Abraham Lincoln as Emancipator

Paper Summary:

The paper shows how the political background of Abraham Lincoln's activity contributed to the formation of his beliefs on slavery. The paper discusses the two elements of Lincoln's discussions on slavery, namely the political discussions with the Democrats and the moral issues. The paper shows how, although at times he reduced his enthusiasm for the emancipation of the black people, he introduced the element of morality related to slavery. The paper then shows how after the Civil War he came to acknowledge the role slaves must have in healing the wounds of the new nation.

From the Paper:

"The issue of slavery represented one of the most important factors which shaped the history of the US and especially the way in which it came to develop. It was seen for many decades as a subject for social upheaval, political debate, and most importantly a matter of human rights. However, regardless of the historical nature of the issues discussed in these debates, there are certain personalities which influenced, in a positive or negative way, the entire debate. In the case of slavery, one such personality was Abraham Lincoln one of the most important personalities of the country and at the same time an essential part in the debates on slavery. Although his name is often related to the Emancipation Proclamation or to his debates with Stephen Douglas, his beliefs on the issue of slavery stand above these acts or events."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ericson, David. The Debate Over Slavery: Antislavery and Proslavery Liberalism in the Antebellum America. New York: New York UP, 2000.
• Fehrenbacher, Donald. Prelude to Greatness: Lincoln in the 1850s. Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 1962.
• Jenkins, P. (1997). A history of the United States. New York: Palgrave.
• Lincoln, Abraham. "Last Public Address. April 11, 1865". Lincoln Home National Historical site. N.d. 1 June 2008 http://www.nps.gov/archive/liho/slavery/al18.htm
• Lincoln, Abraham. Abraham Lincoln's Speech at Peoria, Illinois,In Reply to Senator Douglas,16 October 1854. 1 June 2008 http://medicolegal.tripod.com/lincolnpeoria.htm

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