Slavery played a vital role in America’s social, economic and political history during the antebellum period. It became a topic of discussion all over the United States because of the American economy and plans to expand its territories. Most politicians were using it as a tool to gain votes and it was compulsory for them to air out their views on the issue, and Abraham Lincoln was not an exception. Many people in the United States have debated Abraham Lincoln’s views on the issue of slavery and race for so many years. Even though he issued the emancipation proclamation which supported the constitution amendment to completely abolish slavery, he was said to favor racial segregation and publicly used the Negro word while describing African Americans. Abraham Lincoln had mixed views on slavery, race and African Americans.
Views on Slavery
Lincoln’s opinion on slavery and race was a central issue in the United States history. He expressed his opinions both in private and in public, and he strongly opposed the institution of slavery, especially when he was in the North. According to Lincoln, slavery was morally wrong, and it had to be abolished in the United States at all costs. In addition, he insisted that, slavery should be abolished completely and the freed slaves treated as free and equal people in the American society. According to him, slaves were to enjoy their sweat and live under good conditions, and not work for free while living under harsh conditions.
Lincoln detested the institution of slavery all through his life when he publicly stated that “I am naturally anti-slavery” (Johnson, 2011). However, his views on slavery were quite confusing because he only argued that it was morally wrong and it was a system of free labor which could corrupt the nation. Lincoln’s stand on the issue was clear but confusing and not strong compared to the abolitionist because he was not an abolitionist. In addition, he was in support of slavery if it was drafted in the constitution but not when it is expanded and this made his stand wavering. In most of his speeches, he could tell the people that, he has no right to stop slavery where it already exists and this made people to doubt his support in abolishing slavery because his statements were confusing. Lincoln had conflicting views on slavery, even though he helped in the abolition of slavery in the United States.
Views on Race
Lincoln believed that, the black and white people should not have equal rights. According to him, even though the founding fathers had created a phrase that “All men are created equal,” and it applied to blacks and whites, these people should not have the same political and social privileges (Johnson, 2011). His view was made clear during their fourth debate in Charleston, Illinois, where he clearly stated, “I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races” (Johnson, 2011). Abraham Lincoln was opposed to the idea of blacks having equal rights with the whites. However, he made it clear that, he was only opposed to African Americans having the right to vote, the right to hold office, to serve on juries, and to intermarry with whites. Nonetheless, he said that, just like the white people, the black people had the right to improve their living conditions in the society and to enjoy what they work for and so, he was against the institution of slavery because it denied the black people these privileges.
While he regarded slavery as an evil system, Lincoln was clear that, the blacks could not be assimilated in the white society. In fact, he supported the removal of the black people from America in order to be settled abroad because they were no equal to the whites and could not share the same social, political and economic status. Lincoln never recognized the black people as his social or political equals and he never changed his position on this issue and that is why some people viewed him as a racist. However, as we review his life, Lincoln supported the blacks in every means; in fact when he was a lawyer, he took cases from the black people without segregating them, and his only point of view that contradicted his stand on race was that, black people can never share the same political and social status with the white people.
At some point, Lincoln could utter inconsistent things on race, but it should be understood that he lived in a racial society and as a leader; he had to balance between the black people and the whites. According to Douglass, Lincoln supported racism while in Southern counties by insisting that there has to be superior and inferior races, while in the North, he stoop up for the equality of the Negros and this was contradictory. He endorsed racism in the southern counties and condemned it the northern parts which makes it hard to determine his true stand on the issue.
Abraham Lincoln wrestled with his views on African Americans, because his audience was mainly white voters. Lincoln viewed the black people to be inferior compared to the white people who were superior. According to him, the black people could not have the same privileges as the white people because they were not the same (Johnson, 2011). Nonetheless, there are times he could defend the rights of the black people, especially when he was in the north. Lincoln did not take a strong stand against racism; he only condemned some aspects while supporting some racist’s aspects of viewing the Negros as an inferior race.
Lincoln’s views on the issue of slavery changed over time. According to Johnson, Lincoln gave different views on the issue of slavery and racism as time went by (2011). When he was not elected as president, Lincoln could talk about slavery publicly and declare his stand, but after being elected, he was bound the constitution and he could not just declare slavery in public because it was not in the constitution. In addition, the fact that he saw one race to be superior to the other, he encouraged the whites to continue supporting slavery in the South.
Nonetheless, his views on race never changed over time because he maintained his stand of not bringing the social and political equality of the whites and the Negros. He insisted that, he had no plan of qualifying the Negroes to become voters or hold any offices because to him, the whites were superior from the Negroes (Johnson, 2011). In addition, Lincoln made it clear that, there was a physique difference between the Negroes and the white people, which will forever remain, meaning that one race will always remain superior to the other. His opinions were wavering because, there are times he could say that, the negroes had a right to enjoy their wages and to live in good conditions like the whites, but he insisted that the position of superior and inferior among the races will still remain. Even though Lincoln had conflicting views, he was able to come out and solve the issue of slavery because he felt that it was unacceptable. He made a decision to end slavery in the United States as well as integrating the Americans after the war.
In conclusion, Abraham Lincoln played an important role in abolishing slavery in the United States. However, his views on the slavery, race and African Americans were always mixed. Lincoln believed that, the whites were superior to the Negroes and therefore, they could not share the same political and social rights. On the other hand, he seemed to be against slavery, but at the same time, he stated that, he had no plans to stop slavery where it has already been instituted. Lincoln had mixed views because, his audience was mainly whites and he had to balance his opinions so as not to lose their votes. Lincoln’s contemporary view on race was that, the whites were superior to the Negroes. In addition, he was against the fact that blacks can serve as jurors or hold public offices because he considered them inferior. Nonetheless, he helped in the abolition of slavery in the United States and even integrated the Americans despite his mixed views on slavery, race, and the Negroes.
Reference
Johnson, M. P. (2011). Abraham Lincoln, Slavery, and The Civil War. Selected Writings and Speeches. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.
