Was Abraham Lincoln a conservative or a liberal?

Question

And I do know he was a Republican.. That's not the question..

hmmm.. Must've confused the rednecks with the comments part or I'd probably have 30 answers telling me he was republican..

ruth- I wouldn't want to play either. It'd suck to know your on the wrong side of the fence..

Answer 1

Yes, he was a Republican, but the Republican Party was liberal in his day...when it originated. It has been coopted by southern extemist conservatives in more recent times. They are also falsely trying to claim they have something to do with democracy! Wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Abraham Lincoln didn't really do much. Sure the Civil War happened, but he didn't fight it nor did he start it. Beyond that, he wasn't known for doing much. Sure he was a lawyer, but he very text book in his stance. I think he was a conservative in the true sense. He wasn't a man of change at all. He wanted it all to be as it was before. As far as slavery went, he told a reporter that he didn't care about the slaves. He was fighting to keep the country together. Even after the Civil War, the U.S. spent 7 years to get the American Indians to give up their slaves.

Answer 3

I think since the liberal and liberty are so closely related, he could have been considered a liberal since he gave liberty to the slaves.

Answer 4

Today's liberals engage in constant historical revisionism, claiming all past lovers of liberty as "liberals."

I don't play this game.

EDIT: Conservatives historically have been protectors of our liberties (while liberal, activist judges took away the rights of the majority). Currently, the only liberties being protected by liberals are those of illegal aliens and terrorists, so don't talk to me about being on the "wrong side of the fence."