I thought Lincoln was a conservative but people told me he was a liberal, because freeing the slaves was a liberal act.
2006-12-27 06:02:23 · 11 answers · asked by ellisMC 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
How is that a liberal act? It's a humane act. Has nothing to do with liberal or conservative.
2006-12-27 06:04:47 · answer #1 · answered by Lrscghost 2 · 1⤊ 5⤋
Depends on the standards of liberal you use. At the time, to some that was liberal.
Today's definition of liberal applies to Democrats from Jimmy Carter and on. JFK and Truman would definitely be Republicans.
Also, learn your history. Lincoln did not free the slaves. The South has ceded from the Union and the Emancipation Proclamation had no authority over the South.
2006-12-27 06:07:55 · answer #2 · answered by Chainsaw 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes Lincoln was a liberal, since fiscal policy is the real determinant in political leaning, so was Truman, JFK and FDR. Truman and FDR were the leaders of the switch that the Dems and Republicans made in the late 30's in fiscal ans social policy.
2006-12-27 06:11:22 · answer #3 · answered by vertical732 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes, lincoln was a liberal. and by definition, he would be a democrat today, not a republican. the two parties basically switched sides in the 20s and 30s. FDR is widely considered the first true democrat that we think of today. so while Lincoln was a republican then, its not the same party now.
2006-12-27 06:08:28 · answer #4 · answered by 2010 CWS Champs! 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
needless to say, Lincoln could no longer administration what occasion counseled him in a given 12 months, somewhat till now while. In hindsight, asserting that the federal government had the terrific suited to end slavery via states is an rather good occasion of activist government (to no longer point out deficit spending, and so on.) the present conservative place of "get government out of lives" could look at odds with that place. as a result, i assume this is honest to declare Lincoln could be a liberal in some techniques at the instant. I hadn't theory-approximately that for the period of the previous. thank you for illuminating me.
2016-11-23 19:53:54 · answer #5 · answered by heuss 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lincoln was very much a liberal. he was not as extreme as some in congress, but he was one of the more liberal politicians of his time. (Though Seward, the Sec. Of State, was more liberal)
At that time, Freeing the slaves was a political act, not a 'humane' one, though that's how we see it now.
the Republicans started out as the liberal party. Strange, isn't it?
2006-12-27 06:06:21 · answer #6 · answered by The Big Box 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
He was a liberal. Back then Republican party was a liberal party and a Democratic party was conservative.
2006-12-27 06:08:09 · answer #7 · answered by Nice man 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
For his time, yes, he was a liberal. Republicans and Democrats had switched names in hte 1960's (i.e. before, Republicans were liberal and Democrats were conservative.)
2006-12-27 07:38:38 · answer #8 · answered by whitearmofrohan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really doesn't make much sense to apply today's terms to people who lived so long ago.
Many people say John F. Kennedy would be a Republican today, but, who knows, doesn't do any good to debate things like that.
2006-12-27 06:07:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Lincoln was republican. Anti slavery movement was born in the Republican party.
2006-12-27 06:04:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