Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator

Even though he naively believed that white men were the supreme race, he was staunchly against slavery as an institution and felt that the Declaration of Independence included black persons. In the same debate, Lincoln goes on to state that he “[does] not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the Negro should be denied every thing” (Lincoln). He believed that ‘the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,’ as outlined in the Declaration of Independence, applies to all men, regardless of their color, ethnicity, or culture. This may be attributed to the fact that he had not had many encounters with Black slaves until when he was in his late teens, where it had a profound impact on him (Foner 8).

o Lincoln 's reputation as the great emancipator rests largely on his emancipation proclamation, an executive order which went into effect on January 1st, 1863. This order ostensibly freed all the slaves in territory currently rebelling against the United States, i.e. in areas where the US government had no authority to free slaves. This is rather like the United States announcing that, from here on out, North Korea would be ruled by Lady Gaga. Sure, it 's a great idea, but it 's not really your jurisdiction. In areas where the US did have the authority to free slaves--the border states and some of the areas of the Confederacy that had been effectively conquered and occupied by federal troops, those slaves were not freed. So Lincoln

In Virginia September,1858, he gave another speech in which he stated that he had never had the intention of bringing together the social and political equality of white and black races. He believed in having the superior role assigned to the whites (Doc 1&2). Noting that these two speeches were irreconcilable, Lincoln’s strategic way of telling the north and south what they wanted to hear conveys how his prosperous mechanism in being elected would give him the title of being a “great” leader. His reluctance for creating the Emancipation Proclamation was more for a political basis than anything else. Lincoln was afraid of losing support from the border states and the northern democrats. Lincoln did try to execute a more compromising structure of the emancipation, much like colonization and compensation. Furthermore, playing politician and bribing others manifests the great lengths he took to get the job

Lincoln wanted freedom and equality for everyone no matter the color of their skin or the race they were born. Lincoln wanted everyone to have the same rights because he didn’t believe in inequality. According to a speech give in July 1858 Lincoln stated,

All in all, there’s evidence surrounding the fact that Lincoln did this to get his name out there and build his image to the world. Additionally, in one of his speeches, he openly talks about his feelings towards African Americans and proves that at some point in time, his view on African Americans wasn't positive and he thought poorly about them. On October 13th, 1858 Lincoln delivered a speech to Stephen A. Douglas, in which he stated “that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermingling with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which will ever forbid the two races living together in terms of social and political equality.” This excerpt from his speech goes to show that Lincoln doesn't believe African Americans should be seen as equals. The.

Lincoln was not only disinterested in racial equality, but he was in favor of keeping salves as slaves he thought African Americans to be inferior. He says it himself, “There is a physical difference between the two, which, in my judgment, will probably forever forbid their living together upon the footing of perfect equality” (11). Here it is straight from Lincoln’s mouth that he does not believe that blacks and whites can be equals. He is saying that because of their physical differences that they will not be able to coexist, but somehow he is credited with the freeing of slaves? This is absurd. Later in the statement he states “I have never said anything to the contrary” (11). Here he sets it in stone that he has never said anything to the effect that blacks and whites could live together equally. There is nothing in this man that would free the slaves, but we see him now as the one who did.

He still did not think blacks should have the right to vote, hold political offices, or marry white people. He also still believed physical differences between the two races would prevent them from living together socially and politically (186). Lincoln was against whites benefitting from slave labor and did feel that blacks should be able to benefit from the fruits of their own labor. According to Dinesh D’Souza in her article “Abraham Lincoln: Tyrant, Hypocrite, or Consummate Statesman”, he was not, however, an abolitionist. Abolitionists wanted an immediate end to slavery and believed the rights of slaves should not be compromised and that they “had a duty to defend freedom, unreservedly, and careless of the consequences” (3).

Lincoln was always against slavery. He never thought of slaves as better than white Americans, but still thought they should be considered as equal to the law. Lincoln agreed with the founding fathers' phrase “All men are created equal,” which he also thought that it should have applied to black and white people. “The Declaration and the Constitution enshrined these rights: the right to ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’. In essence, to Lincoln this implied the right to be free, to enjoy the fruits of his labour, to have a family and to acquire property.”

The main reason Abraham Lincoln was called "The Great Emancipator" was on the grounds that he marked the Emancipation Proclamation. Other than that he didn't need anything to do with the slaves. As indicated by Mackubin Owens (2004) it should make every one of the slaves free however it just liberated slaves where the concentrated had no force. It neglected to apply the slaves inside of the dependable slave states or in those components of the Confederacy underneath Union administration. To be sure, Lincoln neglected to free the slaves; they liberated themselves (para 4).

In school we are taught that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves. This statement is reinforced continuously throughout our education, beginning from the time we are in elementary school to when we are in high school. However, it’s never really expounded upon when taught. The discussion never goes further than ‘Abraham Lincoln enacted the Emancipation Proclamation and thus freed the slaves’, but is still able to instill the implication that he did so out of his own moral values and that life for ex-slaves was better for it. The truth of the matter is actually the complete opposite. The emancipation proclamation was a purely political decision that instead of truly freeing the slaves, only served to keep them bound.

Abraham Lincoln was a Great Emancipator because of his use of important american documents, his belief that preserving the union would only be possible with freeing slaves, and how his views on slavery and the civil war, connected with politics and religion.

A president, a change, and ender of slavery, are three words that describe Abraham Lincoln. Many people knew that Abraham was the person who ended slavery, but he was so much more. As a well known President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln shown Americans that slavery was unfair for society, eventually making new laws and the Emancipation Proclamation, ending slavery. Abraham left his legacy as a person who was willing to help others and convince Americans to be fair and stop slavery. The childhood of Abraham Lincoln was very different for Lincoln because of what happened during his childhood, such as the fact that Lincoln’s parents were hardworking pioneers without education, and because about 90% of the people had to work, as shown

Lincoln believed that he had “no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists.” Lincoln continues and says, “I believe that I have not lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so” (Majewaki, pg. 70). Lincoln was a humble politician. He in no way wanted to endanger the unity of the nation.

Abraham Lincoln helped in many ways to the end of slavery, but one way was The Emancipation Proclamation.It purported to change the federal legal status of more than 3 million enslaved people. It also proclaimed the freedom of the slaves in the ten states at that time. And lastly It made the eradication of slavery an explicit war goal in addition of reuniting the Union. It was issued

Lincoln was a commander in his presidency and especially during the civil war. He “freed” the slaves, it