...Alex McKirgan DATE \@ "d MMMM y" 17 December 2014 Is Lincoln deserving of the title “Great Emancipator” In 1863, Abraham Lincoln passed both Emancipation Proclamations in Congress which saw the abolition of slavery. Many would refer to Lincoln as the “Great Emancipator” because of his role in the passing of such a profound bill and a common belief by many is that Lincoln was in favour of the abolition of slavery right from the beginning. However, there is much evidence to show that Lincoln was not opposed to slavery given his his support for the Crittenden Doctrine, which restricted the ability for Congress to ever intervene with slavery. In addition to this, Lincoln was paralysed as President as any substantive opposition to Slavery could see another wave of secession of the border and Southern states. Lincoln was not the only factor which lead to the Emancipation Proclamation being passed. There was the role of Congress in allowing the bill to pass and the role of the slaves themselves for making the abolition of Slavery a Union war aim. This essay will explore the roles played by these three factors and then deduce whether Lincoln is deserving of this title. It can be argued by many that the main reason why the thirteenth amendment was passed was because of the role of the slaves at the time. The civil war created a chaotic scene across the border and Southern states which allowed many slaves to flee to the North as refugees. Despite Northern racism and bigotry...
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...not Abraham Lincoln was great leader has he had clarity of vision. He was the 16th president of United States in 19th century. During his tenure, he did many things as a president. For example, he helped in the “Civil War”, delivered many important speeches and letters to try to unite the Union. However, he is highly remembered as the president who freed the slaves from slavery (Foner 70). There is argument whether Abraham Lincoln deserves the title “The Great Emancipator?” To many the question is very controversial especially among the historians as some support that he deserve the tittle and others dispute that he do not (Foner 82). In this regard, the focus of this essay is to discuss why Abraham Lincoln deserves the tittle “The Great Emancipator.” Abraham Lincoln view over the slavery was the same from that time of presidency until his death. According to him, he knew that blacks and whites are not equal but wanted every race to have freedom from slavery. Constitution did not allow him to abolish slavery despite being...
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...The Great Emancipator ‘Emancipator’ is defined as one who frees from restraint or power of another-words which accurately describe Abraham Lincoln. Most well-known as the president who freed slaves in America, it is debated whether Lincoln deserves the title: “Great Emancipator”, or contradictorily, a racist. Various actions of his may today be viewed as racist, but presentism alters our outlooks today, as Lincoln was the man who freed the mistreated race. Firstly, right as Lincoln’s political career was about dead, the Kansas-Nebraska Act brought him back. The Act stated people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska were allowed to vote if they wanted slavery. In Lincoln’s Peoria Speech of 1854, he voiced his utter hatred for the Act....
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...As President, Abraham Lincoln often stated his wishes on ending slavery, but frequently claimed he could not violate the constitution. In a letter to Senator A.G. Hodges, Lincoln said that “It was in the oath I took that I would to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the constitution”(Doc. H). Lincoln insisted that it was his job to support the constitution but in the end he violated it. In 1862, during the Civil War, Lincoln released the Emancipation Proclamation, a document that declared “all persons held as slaves with said designated states… are and henceforward shall be free.”(Doc. G) Lincoln violated the constitution by ordering confederate states to free their slaves. The confederate states did not have to free their slaves because the Emancipation Proclamation violated the constitution. Lincoln’s order didn’t do anything for the African-Americans held as slaves and just further angered the south. This shows Lincoln was just another politician and not...
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...The Real Lincoln: A new look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War by Thomas J. DiLorenzo is about America’s 16th president and if he was the president that nearly all of today’s youth is taught he was. The Real Lincoln: A new look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War is extremely eye-opening and exposes truths that myself, and I’m quite sure most of America is unware of about the so-called “the Great Emancipator”. Just as Walter E. Williams addresses in the foreword, “...the war between the States was not fought to end slavery. Even if it were, a natural question arises: why was a costly war fought to end it?” (x). DiLorenzo had a goal in mind when writing this book and after reading I found he thoroughly...
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...Jared Varley Dr. Morgan HST 390 24 September 2012 Abraham Lincoln’s Political and Moral Slavery Dilemma The sixteenth President of the United States of America, the Great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln casts quite a historical shadow over any other competing figure. Lincoln was brought into the world on February 12th, 1809 to an incredibly modest upbringing in which he would mold himself into a successful lawyer and later a politician. Abraham received little formal education during his childhood, eventually acquainting himself with the law through the apprenticeship system. After rising through the Illinois legislature structure, Lincoln went on to serve in the House of Representatives on behalf of the state of Illinois before gaining widespread recognition from his debates with competing Senate candidate Stephen A. Douglas in 1858.The expansion of slavery into the United States new territories was the hotly contested issue of these debates, Lincoln’s stance would eventually propel him into the national spotlight and later the Presidency. Abraham Lincoln’s views on slavery were split between his political obligations and his moral beliefs, his political actions were influenced by his desire to preserve the Union, and his moral stance on the issue largely stemmed from his deep-seeded belief in the power of the Constitution, not the political or social equality of another race. Abraham Lincoln’s view on slavery was segregated in itself, between how he perceived the issue...
