Lincolns view on Slavery and How it Evolved Essay

Lincoln’s View on Slavery†¦.And How It Evolved Abraham Lincoln spent most of his political career as a member of the Whig party endorsing policies that aided economic development, supported free soil and opposed the expansion of slavery. Lincoln was instrumental in creating the voice of the Republican Party and during that process his own views on slavery were shaped. He played the middle ground and therefore appealed to both former conservative northern Whigs, and radical Republicans. The Civil War proved to be a turning point in Lincoln’s view of slavery and the extent he would go to abolish it. The Whig Party lost their political strength when the issue of slavery in the newly acquired territories from Mexico split the party.†¦show more content†¦Lincoln sought to balance the party’s belief that slavery was morally wrong and oppose the expansion of it with a promise to protect it in states where it already existed. Lincoln did not advocate politi cal or social equality for blacks but rather their inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He carefully detailed his views on the limits to racial equality of black and white people. Lincoln knew that the majority of northern voters, while not believing in slavery, considered blacks inferior and wanted nothing to do with them. The North’s strong moral opposition to slavery was due to the influence of the Second Great Awakening which introduced the idea that slavery was a sin. This message became accepted in the North because their economy did not rely heavily on slave labor. The South never accepted the belief that slavery was a sin, it was too threatening to their way of life. The differences in the economies of the North and South greatly influenced their views on slavery. On October 13, 1858 during their sixth and seventh Lincoln-Douglas debates Lincoln states that the main difference in the views of the two parties was that Republicans believed slavery was morally, socially, and politically wrong and Democrats believed it not to be. Lincoln stated that these ideas had stood face to face from the beginning of time; one was the commonShow MoreRelatedThe Fiery Trial By Eric Foner1135 Words   |  5 Pagesoutlawed slavery in the U.S. Eric Foner, the American historian examined the path of Lincoln that eventually led him to a historical achievement. The Fiery Trial by Eric Foner shows that Lincoln unlimited capacity for growth allowed him to adapt to the changing political environment as the issue of slavery progressed in the 19th century. The book is a biography of Lincoln that takes a look at how Lincoln’s upbringing and early political environment had shaped his opinions regarding slavery. 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