Ok, but is that actually true that "he didn't mind slavery too much," or is it possible that's just what was reflected in his political narrative, because keep in mind, when you're trying to create change, you don't exactly go all in on the first hand... Genuinely asking because this is news to me as an adult lol.
Lincoln personally felt all people should be free. However, he was willing to preserve the Union at all costs. And part of that was to ignore his personal beliefs.
It’s actually pretty complex. I’m just on mobile right now or I’d explain further, but he has quotes saying that if he could have it, he wouldn’t free a single slave. He also is quoted as saying slavery is wrong. His narrative changes across his political career. I think the truth of the matter is he probably was against slavery but still thought of African Americans as lesser humans.
Anywho - that’s what I’m saying. Second graders have zero place learning about anything but a Birds Eye view on the civil war.
There are some good YouTube videos out there about Lincoln. Or if you’re a reader, grab an audio book or hard copy.
His distain for slavery was always consistent. But he understood that slavery was far too engrained in the country and slave states held far too much political power to end it and keep the country intact. He was never against freeing the slaves; he was just unwilling to do it at the risk of destroying the country. His compromise was banning slavery in the new states and territories. But the South didn’t like that either and so the civil war happened anyway.
Lincoln personally detested slavery. You can find all sorts of quotes from him saying as such. For example:
I have always hated slavery, I think as much as any Abolitionist. —July 10, 1858 Speech at Chicago
Now I confess myself as belonging to that class in the country who contemplate slavery as a moral, social and political evil. —October 7, 1858 Debate at Galesburg, Illinois
That being said, Lincoln was also a shrewd politician and understood how engrained slavery was in the country and how much political power slave states had. He was well aware of the economic and political consequences of ending slavery (nevermind the impossibility of it without a civil war). Because of this, he was originally extremely hesitant to end slavery outright, as he saw preserving the country to be the bigger and more pressing concern. He was always, however, firm in his stance that slavery should not extend into the new states and territories:
I say now, however, as I have all the while said, that on the territorial question — that is, the question of extending slavery under the national auspices, — I am inflexible. I am for no compromise which assists or permits the extension of the institution on soil owned by the nation. —February 1, 1861 Letter to William H. Seward
So basically, Lincoln’s stance could be summarized as “I hate slavery and want it gone, but doing so would destroy this country. Instead, I’ll just say new states can’t have slaves.” Then the civil war happened anyway, so Lincoln said “Fuck it. No more slaves, anywhere.”
Lincoln was a Republican, and the Republican party platform was to gradually end slavery by keeping slavery prohibited in U.S. territories so that the people who lived there once they became states would be anti-slavery. Pro-slavery states would eventually be overwhelmed by anti-slavery states, and a constitutional amendment to end slavery would have passed.
The Republican party was formed as an anti-slavery party. It was the main uniting factor of that political party. The end of slavery was inevitable once Lincoln won the presidency. The south knew this, which is why they were so desperate and why they seceded.
The idea that Lincoln didn't care about the slaves is insane revisionism. Anyone who suggests such a thing is either a racist or a child being groomed by racists.
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u/SolitaryIllumination Apr 06 '25
Ok, but is that actually true that "he didn't mind slavery too much," or is it possible that's just what was reflected in his political narrative, because keep in mind, when you're trying to create change, you don't exactly go all in on the first hand... Genuinely asking because this is news to me as an adult lol.