1861 Controversy?

Question

If the northern and southern states both opposed emancipation, why then was emancipation choosen as the focal point of the controversy of 1861?

I have an essay question from my History final. I promise I didnt make this question up, the north really did oppose emancipation at first.
If the northern and southern states Originally both opposed emancipation than why was emancipation choosen as the focal point of the controversy in 1861?

Answer 1

First, contrary to what some are saying, many in the North DID oppose emancipation... at the least as causing unnecessary provocation (though most accepted the need for it by the war's end). Indeed, Lincoln's party did VERY poorly in the elections of 1862, shortly after the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation was issued (Sept 22), and that document was one of the key reasons.

Actually, the DATE you've listed is a bit off. "Emancipation" did not become the focal point until 1862, over a year into the conflict (though some did try to push it before that time).

This delay is critical to take note of -- it is not surprising that war, esp. one that turns out to be much harsher than any anticipated, will itself lead to many changes in tactics as well as sentiment. After a year of brutal war many who had given no serious thought to emancipation (even some who would have opposed it) were quite open to it, esp. as a "war measure" that would weaken the South's ability to fight.

Two reflections on this:

First, on Lincoln's OWN reasons for issuing his Emancipation Proclamation, the following brief summary by historian Stephen Oates characterizes it well:

"We now know that Lincoln issued his proclamation for a combination of reasons: to clarify the status of the fugitive slaves, to solve the Union's manpower woes, to keep Great Britain out of the conflict, to maim and cripple the Confederacy by destroying its labor force, to remove the very thing that had caused the war, and to break the chains of several million oppressed human beings and right America at last with her own ideals."
http://www.mrlincolnandfreedom.org/inside.asp?ID=3&subjectID=1

The website just cited -- mrlincolandfreedom.com -- has an excellent collection of essays on the broader subject of how and why Lincoln came to 'free the slaves'.

And here is a snip from Lincoln's second inagural address (March 1864, as the war was winding down):

"One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. . . . Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding."
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/presiden/inaug/lincoln2.htm

This is key -- slavery was ultimately the CAUSE of the war**, so it was scarcely surprising that, as the war became more intense, there would be a greater willingness to move from trying to 'patch over' the differences (restoring the Union without touching slavery) to dealing more forcefully with the institution that was at the root of it all.

**for those who try to say it was "states rights" and not slavery, just look at the clear statements issued by the first states to secede, explaining their REASONS for seceding -- THE rights they are concerned with are almost completely bound up with slavery
http://members.aol.com/jfepperson/reasons.html

See also Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens' March 1861 speech extolling their new Constitution, including prominently, its firm basis on the IN-equality of the races, and its protection of slavery:
"not to be tedious in enumerating the numerous changes for the better, allow me to allude to one other-though last, not least: the new Constitution has put at rest forever all the agitating questions relating to our peculiar institutions-African slavery as it exists among us-the proper status of the ***** in our form of civilization. THIS WAS THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF THE LATE RUPTURE AND PRESENT REVOLUTION!! [emphasis mine]. . . . "
http://civilwartalk.com/cwt_alt/resources/documents/cornerstone_addy.htm

Answer 2

Greetings,
In 1861 emancipation was not by any means the focal point of the conflict. It was a non issue to the great majority of people of the north and south alike.
In the early years of the war, the south was soundly whipping the northern troops at every turn. England, France and a few other European country's were considering recognizing the confederacy as a nation, that would have meant economic, military and most of all, political assistance to end the war in favor of the confederacy.
The emancipation proclamation was a attempt to sway the European nations that this was a conflict of freedom, not the conquering of peaceful lands in a war of expansion. For this proclamation to be taken seriously by the heads of state at the time, it needed to come out after a Northern victory, The union forces got there victory at Gettysburg, PA.
Then and only then did most of the world first hear about the campaign to free the oppressed. It was a lie then, as it is a lie now.

Answer 3

Lincoln adopted emancipation as a war aim because he knew that slave labor was driving the Confederate war machine as well as Southern agriculture. If the Union forces emancipated slaves as they passed through a region, then the farms and factories in that area would be without workers.

This hurt the South because whites who were desperately needed on the battlefield were being forced to do the work previously done by slaves. This is just one aspect of "total war" that the North began in the fall of 1862.

Answer 4

compromise of 1820 or the Missouri compromise Nullification Crisis of 1832 Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo which ended the US and Mexican war 1848 Uncle Tom;s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe Compromise of 1850 Kansas Nebraska Act of 1854 bleeding Kansas and John Brown til his capture at Harper's Ferry in 1859 Dred Scott decision of 1857 by the Supreme Court Lincoln Douglas Debates Formation of the Republican party in 1854 Election of Lincoln in 1860 Secession of South Carolina and eventually 10 others Failure of Crittenden Compromise firing on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861

Answer 5

The North wasn't against Emancipation, but they also didn't want the South to leave the Union this was more important. I can't write the Essay for you.

Answer 6

The north didn't oppose emancipation.