Abraham Lincoln Overview n n n To understand

Abraham Lincoln

Overview n n n To understand the Civil War, you must be a student of Lincoln Witty Charisma n n Captivating storyteller Analytical, logical A humble visionary – see big picture He was the right person at the right time and the country has been shaped by his leadership ever since

Background n n n Raised poor & uneducated Born in Kentucky… moved to Indiana and then Illinois Parents Education Young Adult Appearance

Lincoln in Politics n n n Illinois HOR - 8 years US House of Reps from 1847 -49 Left politics - focus on law career Returned in opposition to Kansas Nebraska Act Where to go? n n n The Northern Whig party continued to collapse The Know Nothing Party or The newly formed Republican Party

Lincoln on Liberty n n n Lincoln had no respect for Know-Nothings In private, Lincoln said, “As a nation, we began by declaring that all men are created equal. We now practically read it as ‘All men are created equal, except negroes. ’ When the Know-nothings get control, it will read “All men are created equal , except negroes, and foreigners, and catholics. ’ When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty…”

Lincoln on Slavery “I hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slavery itself. I hate it because it deprives our republican example of its just influence in the world – enables the enemies of free institutions, with plausibility, to taunt us as hypocrites – causes he real friends of freedom to doubt our sincerity, and especially because it forces so many really good men amongst ourselves into an open war with the fundamental principles of civil liberty – criticizing the Declaration of Independence, and insisting that there is no right principle of action but self interest. ”

Lincoln: A House Divided n n Acceptance speech for Illinois Senate Race 1858 ”I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the union to be dissolved – I do not expect the house to fall – but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other” (all free or all slave)

Lincoln Douglas Debates - 1858 Lincoln and Douglas debated seven times n n n Well attended Fan Fare Both men were excellent speakers and keen intellects Critical of one another n n n Douglas said… n n People/states should have sovereignty over slavery House Divided speech radical Lincoln an Abolitionist – Black Republican who wants equality for Blacks Lincoln n No place in a democracy Won’t abolish slavery, but won’t let it spread Douglas want to extend slavery

Equal Rights Issue n n n Douglas accused Lincoln of wanting equal rights for African Americans. At the Charleston debate, Lincoln said, “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. I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And insomuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain togethere must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race”

Lincoln on African Americans n He believed that whites and African Americans could not coexist equally n n Caribbean colony – failed in 1864 Political posturing? Later he would change his position Always believed Afr-Amer entitled to natural rights per the D of I

Lincoln’s plan to handle slavery n n The Union comes first: “Much as I hate slavery, I would consent to the extension of it rather than see the Union dissolved, just as I would consent to any great evil to avoid a greater one. ” Government can’t remove slavery n n Unconstitutional Focused on stopping the spread of slavery n n Preserve opportunities for white workers Supported government funded expansion for white people

Freeport Doctrine n Lincoln: Can people from a territory exclude slavery if they wished to do so? Douglas: Yes… they could legislate to that end n Alienated Douglas from Southern Democrats n n Contradicted Dred Scott Already mad at him for rejecting the Lecompton Constitution Regardless, Lincoln will lose in 1858

Election of 1860 n n Republicans: Lincoln – moderate on slavery Democrats: Divided n n Northern Democrats: Stephan Douglas Southern Democrats: John Breckenridge n Constitutional Union Party: John Bell n Lincoln not on southern ballots, but wins

Election Results of 1860

Southern Secession n The Southern way of life in danger Draw parallel to 1776 South Carolina on Dec. 20 th, 1960 n n First Ordinances of Secession In Jan-Feb of 1861 – the following secede n n n Georgia Florida Alabama Mississippi Louisiana Texas

Crittenden Compromise Dec 1860 n Amendments to Constitution n n n Protect slavery where it exists 36* 30’ line - demarcation for slavery Allow slavery on federal property (forts) and in Washington Interstate slave trade – no federal interference No future amendments could override these Lincoln rejected it n n Devalued all that the republicans stood for Some Southerners rejected it as well. (Jeff Davis, Robert Toombs) They felt war was necessary and inevitable

James Buchanan n Pennsylvania – democrat - pro- Southern Felt “Black” Republicans were disunionists He aligned himself with Southern interests n n Lecompton Constitution Dred Scott v. Sanford Opposition to Stephan Douglas Disagreed with secession, but did not know how to react n Did not support either side n n n This made him an outsider to both northerners and southerners Felt it was not in federal govt’s power to force states back into the Union Said he would not use force

Southern Organization Efforts n n n Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as the President of the Confederate States of America Feb 18 th, 1861 Alexander Stevens - VP Constitution – Mar 11, 1861 Provisional Army – 10, 000 troops They begin to seize federal forts in the South

Jefferson Davis n n Oath of office - Montgomery Ala Brittle, nervous, unable to sleep, partially blind in one eye Not diplomatic Background n n n Grew up in Kentucky Son of itinerant farmer Educated at West Point – 1828 fought in Mexico Served as Sec of War under Franklin Pierce Senator from Mississippi when secession happened

Not the Real Deal n Lincoln believed most white Southerners were Unionists Extort concessions from North n E. g. - Simon Cameron Secretary of War n corrupt and weak n Lincoln owed him a political favor n Cameron replaced in 1862 for fraud n

Inaugural Address n n He reaffirmed that he had no intention of interfering with slavery in the Southern States He pledged … n n n to enforce the fugitive slave law he endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment protecting slavery in the states. Finally he said, “In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war” “The government will not assail you. You can have no conflict, without being yourselves the aggressors”