Abraham Lincolns presidency had a lot to do with slavery and whether it should expand to the west or stay where it already existed. For Lincoln this was not an easy political issue to resolve. He had the southerners in one ear to expand slavery and the northerners in the other to abolish it. An issue that determined his entire career. One wrong move could spark a fire and create a war, and or lose half of the union because he interfered with slavery in the southern states. Lincoln did not want to fight a war with the south over slavery, his main concern was preserving the union. Although Lincoln was against slavery, he still had some opposing views on black race as one. He hated the idea of slavery, but also had a problem with blacks participating
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He hated the idea of slavery so much he would refer to it as an “evil institution,” but that was not his same beliefs with blacks. “Lincoln was no advocate of racial equality, but he did hate slavery.” (40) Lincoln’s views on slavery contradicted to his views on African-Americans mostly every time he spoke but coincided at some point. Stephan Douglas stated that Abraham Lincoln claimed “…The rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were promised to blacks as well as to whites,” here Abraham Lincoln is advocating for black to have the same right white Americans do. However, that is not what Lincoln kept saying throughout his career. In other speeches he degraded black people. He did not feel blacks should receive the same benefits as whites but also should not be used for slavery. He thought, how could a human have another human working for him harsh hours and harsh environment. Abrahams way of thinking to him was thanks to Henry Clay. Lincoln praised Henry Clay and his ideology, so he adopted the same ideology when debating. “I never had an opinion upon the subject of slavery in my life that I did not get from him.” Abraham Lincoln really looked up to the same belief the Whigs had. Lincoln also stated that blacks should not be treated as equals in all matters. (124) This vaguely describes how he is not specific on how they should be equal and how they should …show more content…
He always had good arguments on why slavery should be abolished. Douglass not only had a great influence over Lincoln but over the whole republican party. Douglass always had opposing views on what Lincoln saw and he would make it clear laws should be changed. In page 131 in The Radical and the Republican, the author describes various issues where Lincoln and Douglass had different views on and showed how Douglass always had that advantage of influencing other northerners on why slavery should be terminated. This pressured Lincoln to hear what everyone else had to say, influencing him to do what the people wanted. Frederick Douglass also met with Abraham Lincoln where they spoke about different aspect to help the African-American race. Douglass brought up examples of using black in the union army and creating safe havens for fugitives (something Lincoln did not agree on). Douglass began his own political war against white-racists. “The first battle, against emigrationism…,” (189) Here Douglass fought for the wrongful means of emigrationism with other black leaders. Influencing and showing Abraham Lincoln they had other ways to attack the racism and slavery in the
He hated the idea of slavery so much he would refer to it as an “evil institution,” but that was not his same beliefs with blacks. “Lincoln was no advocate of racial equality, but he did hate slavery.” (40) Lincoln’s views on slavery contradicted to his views on African-Americans mostly every time he spoke but coincided at some point. Stephan Douglas stated that Abraham Lincoln claimed “…The rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were promised to blacks as well as to whites,” here Abraham Lincoln is advocating for black to have the same right white Americans do. However, that is not what Lincoln kept saying throughout his career. In other speeches he degraded black people. He did not feel blacks should receive the same benefits as whites but also should not be used for slavery. He thought, how could a human have another human working for him harsh hours and harsh environment. Abrahams way of thinking to him was thanks to Henry Clay. Lincoln praised Henry Clay and his ideology, so he adopted the same ideology when debating. “I never had an opinion upon the subject of slavery in my life that I did not get from him.” Abraham Lincoln really looked up to the same belief the Whigs had. Lincoln also stated that blacks should not be treated as equals in all matters. (124) This vaguely describes how he is not specific on how they should be equal and how they should …show more content…
He always had good arguments on why slavery should be abolished. Douglass not only had a great influence over Lincoln but over the whole republican party. Douglass always had opposing views on what Lincoln saw and he would make it clear laws should be changed. In page 131 in The Radical and the Republican, the author describes various issues where Lincoln and Douglass had different views on and showed how Douglass always had that advantage of influencing other northerners on why slavery should be terminated. This pressured Lincoln to hear what everyone else had to say, influencing him to do what the people wanted. Frederick Douglass also met with Abraham Lincoln where they spoke about different aspect to help the African-American race. Douglass brought up examples of using black in the union army and creating safe havens for fugitives (something Lincoln did not agree on). Douglass began his own political war against white-racists. “The first battle, against emigrationism…,” (189) Here Douglass fought for the wrongful means of emigrationism with other black leaders. Influencing and showing Abraham Lincoln they had other ways to attack the racism and slavery in the