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... Abraham Lincoln is one of the most important presidents of the United States. Lincoln was born in 1809 in a log cabin in the backwoods of Indiana. He is raised by his very humble and uneducated parents. When he was about seven years old he began to help his father build a farm out of what was known as a “wilderness” of the backwoods. Although he went to school for a few months, he mostly learned from personally studying to gain basic knowledge of reading, writing and mathematics. With the attitude to learn and achieve knowledge Lincoln was able to enter a legal profession at the age of 27. This would start his long journey to presidency. Out of everything I have learned about Abraham Lincoln there are three important things that should be known about him. The first thing is that Abraham Lincoln is known as the Great Emancipator because he on January 1st 1863 would issue an order that “all persons held as slaves within any state or designated part of a state, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States , shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” This is known as the Emancipation Proclamation. This would free African American slaves from within the confederacy and allow government recognize and maintain this freedom. This also opened the Unions intent to recruit African American soldiers. Fredrick Douglass would later describe Lincoln as “Swift, Zealous, radical and determined” to end slavery. The Second thing is that Lincoln built the...
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...There is a great difference in opinion on who was the strongest American president. Three canidates up for debate as some of the strongest are Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. While these men all had some less then shining spots on their ledgers, they were all men of great metaphorical stature, (Lincoln however, could be considered both metaphorical and literal,) and had achievements that, had they not happened, the United States may not be the same place it is today. Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth president of the United States. He is best known for his leadership during the American civil war and his actions against slavery ( source #1). Had he not been as bold and steadfast in his opinion for abolition...
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...AMH2010 Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator Throughout the history in the United States, there were many historical figures that contributed to the success of America and its establishment. One of the most important historical figures to ever take presidency in the United States was Abraham Lincoln. He has greatly influenced the world through his accomplishments and perspective on humanity that will forever have an impact on the world today. Lincoln had many achievements throughout his years of office, but is remembered for his essential role as the leader in preserving the Union during the Civil War and beginning the process of the Emancipation Proclamation that later ended slavery in the United States (Miller). Not only was Lincoln remembered for his great character and leadership, but also for his great determination and perseverance. To begin with, Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in Hodgenville, Kentucky. He was born into a backcountry family who moved to Indiana when he was seven. His parents were Thomas, a carpenter by trade and a farmer out of necessity, and Nancy Hanks. He had a sister, Sarah, who was two years older and a brother who died in infancy (Miller). When Abraham was nine years old, his mother tragically died, leaving him in the care of only his father, who, within the year of his wife’s death, remarried a widow, Sarah Bush Johnston. All throughout his childhood, Lincoln had to struggle to make a living and learn as well. He lived as a farmer, working...
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...bloodiest of all American wars, the political rivalry between democrats and republicans was not curtailed. In fact, the impending election in 1864 would heighten tensions, and the methods that would be utilize to besmirch and defame the opposing party, in some respects, were unorthodox. President Lincoln was campaigning for his second term and his democratic opposition were seeking to discredit him by any means possible. One of the primary methods utilized was to attack his supposed love for the recently freed African-Americans. The “great emancipator” was condemned and criticized by many for emancipating the slaves, and not supporting a regime that promoted a racial hierarchy and white supremacy. The war that had begun in order to save the Union had been transformed into a war for African American liberty, and to many, that was unacceptable. The democratic opposition worried that this new caste of Freedmen would become a powerful force, one that could potentially alter the entire social structure of American society. Moreover, the opponents to emancipation and black equality were also concerned with the sanctity and purity of white blood and many feared that another term under Lincoln would mean that “compulsory marriage of white and black had finally become the main plan in the republican platform.” To that end, two New York City Democrats devised a plan which they believed would reveal that the “mongrelization” of America, or the amalgamation of races, was indeed the...
