Abraham Lincoln's Political Views

Abraham Lincoln was the President during a time when the United States was experiencing multiple transformations that would end up shaping the future of the country. Although there were many dramatic problems and changes that occurred at this time, the core of the developments was the decision whether the United States should continue to grow the system of slavery or not. Abraham Lincoln's views on slavery were shaped by the times and places in which he was raised and during which he served his country. Lincoln’s stance on slavery was easily pliable as time passed on in the Civil War. Halfway into his term of presidency his stance consisted of trying to preserve the Union without freeing the slaves, however at the same time he was ready to emancipate the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation. At this time of his position in office you can see the back-and-forth opinion on the continuation of slavery in the United States. Lincoln's personal outlooks about blacks and about slavery actually were quite persistent over time. However, his political views and actions concerning slavery changed as the national political environment changed. Although he made the comment that if he could keep slavery while preserving the union, he had always opposed the idea of slavery and used the many …show more content…
Lincoln was for the free-labor philosophy of equal opportunity. He saw the true issue on if slavery was the morality and future of the slaves and of slavery. Additionally, he now decisively believed that if the nation remained divided on the issue of slavery, the nation would not last. Lincoln said, borrowing from the Bible, "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe that this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free." (p.32) At the 1860 election, Lincoln's position on slavery looked to be heading closer to that of abolition, especially with the ideas of secession