The Great Emancipator
It is common for Many historians and Americans to think as Lincoln as the president who fought for social equality, and freed all salves therefore believe he is entitle to to deserve the title of the great emancipator. There has been enough historical support that President Lincoln primary objective to fight in the American civil war (1861-1865) was not to fight to end slavery but fight to restore the union of the country. Abraham Lincoln was a great president during the civil war but whether or not he deserves the the titles of the great emancipator is another matter.
Under the definition of emancipator, which means to free ( a slaves) from bondage
Abraham Lincoln did believe that slavey was morally wrong and went agains the Declaration of Independence. "As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy."The fiery Trial by William E. G, has chosen from Lincoln's speeches and writing of the Abraham Lincoln of the sixteen president of the u tie states.
Evidence and brief studies of Lincoln writings and speeches on slavery contain examples of Lincoln view on slavery. Racism was a common at the time of his term and though Lincoln never showed bad treatment towards slaves however, this brief writing of Abraham Lincoln on slavery shows that he felt that African Americans could never be equal with white. "I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races -- that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them t...
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...tant as to preserve the union.
In conclusion, to think that slavey was the only factor that Abraham Lincoln fought the civil war which killed more Americans than any other American war when in reality his main goal to fight in the civil war was mainly for the purpose of keeping the union together. Abraham Lincoln gets too much credit for the freedom of slaves when he did not care whether African American received freedom. Lincoln does not deserve credit as to give him the accolade of the "The Great Emancipator" If civil war it self was not 100 percent about slavery to begin than neither should Lincoln accolade as "the great emancipator" I would prefer to give him a give him the title of the "Great president" instead for everything he did accomplish in his one term as president of the United States of America before his assassination
This is supported by Document I which stated, “...I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong...” This quote shows Lincoln’s true state of mind and how he is really the Great Emancipator. Yet in Document B he clearly states, “...I am not nor never have been in favor of bringing about in any way, the social and political equality of the white and black races...” This quote counters the fact that Lincoln actually wanted to free the slaves. If he was truly anti-slavery he would have never said such a thing about leaving slavery the way it is. By saying he didn’t want to free the slaves, it tells us that Lincoln isn’t really the Great Emancipator.
Throughout history we often see Abraham Lincoln as a great president, whose words and action inspire people throughout the nation to change the mindset of how we think about the importance of human lives regardless of race and ethnic groups. His journey toward changing the people perspective on the moral issue of slavery is no easy task to accomplished. But his action however, it did leave an everlasting impact for many African American that being chain by the cruel acts of slavery to experience freedom for the first time. And his Lincoln’s legacy would inspire other individuals to take a stand on their ideas and fight for the freedom of our fellow man. Individuals, such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr take pride on their belief to fight for the equality their race and to unite the nation as one. In the book “The Fiery Trial” by
Abraham Lincoln's position on slavery was the belief that the expansion of it to Free states and new territories should be ceased and that it eventually be abolished completely throughout the country. He believed simply that slavery was morally wrong, along with socially and politically wrong in the eyes of a Republican. Lincoln felt that this was a very important issue during the time period because there was starting to be much controversy between the Republicans and the Democrats regarding this issue. There was also a separation between the north and the south in the union, the north harboring the Free states and the south harboring the slave states. Lincoln refers many times to the Constitution and its relations to slavery. He was convinced that when our founding fathers wrote the Constitution their intentions were to be quite vague surrounding the topic of slavery and African-Americans, for the reason that he believes was because the fathers intended for slavery to come to an end in the distant future, in which Lincoln refers to the "ultimate extinction" of slavery. He also states that the men who wrote the constitution were wiser men, but obviously did not have the experience or technological advances that the men of his day did, hence the reasons of the measures taken by our founding fathers.
Lincoln an outspoken challenger against expansion of slavery, defied and articulated in his campaign issues that supported and encouraged slavery and this made him rise up the political ladder to become one of most powerful president that the American has ever had. According to Angle, et al, 1992, Lincoln has consistently been voted by scholars as the greatest Presidents of the time and history.
Reading Lincoln’s first Inaugural Address, one wouldn’t think he would be the president to end slavery.Speaking on outlawing slavery, he says,“I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.” At the time, Lincoln wasn’t worried about slavery,
In a speech that Lincoln gave prior to his presidency, we can see how ambiguous his stance on slavery truly was. This speech, known as the ‘House Divided’ speech, was given on the 16th of June, 1858, and outlined his beliefs regarding secession, but did not solidify the abolition of slavery as his main goal. Lincoln states that the nation “could not endure, permanently half slave and half free,” and that the slavery will either cease to exist, or will encompass all states lawfully (Lincoln). At this point in his life, Lincoln’s primary concern is clearly with the preservation of the nation.
