why do you think linclon was hesitant to emancipate slave?

Answer 1

Already some good points stated.

President Abraham Lincoln stated that his goal was to preserve the Union (United States). Whether slavery was intact or abolished, Lincoln stated that either was completely acceptable in order to preserve the Union. Lincoln, at least initially, was not completely against slavery, he was not an abolitionist. He was, in other words, completely and unequivocally pro-Union.

The progression of the Civil War, however, demanded views and positions, including the North's position on slavery, to adapt. From a military standpoint, moreover, Lincoln made a great political maneuver by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. And it may have assisted in keeping England and France on the sidelines.

Notes:
By freeing the slaves it would flood the North with tens of thousands of emancipated homeless victims. Furthermore, New York had just experienced the "Draft Riots," which, also, had targeted blacks (just a few months before the Preliminary EP was signed). Lincoln's decision was not based on transferring blacks into the North's workforce, however, 180,000 blacks eventually served in the Union army.

New York Draft Riots
During the summer of 1863, groups of irate Northerners, many of them Irish immigrants, banded together across New York City. Eventually numbering some 50,000 people, the mob terrorized neighborhoods on the East Side of New York for three days looting scores of stores. BLACKS were the targets of most attacks; several lynchings and beatings occurred. In addition, a black church and orphanage were burned to the ground.

Answer 2

Lincolns overriding concern was to preserve the Union. He thought all hope would be lost if the United States split to become two countries. He knew that slavery was a divisive subject. Only about 10% of southerners had slaves, but didn't want the federal government forcing any laws on their states. (States had much broader powers before the war) Lincoln knew that the emancipation would anger the southern states and maybe move them towards secession, which he wanted to prevent at all costs.

Interestingly enough, slavery is one issue that Thomas Jefferson didn't mention much in the Declaration of Independence, he was against it in principal (although he owned slaves) but purposely left it out because he knew some states wouldn't join the union if he spoke too strongly against it. He also knew that it would have to be settled in the future, and feared that it might lead to war.

Answer 3

Primarily because the move wasn't really popular at the time. Lincoln had to be especially worried about the response in some border states, which had slavery but had chosen to remain in the Union. But there was also opposition from northerners who thought the war should be about preserving the Union, not ending slavery.

Answer 4

Doesn't ECONOMICS (money) stand behind most major political decisions?? No different with Lincoln. Freeing the slaves, besides alienating the southern states, would also flood the labor market making labor more affordable, and salaries would be less because there would be less demand for labor. Good old theory of supply and demand.

Chow!!

Answer 5

because he knew at least half the country was for slavery, and would be against him in it. They had also just fought a civil war which left the country divided more than ever on the issue of slavery.