The year 1862-1863 proved to be a major year for the history of United States of America. With the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln, the status of slavery within the country is hence abolished. Historians argue whether the abolition of slavery is a direct connection to what Lincoln did. Some argue that it was from the pressure of slaves themselves.
Allen C. Guelzo argued that Lincoln do help end slavery due to his Enlightenment ideals. He quoted Richard Hofstadter, a person with an opposing view with him. Hofstadter was quoted stating that Lincoln opposed slavery for the sake of economy of white people, and not about the Negro (i.e. slaves). Following the quote, Guelzo stated that he opposed Hofstadter’s idea. He argued …show more content…
In his essay, Guelzo mentioned how Enlightenment changed the ideology of Lincoln such as “his unquestioning belief in universal natural rights” (Guelzo, 353). Additionally, his background with the “hard-shell” Separate Baptists (Guelzo, 356) and Calvinism made him a determined person to help end slavery. Guelzo quoted the speech that Lincoln gave in 1858: “I hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slavery itself ” (Guelzo, 354). Though it is not stated explicitly, Lincoln made this comment to signify his opposition. Guelzo provided an insight of how time played a huge role in the abolition process. Lincoln proposed the Emancipation Proclamation during the summer of 1862. The North, the region where slavery is uncommon, showed rejection to the Emancipation, yet Lincoln kept pushing it forwards (Guelzo, 355). By doing so, Lincoln showed his determination to abolish slavery. In addition, Guelzo provided some counter-arguments which raised questions from those who looked at the history through Richard Hofstadter’s lens. One of the question was : “Did the slaves free themselves?” (Guelzo, 357). The question was popularized by Leon Litwack in 1979 in which he stated that Emancipation did not begin nor …show more content…
Harding argued that the Emancipation Proclamation is the result of the rise of movements of black people. He pointed out in his essay that black people began to wage war, and black people saw this war as a chance to abolish slavery (Harding, 361). People of the North began accepting the Enlightenment ideals to end slavery while black people in the South began a revolution. Harding told the audience that “Civil War created the context for a vast broadening and intensifying of the self-liberating black movement which had developed prior to the war” (Harding, 362). The force of these black movements are so strong they began to tear the slave system, its power, and began the self-emancipation of black people (Harding, 362). Many people thought that this revolution is bound to happen as a result of the harsh condition that the slaves got. W.E.B. Du Bois stated in the essay saying, “The whole move was not dramatic or hysterical, rather it was like the great unbroken swell of the ocean before it dashes on the reefs” (qtd. in Harding, 362). From the small victories, the movement began to be across the Southern region, and some even went as far as the North (Harding, 364). Lincoln was not ready to wage a war (Harding, 364). As a result, in 1862, Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation where the Southern region is to end their rebellion by the end of 1862 or all slaves would be set free (Harding,
Allen C. Guelzo argued that Lincoln do help end slavery due to his Enlightenment ideals. He quoted Richard Hofstadter, a person with an opposing view with him. Hofstadter was quoted stating that Lincoln opposed slavery for the sake of economy of white people, and not about the Negro (i.e. slaves). Following the quote, Guelzo stated that he opposed Hofstadter’s idea. He argued …show more content…
In his essay, Guelzo mentioned how Enlightenment changed the ideology of Lincoln such as “his unquestioning belief in universal natural rights” (Guelzo, 353). Additionally, his background with the “hard-shell” Separate Baptists (Guelzo, 356) and Calvinism made him a determined person to help end slavery. Guelzo quoted the speech that Lincoln gave in 1858: “I hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slavery itself ” (Guelzo, 354). Though it is not stated explicitly, Lincoln made this comment to signify his opposition. Guelzo provided an insight of how time played a huge role in the abolition process. Lincoln proposed the Emancipation Proclamation during the summer of 1862. The North, the region where slavery is uncommon, showed rejection to the Emancipation, yet Lincoln kept pushing it forwards (Guelzo, 355). By doing so, Lincoln showed his determination to abolish slavery. In addition, Guelzo provided some counter-arguments which raised questions from those who looked at the history through Richard Hofstadter’s lens. One of the question was : “Did the slaves free themselves?” (Guelzo, 357). The question was popularized by Leon Litwack in 1979 in which he stated that Emancipation did not begin nor …show more content…
Harding argued that the Emancipation Proclamation is the result of the rise of movements of black people. He pointed out in his essay that black people began to wage war, and black people saw this war as a chance to abolish slavery (Harding, 361). People of the North began accepting the Enlightenment ideals to end slavery while black people in the South began a revolution. Harding told the audience that “Civil War created the context for a vast broadening and intensifying of the self-liberating black movement which had developed prior to the war” (Harding, 362). The force of these black movements are so strong they began to tear the slave system, its power, and began the self-emancipation of black people (Harding, 362). Many people thought that this revolution is bound to happen as a result of the harsh condition that the slaves got. W.E.B. Du Bois stated in the essay saying, “The whole move was not dramatic or hysterical, rather it was like the great unbroken swell of the ocean before it dashes on the reefs” (qtd. in Harding, 362). From the small victories, the movement began to be across the Southern region, and some even went as far as the North (Harding, 364). Lincoln was not ready to wage a war (Harding, 364). As a result, in 1862, Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation where the Southern region is to end their rebellion by the end of 1862 or all slaves would be set free (Harding,