Abraham Lincoln and Slavery Essay Sample

Abraham Lincoln’s views were ambivalent; at one moment, he talks about how blacks are inferior to whites, while other times he expresses how they should have the same rights as them. As he seems to have a foot in both camps, I do think he wanted to do the right thing for black/enslaved people - just on a basic level. Even though he seemed to have a traditional mindset regarding race,  Lincoln’s views on slavery should be remembered because he was someone who spoke about it and did something about it.

Abraham was a Republican, which for most people meant they were anti-slavery, or an abolitionist; and that was true for Abraham. Despite his beliefs of whites being superior, it is still important to remember how he viewed and understood democracy, which shows that he did want blacks to have the same freedoms as him, in certain aspects. “No man is good enough to govern another man without the other’s consent.” said Lincoln, and this would also mean that he nor any other man is good enough to act as though the intuition of slavery is fair or democratic because it was CLEARLY not something that blacks wanted, petitioned or asked for; therefore they were not being govenerned according to their consent.

“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy.” This quote helps elaborate on the idea that Abraham still had some important viewpoints that helped his case. I think this quote helps show that this is one of the many reasons why he fought against slavery, because it went against his idea of democracy. Not only should the people agree with how they are being governed, but they should also be able to do as they would (want). To my understanding it also seems as though he is saying that democracy isn’t all about having a higher or lower position than another, but being a free individual. It contradicts his racial views, but I think the difference is that he doesn’t believe in mastery over one another, though he does believe in a racial hierarchy.

“There is no reason in the world why the negro is not entitled to all the natural rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence, the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I hold that he is as much entitled to these as the white man. I agree with Judge Douglas he is not my equal in many respects… But in the right to eat the bread, without the leave of anybody else, which his own hand earns, he is my equal and the equal of Judge Douglas, and the equal of every living man.”  He still acknowledged the areas where he believes the two races are not equals, but was still inclined to advocate for and give even a fraction of what every enslaved person looked for zealously; freedom. Though he did not touch on the deep rooted issue here, it was still a moment of excitement for slaves in the U.S.

To conclude, Lincoln made a memorable move which was the Emancipation Proclamation. Though he was not thorough, he was enthusiastic enough to debate and express the problem with the institution of slavery, and how it disrupts the simplicity in allowing men to be free as they will. We do not need to “forget” how Lincoln felt about his racial superiority, but should let his ultimate action be found worthy to remember, which would be when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It was the start of many steps towards the freedom of black and enslaved people, and he was the first to do so of all U.S presidents.