Lincoln & Slavery Lincoln’s views on slavery were complex and sometimes contradictory. He opposed slavery and felt that slavery was morally wrong, yet he was not an abolitionist and did not make decisions to enforce the immediate end to slavery or to incorporate slaves as equal members of society (A&E Television Networks, LLC, 1996-2014). His highest priority at the time was to save the Union believing that it should not be divided by the slavery issue and although he did not approve of slavery, he did not necessarily want it abolished either (Schaefer, 1997). Lincoln had a difficult time figuring out how to handle the slavery issue politically, stay true to the Constitution, and appease both the north and south; all while keeping the Union intact, which was his highest priority. Prior to the Civil War, Lincoln did not want slavery to be allowed in western expansion efforts and although he opposed slavery, he thought it should remain in the southern states where it was already established and had a strong foothold.
Lincoln was associated with this name because he opposed slavery expansion in his debates and speeches before getting elected in 1860. Lincoln viewed that African- Americans should have rights, but whites were and always would be the superior race. Therefore, Lincoln was not an equalitarian. He didn’t agree with the reality that white people could enslave blacks or darker skin toned individuals. He states, “If A. can prove, however conclusively, that he may, of right, enslave B.
He took it upon himself to “pick up” right where he left off. However, Lincoln’s principles changed according to the circumstances of the times. Lincoln was against the extension of slavery under moral, economic and social circumstances. His judgments and beliefs and viewpoints can be questioned and are very contradictory. Lincoln believed that blacks were entitled to the same rights as other men and citizens.
The Fugitive Slave Act increased the tension between the North and South. Impassioned northern abolitionists, strongly against the Fugitive Slave Act and slavery, revolted against this southern sought rule and dispatched warnings for the slave fugitives (Doc. C). Among the turmoil that began to befall America, any more conflicts would make the south vulnerable to secession from the union. A freesoiler did not approve of the expansion of slavery but did not mind keeping
Jefferson believes that slavery should be abolished because not only did it deprive the Black’s right to liberty, it also undermined the self control white men had to self republic. However, Jefferson felt that if the blacks were to be excluded from the nation and immediately removed from the Country if they were to be freed. The reason Jefferson wanted Blacks to get exported from the country was because he feared that they would retaliate with hatred from all the suffering they have endured from the power and merciless force of the white men. Jefferson not only feared the blacks, he also
On the other hand, Martin L King believed in non-violence and integration. MLK organized “sit-ins” which consisted on black people to go into shops where colored people weren’t welcome and just sit there as a peaceful protest. Malcolm criticized Martin on this because he believed that these actions weren’t making any successful impact. These events are what differenced Martin L. King from Malcolm X. I approach more to MLK’s cause because he wanted integration between different races without any usage of violence from their part. He wanted to achieve this by peacefully breaking the unjust laws, which was a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.
In practice, then the Emancipation Proclamation didn’t immediately free a single slave, as the only places it applied were places where the federal government had no control. Slaves were not solely freed off the fact that enslavement was “morally wrong” but it was practical. Lincoln himself said "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without
For instance, they raised questions on racism and race. Many white abolitionists practiced racial prejudice even though abolitionism was termed as a strong interracial movement formed in the U.S. therefore the abolitionists aimed at ending racial segregations which prevailed in the nation. Differences occurred between the white and black abolitionists on the issue of race and how they could overcome social and institutional racism. Some of them campaigned for a society which was colorblind whereby race was not to be acknowledged in any way and that it didn’t matter anywhere. While other abolitionists argued that racial differences and race were not to be ignored, and they had to be given acknowledgement
Articles to satisfy the North’s desire for the end of slavery were written as to appease the South’s need for it. There were provisions made for the continuation of slavery or else the delegates from the South would not accept the Constitution as there were provisions made for the North so not the alienate those opposing slavery. The document was written in vague enough terms to leave it open for debate later on issues that could not be satisfactorily resolved at the initial drafting. Agreements was reached to later draft and ratify a bill of rights for the people of nation by the federal government that was uniform throughout the county instead of relying on each individual state’s bill of rights. The framers then proceeded to distribute the draft of the Constitution to the states will all accepting the document.
“Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.” One side rather to make war while the other side accepted war and that’s what started the war. The South wanted slavery to end. Lincoln also says that we all share the quilt of slavery. The South unjustly asks a “just God’s assistance” in unjustly stealing the efforts of others. Adam’s curse was the bread from the “sweat of other men’s faces”.