Robert W. Merry's Where They Speak

This clearly shows that Lincoln was not out for the Negro but just to preserve the union. He says in many other debates that he thought the Negro had a physical difference from the white man as well as an intellectual difference (Lincoln-Douglas, n. pag.). Lincoln was considered by many in the south to be a bigot, a white supremacist who wanted segregation and opposed civil and political rights for blacks (Oates 21). Stephen B. Oates talks of many of the theories in his book, like that many southerners concluded that Lincoln was with them in the matters of race (22). Many of these examples show that Lincoln was a hypocrite of some sorts. He would appeal to the southerners by making statements that led them to believe that he was against the Negro. Yet he was writing the emancipation proclamation that was supposed to free all of the slaves. This also is debatable that the proclamation freed any slaves at all. The emancipation proclamation is looked at by some as one of the most far-reaching pronouncements ever issued in the United States (Oates 25). Also it is said that the proclamation freed few if any bondsman (Oates 26).

The author says that defenders and supporters of Lincoln can always back up his remarks with a redeeming quality. Lincoln admitted his feelings of racial equality; instead he always stated the feeling of white people. He didn’t always carefully construct his answers when speaking about his position of certain topics, although he tried. Lincoln wanted all questions about race removed from all discussion. His strategy to do so was to agree with the Democratic Party that there was no equality between blacks and whites. He used racism strategically to eliminate it. Lincoln did admit that he was in support of colonization because he truthfully believed that blacks and whites could not live together equally. To a man like Frederick Douglass, what Lincoln and the Republicans stood for was disjointed. And to me, while this may have all been a strategy for Lincoln, I feel it necessary to take Douglass’ side of the issue.

Although Lincoln was opposed to enslaving the African Americans, it is possible that he may never have considered them equals. In the late 1850’s, Lincoln was known to have a similar theme in his speeches, where he made it clear to the people that he did not consider the blacks to be an equal race. He wanted to set them free, but Lincoln wanted to have them shipped off to Africa rather than have them live within the union. In his 1858 campaign in Illinois for the Senate against Stephen Douglas, Lincoln spoke to his listeners and said:

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.”

History is flooded with important leaders and figures. Some of the best leader’s America has ever seen are Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. Jefferson played an incredibly important role in the foundation of America. In his two terms he managed to cut the national debt and military in half, and expand the country itself by more than half with the Louisiana purchase. Jefferson was able to do these things because he had such a strong head on his shoulders - he had firm beliefs and refused to back down from them. While it may be argued that Jefferson did go against his word most of the time, his pride allowed him to act against what he preached because he knew his actions would be successful. President Lincoln is best known for the addition of the 13th amendment to the constitution and the emancipation proclamation, ending all slavery in

Abraham Lincoln once said to George Robertson “‘Can we, as a nation, continue, together permanently—forever—half slave, and half free?’ The problem is too mighty for me. May God, in his mercy, superintend the solution.” (Hobson, 1912) This he wrote in a private letter in 1855. It was another year before Lincoln felt ready to think about saying the same thing in a way that would be really heard. He made his position clear September 18, 1858, stating “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,” going on to say that he opposed blacks having the right to vote, to serve on juries, to hold office and to intermarry with whites. (Mintz, S., & McNeil, 2016) The Civil War in the United States was inevitable. The great sectional differences between North and South were far too great, and the main reason for these differences was the fact that slavery underlay both the southern economy and society. No one, not even Abraham Lincoln could dispute the growing gap between the nation at that time.

accuse Lincoln of being a lover of the Negro race. Lincoln vehemently denied the charge by

Abraham Lincoln has gone down as one of the most prominent presidents in the American history, from his Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, to his assassination. Having to deal with some of the most troublesome times in the History of America, as president, Abraham did “to the best of my [his] ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States,” (Source B) in hopes to combine the North and South to once again become a United Nation. However, the status of African Americans in relationship of Lincoln must be analyzed further, as it was a crucial aspect of his presidency and distinction as “The Great Emancipator.” Although Lincoln was “ naturally anti-slavery,” (source B) he viewed it

One reason I that this book is a great read is that it is easily a readable book for any person who is looking for a general reference for presidential history. The unique perspective given by the wide verity of authors provide the reader with a great historical importance that each president had on the office is another aspect that makes this book worth reading. Finally, the most surprising aspect that made this book a decent read is that the authors did somewhat succeed on their attempt to provide a well-balanced and un biased ranking of the presidents through survey of professional scholars. Although, there are a few more aspects to this historical and political work that makes it a great read there are flaws that make this book’s ranking of the presidents a little questionable. The first and most likely the hardest to see is that the many authors that wrote the essays of each president did not agree with the survey results while some did. The second flaw is that not every president up to George W. Bush is represented on the ranking appendix on pages elven and twelve. The authors mention that presidents George W. Bush, the ninth president William Henry Harrison, and 20th president James Garfield is not being represented on the chart (pg. 12). George W. Bush not being the chart is understandable because this survey and information gathering did take place before his election, but the other two are being left out for the reasons of short terms (pg. 12). I

Grant” that provides some insight on his policy on race. Robert Bruce Slater asserts that “Almost all U. S. presidents held strong white supremacist views,” by listing notable quotes of past presidents comments. In one occurring during the 1858 debate, Abraham Lincoln said, “I am not, for ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races. There is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality.”

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass both were very influential advocates in favor of the rights of people of color. Both fought for what they believed in and had many ways of getting their point such as talking about topics that can relate to the reader which makes them feel more attached to the story. Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’s use of pathos in their speeches work to make their argument stronger because they want to appeal to the reader’s emotions to rally support for their cause. In his speech “Second Inaugural Address” Abraham Lincoln reminds them that they all read the same bible and all pray to the same God. They have the same religious beliefs and that is one major factor that shows that slaves were not different from

The North viewed every soul as equal while the South believed that white men were created superior to all blacks, no matter the historical background of the person or the reputation he carries. In the Declaration of Independence created when the United States was born, one of the most important line states 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.” Because the Declaration of Independence does not specify that only white men are created equal, the inference can be made that men of all races are automatically given the same rights, opportunities, and the unalienable rights. While the North adheres to this quote set forth by the founding fathers of America, the South clearly rejects men’s equality as proven in Stephen’s Cornerstone Speech. In the speech, the south would consider any argument the North makes regarding equality if, and only if, “the negro is equal.” Directly subsequent to this claim, the South counters any arguments by mentioning that the premise in which abolitionists base their philosophy is fallacious, which translates to ‘Blacks are created inferior to whites, so any argument regarding whites’ and blacks’ equality is automatically deemed invalid.’ This adamant mindset that Southern

Douglass’s resolute anti-slavery oratory soon made him the most famous black man in America. However, his obligation to the immediate and total abolition of slavery in America was red hot, but had no interest for anyone who could be temporizing on the issue. And that was Frederick Douglass’s problem with Abraham Lincoln. “Douglas had the blustery, oversize persona of a nineteenth-century Romantic. When he spoke, he roared, his booming baritone complemented by waving arms and devastating mimicry (p.90).”

Abraham Lincoln - Great Emancipator or Racist? Being an emancipator means to free a slave from bonage. Someone being racist means that the person in question believes their race is superior to other races. There are many debates whether Abraham Lincoln was actually racist or the great emancipator he is known for. While there is evidence that he may have been racist, there is also plenty of proof that states the contrary.

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).