Lincolns Contested Legacy Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States and the man who

led the Union during the Civil War and emancipated slaves in the south in 1863. There it is; the word we have been looking for to perfectly describe Lincolns legacy: A Great Emancipator. The reasons why? Well it is very simple, Lincoln was the champion of black freedom, he supported social equality of all races and fought the American Civil War to free slaves. Lincoln also widely supported resettlement, gave out the Emancipation Proclamation and planned for Reconstruction in the country. Lincoln grasped a political, military and legitimate way to free slaves. Dont judge a book by its cover or in other words, dont judge Lincolns presidency without knowing his motives, morals and goals; we do not have a right to call him unreconstructed racist or subverter of the constitution without knowing the facts in his endeavors; that is all I will say for now. Lincoln was born and raised in a cabin in Kentucky. He grew up through a life of brutality and numbness 1. Lincoln was also raised in a region where racism wasnt uncommon, where there was prejudices made against blacks and the idea of things such as intermarriage and non favoritism for blacks to vote as well. However and without a doubt, Lincoln was raised and as we later on see in his presidency, with a strong vision of a united union where in times of his presidency and later on war, meant to get rid of slavery in the country. 2 There shone the fact that he was a wise and good man... He was our supremest leader- our safest counsellor- our wisest friend- our dear father3 . This right here tells us that this
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Yale Teachers Institute- 2013 Institute for Historical Review- Robert Morgan

Kunhardt, Lincolns Contested Legacy.

man we now know as Abraham Lincoln, and also referred to as our dear father as stated above, was a fighter, a fighter for equality and freedom, and through his word we may now be thankful for his actions. As Douglass wrote in December 1865, Lincoln was a progressive man, a human, an honorable man, and at heart an antislavery man 4. The Great Emancipator Abraham Lincoln was the champion of black freedom. He opposed expansion of slavery in the country in order to detain slavery from spreading into more states and regions throughout the Union. His campaign debates and speeches led him to popularity, and was elected president in 1860.5 Lincoln was able to use his military and political skills to preserve the Union. He later issued the Emancipation Proclamation (which we will later discuss) and promoted the Thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution, which abolished slavery. And not only this, but he even managed to get re- elected in 1864, where he reached out to the War Democrats which greatly improved the war situation, leading the Union to victory. Lincoln was a great politician, but he has remained in history as the Great Emancipator.6 Abraham Lincolns greatest actions and events certainly define his presidency and reveal his state as the Great Emancipator. The number one, and most influencing event in which Lincoln dealt with was the slavery issue during the Civil War for which he issued a response to, known as the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation would free all slaves in those territories still in rebellion against the Union. Lincoln knew that if the Emancipation Proclamation was perceived only as generous gesture, the border states might break away from the union which could lead to serious racial comebacks in the north cities such as New York. His
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Kunhardt, Lincolns Contested Legacy.

The American Civil War- 37th Calvary The American Civil War- 37th Calvary

visions proved to be right during the draft riots in New York City in 1863. However, Lincoln arouse by announcing and declaring that the Emancipation Proclamation was part of his war strategy to weaken the south 7. As Abraham Lincoln announced, Understand, I rase no objections against slavery... I view the emancipation as a practical war measure, to be decided upon according to the advantages or disadvantages it may offer to the suppression of the rebellion8 . We can now see that his efforts for emancipation were rather for his country, for the Union only, as it did not completely favor his morals, and the values he grew up with. However, The Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln knew, would bring the union back together and would put the Constitution is the place it deserved, where it would be greatly respected and followed. Abraham Lincoln, just for his work on behalf of the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States, has earned a permanent place in the history of human freedom9. President Lincoln was able through four years of tough work, infectious gossip, bloody battles and endless judicial cases, to pull the United States through the thin line it was about to break. He was able, although it might have cost him his life, to accomplish freedom and reunite his country, and was able to seize, control and reach military, democratic and lawful success thorough his vision and moral. That is why today, I must declare Abraham Lincoln as the Great Emancipator. And in the final decades of his long life, Douglass repeatedly invoked Lincoln as having embodied the spirit of racial progress 10 .

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Yale Teachers Institute- 2013 Institute for Historical Review- Robert Morgan

Kunhardt, Lincolns Contested Legacy. Kunhardt, Lincolns Contested Legacy.

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