In the years 1862 to 1865, from Lincoln’s inauguration on March 4th to his assassination, the United States faced the challenge of preserving the Union. To understand if Lincoln’s objective of preserving the Union included freeing the slaves, one must consider their connection.
Politically, President Lincoln aimed to persuade political factions that abolishing slavery would aid in the preservation of the Union. From an intellectual perspective, he conveyed the notion of ending slavery to citizens through his speeches. Socially, after emancipation, former slaves were encouraged to join the war effort in support of the Union.
Lincoln understood that in order to save the Union, he had to address the slavery issue. He used his political skills to gain support for his beliefs on slavery by engaging with both political and religious groups. In Document A, Lincoln persuades Congress to resolve the problem of slavery within the Union and emphasizes that implementing an Emancipation Proclamation would be beneficial for the Federal government’s self-preservation. Lincoln advocates for this proclamation as a way for Congress to effectively address freeing the slaves and preserve the Union. In Document B, Lincoln promotes the idea of issuing the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, recognizing that freeing the slaves is inevitable but stressing caution and intelligence in doing so.
Lincoln has uncertainties regarding the potential outcomes for black people. He expresses concern about the risk of rebels acquiring weapons if the slaves were armed, something he wants to avoid. Lincoln is determined not to experience a situation similar to John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry since it would have a detrimental effect on his reputation and decisions. Despite his caution, Lincoln leverages his legal knowledge to garner support from religious institutions. Furthermore, he suggests that emancipating the slaves could potentially help resolve political disputes with Europe.
In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect in order to deceive France and Britain regarding the progress of the war. The goal was to create a false impression that Lincoln was making advances and that the South was close to defeat. This tactic aimed at dissuading their involvement in the war as ending slavery would have a significant impact on these nations. However, contrary to this perception, it was actually the South that had been triumphant during that period of the war. This caused apprehension for Lincoln who desired to prevent interference from Europe. Through implementing the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln aimed to buy some time to address this concern.
However, Robert E. Lee’s objective is to defeat Lincoln in the war of Gettysburg in order to demonstrate to France and Britain that Lincoln is incorrect. Nevertheless, Lincoln ultimately had to abolish slavery because it was the only remaining resolution. The United States had previously attempted compromises that were unsuccessful. Consequently, the only remaining option was to emancipate the slaves. Lincoln introduced the concept of the Emancipation Proclamation, which was initially challenging to convey but ultimately proved effective. As a result, he pursued the goals outlined in Document D. This document is a 1863 recruiting poster for the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.
The poster serves as motivation and propaganda for freed slaves to participate in the war, connecting to Document B where Lincoln urges black participation. This political strategy aimed to maintain unity by encouraging freed blacks to contribute to the war effort. To preserve the Union, Lincoln strategically promoted ending slavery through speeches delivered to political and religious groups, gaining support for the Emancipation Proclamation.
In Document B, Lincoln gives a speech to a religious group in Chicago before the Emancipation Proclamation is put into effect. He expresses his belief that the blacks should be freed but highlights the precautions he wants to take, such as not arming them, which could help the rebels. In Document E, Lincoln speaks to the Democratic Party, his opposing party, during another speech, showing that he is addressing various groups and not just his own. He tells the Democrats that if they want to preserve the Union, they cannot ignore dealing with slavery.
According to Document E, Lincoln states that the Emancipation Proclamation was issued with the specific intention of saving the Union. He implemented this proclamation to support the Democrats’ efforts in preserving the Union, but it was not his primary motive. His main objective was to convince the Democrats to endorse his new order and contribute to the war effort. To achieve this, Lincoln employs persuasive tactics aimed at highlighting the Democratic Party’s responsibility for their lack of assistance in freeing the “negroes,” as mentioned in Document E. It is worth noting that by August 26, 1863, the South had gained an advantage in the war.
The Emancipation Proclamation was strategically issued by Lincoln to take advantage of the South’s success in the war, with the purpose of deceiving Europe into joining the conflict. Using his legal background, Lincoln sought an intellectual solution to maintain relations with France and Britain. However, due to previous unsuccessful attempts at compromise, he ultimately implemented the Proclamation as it was the only remaining option. By freeing the slaves, Lincoln found a definitive resolution to the issue.
Both political and religious groups recognized that preserving the Union and freeing the slaves were interconnected. They understood that the liberation of black individuals was crucial for saving the Union. The Emancipation Proclamation played a significant role in this relationship by compelling slaves to adjust to their newfound freedom, which had a direct effect on the South. This transition resulted in a shift from working on farms to unemployment but also created opportunities for African American men, as depicted in Document D – a recruitment poster for the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.
In order to assist the war effort and preserve the Union, the slaves have the option of joining the whites. Lincoln acknowledges this willingness of certain black individuals to fight for a cause larger than themselves, as evidenced by a quote from his speech to the Democratic Party in Document E. He recognizes that while some black people are fighting for the Union, other groups such as Democrats and the South are not taking any action. However, it is evident as of August 1, 1863, that the South is prevailing in the war, suggesting that Democrats may still oppose Lincoln’s approach to emancipating slaves. The Emancipation Proclamation was necessary because all attempts at compromise had failed. This social issue affected all laws regarding black people and significantly contributed to both the scale and duration of the war. Resolving slavery was crucial for Lincoln’s goal of saving and uniting the Union.
In summary, Lincoln made every effort to maintain the Union. The abolition of slavery was likely the most significant measure taken by the United States. Politically, Lincoln used his skills to persuade different factions within the Union. Intellectually, Lincoln promoted the idea of ending slavery. Socially, he encouraged former slaves to join the war after they were emancipated. Lincoln recognized that addressing the issue of slavery was necessary to preserve the Union.