In his speech, Frederick Douglass made it clear that he believed that the continued toleration and support of slavery from both a religious and legal standpoint was utterly absurd when considering the ideals and principles advocated by America’s forefathers. He began by praising the American framers of the Constitution, an...
President Lincoln has had numerous achievements, such as ending slavery, modernizing the economy, and preserving the Union. Lincoln is famously known for ending slavery. He issued the Emancipation of Proclamation. The presidential proclamation was issued during the American Civil War. Lincoln stated in his speech, "I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of states, and henceforward shall be free."
Then, once the Civil War began, he was merely trying to preserve what was left of an unstable union. The true “Emancipators” of slavery lie in the grass roots people of that time, the abolitionists, Frederick Douglas, and the slaves themselves. The slaves earned their freedom. Lincoln was merely a man who let the events of his era determine his policy. “I claim not to have controlled events but confess plainly that events controlled me.”
There is no doubt that Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as one of the great American presidents. The general public, when asked about Lincoln, will often tell the tale of a great man. Holding their head high, they will embark on the journey of a benevolent leader, praising the man who envisioned a new America: a great country of racial equality, and the pillar of human liberty. There are some, however, who have quite the opposite view.
While Abraham Lincoln detested slavery and personally believed that the coloured people of America deserved full legal status, he was a politician and his priority was always keeping America unified. Lincoln abhorred slavery, and thought it a great evil both morally and from the standpoint of what it had done to the country; he considered it the biggest problem with America. While he did believe that African Americans were an inferior race and did not want to grant them full equality, he was absolutely determined that the constitution should apply to them just as much as any white citizen of America. In his time as a senator and Presidential nominee, and for a while after becoming President, his priority was simply to stop the spread of slavery and keep it within its current boundaries. Over the long term, Lincoln did not believe the two races could live together and as a Senator considered shipping African Americans to Liberia, which he abandoned after realizing it was extremely impractical and a death sentence to those it was supposed to free.
Abraham Lincoln’s original views on slavery were formed through the way he was raised and the American customs of the period. Throughout Lincoln’s influential years, slavery was a recognized and a legal institution in the United States of America. Even though Lincoln began his career by declaring that he was “anti-slavery,” he was not likely to agree to instant emancipation. However, although Lincoln did not begin as a radical anti-slavery Republican, he eventually issued his Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves and in his last speech, even recommended extending voting to blacks. Although Lincoln’s feeling about blacks and slavery was quite constant over time, the evidence found between his debate with Stephen A. Douglas and his Gettysburg Address, proves that his political position and actions towards slavery have changed profoundly.
In addition, Lincoln felt bad about slavery and wanted it to end “because it prevented the Negro from eating the bread which his own hands earns” according to author Stephen B. Oates as noted in “Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation”. But after he lost the 1858 Senate contest to Douglas. He realized that his way of thinking is not going to help him with presidency so he put the thought of freeing the slaves out of his head. According to article “Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation” Lincoln “ he repeated
No doubt, famous historical figure Abraham Lincoln was a key figure for the United States during its Civil War. Whenever he’s spoken of in the educational system, he’s known as the man who freed the slaves. During Lincoln’s presidency, he implemented an order that would forever affect the slaves and the outcome of the Civil War. On September 22, 1862, he released the preliminary announcement for the Emancipation Proclamation. It eventually went into full effect on January 1st, 1863, during the second year of the Civil War. As President Lincoln signed the proclamation on New Year 's day in his office, he quoted, “I never felt more certain, that I was doing right, than signing this paper.”
The title “Great Emancipator” has been the subject of many controversies. Some people have argued that the slaves themselves are the central story in the achievement of their own freedom. Others demonstrate that emancipation could result from both a slave’s own extraordinary heroism and the liberating actions of the Union forces. However, my stance is to agree that Abraham Lincoln deserves as “The Great Emancipator” for his actions during and following the Civil War. His personal beliefs had always been opposed to slavery. He believed that the Founding Fathers had put slavery on the road to extinction, and he wanted to continue it down that path. Lincoln acted very professional;