Lincoln: Conservative or Revolutionary?
Lincoln: Revolutionary or Conservative? 1
Lincoln: Revolutionary or Conservative? 2
Lincoln: Revolutionary or Conservative?
Abraham Lincoln was president from 1860-1865. During this time span the Civil War began causing Lincoln to make some radical changes to the nation. Although the Emancipation Proclamation freed virtually no slaves, Abraham Lincoln was a revolutionary because it gave the Union a reason to fight and the slaves a reason to resist, allowed Lincoln to show he still had power over the confederacy, and allowed Lincoln to prove that the only way to preserve the Union was to emancipate slaves. Admittedly, the Emancipation Proclamation freed virtually no slaves. Lincoln issued this proclamation for the states in the Confederacy, which he had no jurisdiction over. While the slaves were technically freed because Lincoln did not view the South as a legitimate nation, most Southerners did not uphold it. On the other hand, the Emancipation Proclamation did give the Union a reason to fight the Civil War. Previously, the North had no idea why this war was being fought. The Union believed that if the South wanted to secede then the South should be allowed to because otherwise the confederates would cause too many problems. The North saw no purpose for this war
Lincoln: Revolutionary or Conservative? 3
and it was very hard to risk a life for a cause that was not supported. The Emancipation Proclamation gave the Union a cause to fight for, the abolition of slavery and the reformation of the Union, which the North was struggling to find. The Emancipation Proclamation also gave the slaves a reason to fight for the Union cause. Before the EP slaves saw no way out of bondage. This proclamation gave the slaves hope that one day, freedom would be accessible. The proclamation made slaves plan for the future and finally see a life outside of the plantation, which was not possible before the EP was issued. Furthermore, the Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln: Revolutionary or Conservative? 2
Lincoln: Revolutionary or Conservative?
Abraham Lincoln was president from 1860-1865. During this time span the Civil War began causing Lincoln to make some radical changes to the nation. Although the Emancipation Proclamation freed virtually no slaves, Abraham Lincoln was a revolutionary because it gave the Union a reason to fight and the slaves a reason to resist, allowed Lincoln to show he still had power over the confederacy, and allowed Lincoln to prove that the only way to preserve the Union was to emancipate slaves. Admittedly, the Emancipation Proclamation freed virtually no slaves. Lincoln issued this proclamation for the states in the Confederacy, which he had no jurisdiction over. While the slaves were technically freed because Lincoln did not view the South as a legitimate nation, most Southerners did not uphold it. On the other hand, the Emancipation Proclamation did give the Union a reason to fight the Civil War. Previously, the North had no idea why this war was being fought. The Union believed that if the South wanted to secede then the South should be allowed to because otherwise the confederates would cause too many problems. The North saw no purpose for this war
Lincoln: Revolutionary or Conservative? 3
and it was very hard to risk a life for a cause that was not supported. The Emancipation Proclamation gave the Union a cause to fight for, the abolition of slavery and the reformation of the Union, which the North was struggling to find. The Emancipation Proclamation also gave the slaves a reason to fight for the Union cause. Before the EP slaves saw no way out of bondage. This proclamation gave the slaves hope that one day, freedom would be accessible. The proclamation made slaves plan for the future and finally see a life outside of the plantation, which was not possible before the EP was issued. Furthermore, the Emancipation Proclamation
References: McPherson, J. M. (1990). Abraham Lincoln and the Second American Revolution. In Abraham Lincoln and the Second American Revolution (pp. 23-42). Retrieved from http://virtualschool.bths201.org///.php?id=9934 Paludan, P. S. (1995). Emancipating the Republic: Lincoln and the Means and Ends of Antislavery. In J. M. McPherson, We Cannot Escape History: Lincoln and the Last Best Hope of Earth (pp. 45-58). Retrieved from http://virtualschool.bths201.org///.php?id=9935