A Man But Not A Brother: Abraham Lincoln And Racial Equality, By George M. Fredrickson

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Slavery is a major part of U.S. History regardless of the negative reflection it puts on the United States. Slavery divided politicians, as well as states. Slavery was not the reason for the Civil War in the beginning, but it was always a main factor of the war, especially after the Emancipation Proclamation was introduced. In the article, “A Man but Not a Brother: Abraham Lincoln and Racial Equality”, by George M. Fredrickson, writes about Lincoln and his stance on slavery. Fredrickson records that Lincoln never really took a stance on slavery throughout his politician career, that he would have views for both against slavery and for slavery at times. Fredickson talks about that it’s possible one of the reasons Lincoln never took a clear …show more content…
George M. Fredrickson writes about how Lincoln agreed with Henry Clay’s ideas on slavery, and that Lincoln used a lot of Clay’s writings when speaking publicly. Clay was a clear abolitionist who worked hard to end slavery. “Clay was arguing that blacks are human beings, who have, in rudimentary form at least, the same basic desires and capabilities of whites”, (Fredrickson, p.42). It is evident that if Lincoln is agreeing with Henry Clay, he is also agreeing that blacks deserve the same rights as whites do, all human beings should be treated the same. Even after being elected to the presidency and the outbreak of the Civil War, Lincoln believed that slavery could be ended by a carefully organized program of gradual emancipation and colonization (Fredrickson, p.55). Fredrickson is trying to prove that Lincoln was not just a white racist, that Lincoln did have good intentions of ending slavery. Although Fredrickson talks about how Lincoln had views for against slavery, Fredrickson also talks about how Lincoln was actually just a typical white racist, and never wanted to abolish slavery in the first …show more content…
Fredrickson. Tindall views Lincoln by the north and the south. On page 514 in America, Tindall displays two photos of Abraham Lincoln composing the Emancipation Proclamation, one of the photos interpreting the Union’s views on how Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation, and the other is the Confederate’s view on how Lincoln wrote the Proclamation. The Union’s view is in color, with Lincoln writing the Proclamation with his legs crossed on a chair, as well as a bible in his lap. A positive perspective on Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation. The Confederate’s view is more negative. Their picture is in black and white, and has Lincoln writing the Proclamation over a desk with his foot stepping on the Constitution, as well as multiple devils and goblins decorate the room he is in. A negative perspective can be perceived from this, the Confederate’s are angry at Lincoln for what he is doing, and thinks Lincoln is going completely against the constitution to have the Emancipation Proclamation. Fredrickson’s thesis and Tindall’s viewpoints differ but not by much. Fredrickson is writing about the different views Lincoln had about slavery, while Tindall is showing what the Union and Confederacy saw Lincoln as. However both pieces of writing are suitable in explaining Lincoln’s views on

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