Abraham Lincoln was one the most powerful presidents of the United States, who reigned from 1809 to 1865. During the reign of Lincoln as the president of the United States, slavery and discrimination were very pronounced in various parts of the country. Several individuals in the country believed that the slaves were lesser beings as opposed to others in the society. As a result, these individuals deemed as dominant and superior mistreated and oppressed the slaves. Although slaves comprised Asians, red Indians, and Africans, Africans formed the majority of the slaves in the United States. In his fight against slavery in the United States Lincoln undertook several steps and proposed a number of policies. Notably, they proposed some of the policies from 1861 to 1864, when the country was experiencing a civil war. Therefore, the essay explains the evolution of Lincoln’s policies on slavery from July 1861 to November 1863.
The congress address in July 1861 and his Gettysburg Address, which took place in November 1864, are some of the major addresses that President Lincoln gave when the country was experiencing one of its serious civil wars. The main objectives of the speeches included policies on how to end the civil war, unity in the country, and the fight against slavery. 1According to Lincoln, slavery was inhuman and unethical, and hence, he urged individuals in the United States to refrain from slavery, discrimination, and work together. Although, Lincoln faced numerous challenges from people, who supported slavery, he held to his beliefs and continued championing the rights of slaves. It is important to understand that Lincoln’s fight against slavery commenced in his early stages of life when he defended several slaves in the country.
Critically, the policies of Lincoln concerning slavery evolved and changed over time from 1861 to 1863. Initially, he believed that that unity was one of the major factors that would be primary in ending the war and minimizing the challenge of slavery. Therefore, he championed unity among the people, who lived in the United States. Afterward, his views changed and he started advocating for the abolishment of slavery and argued that it was useful in ending the civil war. Among his major policies during the period were Compensated Emancipation and Corwin Amendment. 2Essentially, Compensated Emancipation focused on the abolishment of slavery through a gradual process and the freedom of slaves born in the United States after a certain period. On the other hand, the Corwin amendment cushioned slaves from all kinds of discrimination. By 1863, Lincoln’s concern for the abolishment of slavery had increased.
From 1861 to 8863, slavery was very pronounced in the United States and many people supported the inhuman act. These individuals overworked the slaves and mistreated them in plantations and homesteads. Abraham Lincoln, the president of the United States, was among the early leaders, who advocated for the abolishment of slavery. To promote his fight against slavery, Lincoln proposed various policies aimed at minimizing slavery and eventually ending it in the country. The policies proposed by Lincoln were advanced during the period when the country was experiencing a serious civil war. In his address to the congress in July 1861 and the Gettysburg address in November 1864, Lincoln advocated for unity and abolishment of slavery in the country. In addition, the president proposed Compensated Emancipation and Corwin Amendment, policies that focused on reducing the effects of slavery and abolishing it in the region.
Reference List
Woodworth, Steven. 2011. This great struggle: America’s Civil War. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Guelzo, Allen. 2006. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America. New York: Simon and Schuster.
Footnotes
1 – Seven Woodworth. 2011. This Great Struggle: America’s Civil War. Lanham: Rowman& Littlefield Publishers, 1.
2 – Allen Guelzo. 2006. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America. New York: Simon and Schuster, 365.