Lincoln: the Great Emancipator

With this knowledge Congress passed Major General Benjamin F. Butler quick thinking into a policy, the First Confiscation Act, in August of 1861 which stated that the federal government had authority to seize any property owned by the Confederates which included slaves. By March the following year, an Article of War was produced which prohibited any military or naval services from returning run-away or fugitive slaves to their respective masters, nullifying the Fugitive Acts all together. When the Second Confiscation Act was announced in July of 1862 it “declared ‘forever free’ Confederate-owned slaves who made their way to federal lines or who resided in rebellious territory that fell to federal forces” (Luke and Smith 2014, 14). Also in the bill, was the legitimisation of the “president to utilise ‘persons of African descent’ in any way that he considered ‘necessary and proper for the suppression of the rebellion’” (Luke and Smith 2014, 14). Thus the Militia Act of July 1862, which “gave Lincoln carte blanche” (Luke and Smith 2014, 14) to make use of black resources. Although these acts were issued with the intention of blacks serving as military labour it gave way to many possibilities.

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 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.

The Civil War of the American had led to the major change to the American society in general and also the status of black Americans specifically. During the period prior to the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln had contributed not only his ideal but his passion of a nation in which every person is created equal based on the Declaration of Independence. Lincoln was elected president in 1860 and started his plan on freeing the slaves and also to put an end to the American Civil war in order to reunite the States through the Emancipation Proclamation. His ambitious of emancipating the slaves and reunite the nation are the importance factors that helps Abraham Lincoln deserves his accolade of “The Great Emancipator.”

In the beginning, many refugee slaves found by Union Military were returned to their lives in the south, but through policy changes and leadership decisions they were put to work in many ways including serving in the Union Army. Lincoln quickly recognized the power the newly recruited slaves provided to the Army. At the same time, this also pressured the President to hold true to his promise of emancipation. “If they stake their lives for us they must be prompted by the strongest motive…the promise of freedom. And the promise being made must be kept” (McPherson pg.8)

Never boring: simple words that describe the simple life of one of the greatest American Heroes of all time. Over the years we have come to understand the Great Emancipator’s struggles and his determination to push for a better future for his nation. In the blink of war, Lincoln came to the nation’s rescue. But was Lincoln really the Great Emancipator? Was Lincoln actually opposed to the slavery movement? Or did he not consider the blacks to be an equal race? Did he make an active effort to free the slaves? Or was the emancipation a never Lincoln’s priority? In my opinion, although freeing the slaves was never Lincoln’s top priority during his tenure as president, Lincoln was

As Confederates used slave labor for military purposes and blacks began to escape to Union lines, this initial policy of ignoring slavery became untenable. By the end of 1861, Union commanders had begun treating escaped slaves as “contraband” of war—property of military value subject to confiscation. Southern blacks themselves took actions that propelled the Union toward ending slavery. Well before Lincoln’s Emancipation Act, slaves saw the war as an opportunity to gain their freedom. Thousands escaped to the safety of Union lines, crippling many plantations. In areas occupied by northern soldiers, slaves refused to work unless paid.

Although slavery is no longer an issue in the modern era, it was an important predicament from 1776 to 1852. This conflict split America in half, those for slavery and those opposed to slavery. As time passed, the opposition to slavery grew tremendously. Starting with America’s Declaration of Independence where it states “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Starting with the creation of America, there have been those opposed to slavery, holding the Declaration of Independence as a weapon against it specifically because “all men are created equal.”

President Lincoln permitted blacks in 1862 after the passage of the second Confiscation and Militia Act which freed slaves whose masters served in the Confederate Army. Freed blacks volunteered to enlist and join the Union army. Moreover, the emancipation proclamation act, freed slaves in rebel states, encompassed abolition as one of the aims of civil war and it was

President Lincoln has always been a strong believer of free labor and antislavery, but he loved the Union more. Lincoln understood that liberating slaves to the war could challenge both freedom and the union. Not only that but effect military recruitment in the North. In August 1861, Union General John General John C. Fremont commanded federal troops in Missouri to emancipate on all slaves in his jurisdiction. Though Missouri was still a part of the Union, it was a slave state. This leading to a bloody battleground between the Union and Confederate. Fremont’s order surpassed the requirements of the First Confiscation Act. This Act only freed slaves who had participated in the Rebel War or who had master that were disloyal to the Union. Lincoln was furious with Fremont for not following the Confiscation Act. This caused Lincoln to cancel the order and the general to resign.

“There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude at any time after the first day of January in the year of our lord.” As the words came out African americans rejoice as they are granted their freedom or so it seems. If you are under 35 you shall not be free until then, if you are you will only have freedom until 1893(30) years, if this is what Lincoln calls “freedom” than this is a pretty sad example for it. Everyone considers Lincoln “The great emancipator” but is he really what he lives up to be with all the praise and attention on the topic? If he can’t admit the idea of the African americans than does can he really consider himself “the great emancipator?”

While in office, President Abraham Lincoln led the country through the Civil War, he is most known as being responsible for the abolishing of slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation, thus giving him the nickname of “The Great Emancipator.” Technically speaking, the Emancipation Declaration did not actually abolish slavery in itself, rather it led to the 13th Amendment, which did end slavery in January of 1865. At brief glance, the Emancipation Proclamation’s sole purpose appears to be a humanitarian effort towards the abolishment of slavery. However there were two factors to consider that can be contradictory; the first being that Lincoln wasn’t particularly fond of black people to start with; the second, is the military advantage that would present itself if the succeeded states lost ownership of their slaves.

During the Abraham Lincoln’s short time as president, he managed not only to save a nation deeply divided and at war with itself, but to solidify the United States of America as a nation dedicated to the progress of civil rights. Years after his death, he was awarded the title of ‘The Great Emancipator.’ In this paper, I will examine many different aspects of Lincoln’s presidency in order to come to a conclusion: whether this title bestowed unto Lincoln was deserved, or not. In order to fully understand Lincoln, it is necessary to understand the motives that drove this man to action. While some of his intentions may not have been for the welfare of slaves, but for the preservation of the Union,

Thus, Lincoln did not exercise enough power to truly effect the most important change. As a war president, Lincoln had unparalleled power and influence, but he did not take full advantage of them. In the video The Civil War Part 2: Crash Course US History, John Green, the presenter, states that the Emancipation Proclamation “ostensibly freed all the slaves in the territory currently rebelling against the United States. … In areas where the U.S. 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 didn't free the slaves that he actually had the power to free" (The Civil War Part 2: Crash Course US History #21). As shown in this quotation, Lincoln did not use all the power he had. Ironically, he freed the slaves that he did not have the power to, yet left slaves in the border states with the Union jurisdiction enslaved. He had the power to free all the slaves, no matter where they lived but he chose not to. This not only shows the lack of effort by Lincoln but also shows a lack of planning. In addition, the true reason why Lincoln freed the slaves is because “until he did so, those contraband slaves [who were fleeing to enter the war] were still technically property of their Southern masters and

“I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence.” Abraham Lincoln admired the declaration of independence and its founders. The Declaration of Independence was formed by the thirteen States of the confederacy. Represented by American liberty from each state. Twelve of these states where holders of slave. Abraham Lincoln legacy was for all men and women to be created equally. No matter what color or race you are, you have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It also states America’s freedom from Great Britain. What most people get wrong is that The Declaration of Independence wasn't signed on July 4, 1776. This was the date that congress Adopted