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...Sl Slavery after the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865 Kristina Kacanski HIST1030 – Life, Love, and Labour Prof. Rogers 211-565-827 "In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free - honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth. Other means may succeed; this could not fail. The way is plain, peaceful, generous, just - a way which, if followed, the world will forever applaud, and God must forever bless." – Abraham Lincoln1 Throughout the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, he managed to accomplish many great things. However, the greatest feat he managed to procure was in 1865, specifically, the Emancipation Proclamation. Even though his life was cut short 7 months prior to the officially ratification of the 13th amendment, he was and will always be known as the driving force behind this movement. 2 "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." (13th Amendment)3 So with the new amendment came a new tide of change. Right? Not according to most Southern states that refused to collaborate with the new adjustment. The question we can pose is “why did race continue to be a fundamental social problem in the United States after the abolition of slavery in 1865?” Throughout the research paper, the answer will hopefully be uncovered...
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...name, one man who stands above all the rest. Abraham Lincoln has come to define the American experience. His beginnings as a poor farmer in Kentucky to his rise in politics to his Presidency, his story fascinates everyone who reads and studies it. Abraham Lincoln is the epitome of what America is. He is Americas most cherished and beloved President and he may be the most well known American President in the world. Despite all the praise bestowed upon Abraham Lincoln there are those who do not buy into the ‘official’ Lincoln legacy. A small, but growing group of Lincoln detractors claim that Lincoln was not the father of freedom and liberty, the great emancipator and the savior of the union; they see Lincoln as a diabolical dictator. A man who took advantage of America in its darkest hour, a man who had no respect for the Constitution, he instead sought to destroy and undermine it every chance he got. Abraham Lincoln was President during America’s darkest hour; he saved the union and kept the country together. Lincoln was justified in the actions he took, despite attempts to paint Lincoln as a tyrannical dictator there is no question that Lincoln’s status as America’s greatest President is deserved and true. During his Presidency Lincoln met fierce opposition. This is not uncommon among Presidents; they are commonly held in higher regard after they leave office than when they are in office. However, the opposition Lincoln met tended to be intense and passionate. His policies...
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...Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States and is regarded as one of America’s greatest heroes due to both his incredible impact on the nation and his unique appeal. He rose from humble beginnings to achieve the highest office in government. Lincoln’s distinctively humane personality and historical role as savior of the Union and emancipator of the slaves created a legacy that endures. His eloquence of Democracy and insistence that the Union was worth saving embody the ideals of self-government that all nations strive to achieve. He was born in Hardin County, Kentucky to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln. Lincoln and his family moved from place to place due to a land dispute in 1817 when they moved from Kentucky to Perry...
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...Abraham Lincoln Through the course of American history there are names that stand out, names that represent more than just a person, but represent an era in American history. The list of important and influential figures in American history is too long and numerous to list. Yet there is always one name, one man who stands above all the rest. Abraham Lincoln has come to define the American experience. His beginnings as a poor farmer in Kentucky to his rise in politics to his Presidency, his story fascinates everyone who reads and studies it. Abraham Lincoln is the epitome of what America is. He is Americas most cherished and beloved President and he may be the most well-known American President in the world. Despite all the praise bestowed upon Abraham Lincoln there are those who do not buy into the ‘official’ Lincoln legacy. A small, but growing group of Lincoln detractors claim that Lincoln was not the father of freedom and liberty, the great emancipator and the savior of the union; they see Lincoln as a diabolical dictator. A man who took advantage of America in its darkest hour, a man who had no respect for the Constitution, he instead sought to destroy and undermine it every chance he got. Abraham Lincoln was President during America’s darkest hour; he saved the union and kept the country together. Lincoln was justified in the actions he took, despite attempts to paint Lincoln as a tyrannical dictator there is no question that Lincoln’s status as America’s greatest President...
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...Abraham Lincoln BEGINNINGS AND LIFE Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a log cabin in the Kentucky wilderness. When be was a little boy his Grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War. He had a little sister by the name of Sarah. As he went to school he met a boy by the name of Austin. They instantly became friends more so best of friends. At first Abe wasn't allowed to go to school because he didn't have a good pair of britches. In his pastime he loved to read. When Abe was eleven, his mother died of what they called "milk sick" which occurred from drinking unpasteurized milk. That was four years after they moved to a new farm in southern Indiana. He had to live in an open shed throughout the winter. The same year his mother died, his father remarried. He married Sarah Bush Johnson. She brought three kids and a cousin Dennis Hanks. When Abe was nineteen, he worked as a boatman and make his first trip down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, the center of the slave trade. When Abe was twenty-one, he moved with his family to Illinois. However Abe's brother Thomas didn't make it to Illinois because he died of influenza. Soon after Abe made his second trip on the flatboat to New Orleans to defend the blacks and fight slavery. Abe served as a captain in the Black Hawk War and was defeated. Abe came back to Illinois and not long after was elected to the State Legislature and soon became one of the most promising young Whig party leaders...
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