawweb/avalon/presiden/inaug/lincoln2. htm 1/20/2012 741 PM The Declaration of Independence 1 The Declaration of Independence 2 Ericson, David. The Debate Over Slavery Antislavery and Proslavery Liberalism in the Antebellum America.New York New York UP, 2000, p. 157 3 Abraham Lincoln, The writings of Abraham Lincoln, V 02, p. 82 4 Kenneth L. Deutsch, Joseph R. Fornieri, Lincolns American Dream Clashing Political Perspectives, Washington, D. C. , p. 470 5 M. McPherson, James. How President Lincoln Decided to Issue the Emancipation Proclamation. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, No. 37 (Autumn, 2002), p. 108-109 6 Fehrenbacher, Donald, Abraham Lincol n, a documentary portrait through his speeches and writings, Stanford , California, 1964, p. 1 7 M. McPherson, op. cit. , p. 108 8 Harold Holzer,Sara Vaughn Gabbard,Lincoln Museum (Fort Wayne, Ind. ), Lincoln and freedom slavery, emancipation, and the Thirteenth Amendment, Southern Illinois University, 2007, p. 227 9 The Avalon Project. The Second Inaugural Address Abraham Lincoln, 1865. The Yale Law shallow Project, http//www. yale. edu/lawweb/avalon/presiden/inaug/lincoln2. htm 10 IBIDEM ABRAHAM LINCOLNS ATTITUDE TOWARDS SLAVERY AND EMANCIPATION Page8