Why do some people claim Lincoln while freeing slaves did not support equal rights for blacks?

Question

Some people admit he freed the slaves, but still call him a racist. The fact is Lincoln's view on slavery EVOLVED. It evolved from merely hate for slavery to support for full equal rights for black people throughout the land.

NOW FOR SOME FACTS: (PAY ATTENTION TO THE DATES)

LINCOLN HAD ALWAYS HATED SLAVERY
"I have always hated slavery, I think as much as any Abolitionist. I have been an Old Line Whig. I have always hated it, but I have always been quiet about it until this new era of the introduction of the Nebraska Bill began."
- Speech at Chicago, Illinois, July 10, 1858

LINCOLN SUPPORTED ENDING SLAVERY GRADUALLY
"I think Slavery is wrong, morally, and politically. I desire that it should be no further spread in these United States, and I should not object if it should gradually terminate in the whole Union.
I say that we must not interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists, because the constitution forbids it, and the general welfare does not require us to do so.
We must prevent the revival of the African slave trade and the enacting by Congress of a territorial slave code."
- Speech at Cincinnati, Ohio, September 17, 1859

LINCOLN FREED ALL THE SLAVES IN THE SOUTHERN STATES
"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom."
- Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863

LINCOLN SUPPORTING THE 14TH AMENDMENT ENDING SLAVERY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
"At the last session of Congress a proposed amendment of the Constitution abolishing slavery throughout the United States, passed the Senate, but failed for lack of the requisite two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives. Although the present is the same Congress, and nearly the same members, and without questioning the wisdom or patriotism of those who stood in opposition, I venture to recommend the reconsideration and passage of the measure at the present session."
- last message to Congress, December 1864

LINCOLN TELLING AMERICANS, BLACKS DESERVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE
"It is also unsatisfactory to some that the elective franchise is not given to the colored man. I would myself prefer that it were now conferred on the very intelligent, and on those who serve our cause as soldiers."
- Last Public Address, April 11, 1865

http://www.nps.gov/liho/slavery/al01.htm

vinny,

I hear this every once in a while on these boards. They say Lincoln was still a racist, freed the slaves but only the ones from the South, and he wanted to ship them all back to Africa.

I just wanted to straighten the record out.

ken,

Hence the EVOLUTION part. His views changed with time. My guess is he said that because of politics.

Answer 1

I think you are exactly right. There has been a lot of anti-Lincoln propaganda, misinformation and half-truths spread on the Internet and believed by the gullible. Lincoln’s ideas about equal rights did develop, at least publicly. I’m not sure whether it was an evolution of ideas or an exercise of judgment as to how to present new ideas to the public in view of the political realities. Lincoln was a shrewd politician and managed to get just about most of his policies instituted, slowly but surely.

I don’t think anyone else could have successfully handled the issues of slavery and race better than Lincoln did, under the circumstances. There is no question that Lincoln was always anti-slavery. He did not think, however, that blacks would ever be fully accepted in American society and, to date, he was primarily correct in that assessment. He was in favor of colonization, as were some leading black abolitionists, but he consulted black leaders of the day and changed his view on that issue.

Frederick Douglass said of Lincoln, “Viewed from the genuine abolition ground, Mr. Lincoln seemed tardy, cold, dull, and indifferent; but measuring him by the sentiment of his country, a sentiment he was bound as a statesman to consult, he was swift, zealous, radical, and determined.” Douglass also said about Lincoln that “He knew the American people better than they knew themselves,” and that he knew how quickly to bring them along with new ideas.

Answer 2

You're confusing two different issues. You are entirely correct in saying Lincoln never supported slavery--and obviously was the person responsible for freeing them.

But--Lincoln did not favor full social equality for blacks--in fact very few of the abolitionists did. They--and Lincoln--have been called "racist" by some modern second-rate scholars--and I do mean second-rate. Andit is a totally unfair accusation.

But Lincoln's views would--today--not be acceptable. Lincoln was a product of his time and culture--as we all are. And at that time, the view--among the most progressive advocates of human rights and equality--was that blacks were simply not as intelligent as whites. They were wrong, of course--but the point is that Lincoln--as insightful and far-sighted as he was--was still jsut as much a prisoner of his own social world and its ideas ans anyone else.

So--Lincoln did oppose slavery--and he did favor civil rights for blacks to a great degree. He did not support full social equality, and did not think blacks would--as a group--be able to acheve full economic equality.

Don't get me wrong--I admire Lincoln tremendously. But he was not perfect--and as I said--he was a reflection of the world around him--as are we all--as much as he was a shaper of that world.

Answer 3

During the Lincoln-Douglas debate at Charleston on September 18, 1858, Lincoln stated:

I will say then that I am not, nor have I ever been in the favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races . . . There must be a position of superior and inferior, and I... am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race ... I do not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position that the negroe should be deprived everything.

Does this help?

Answer 4

"If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that...I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men everywhere could be free. " In actual practice he freed all the slaves in confederate territories.


Abraham Lincoln

Answer 5

You are correct on all points, but left out the one where he tried unsuccessfully to find a country that would take the newly freed slaves.

Answer 6

Who ever said Lincoln didnt support equal rights for blacks?

Do you have an article to reference, circa 1862???

Answer 7

Thank you to the first respondent. These 'history' lessons have nothing to do with our political situation of today. Most of the questions 'asked' are merely focused on downing the South.

In response to the question, I've seriously never researched it. Slavery ended years ago and along with it, most of us moved on with our lives. :)

Answer 8

The reason why people say that is because he set them free to help him win the war. No more no less if blacks decided not to fight our a*s will still be slaved.

That's the truth thank GOD for my ancestor's

Answer 9

Who gives a crap. My concern for today is how the Democrat party continues to 'enslave' poor minorites with promises of hand-outs and freebies without offering them ways they can get THEMSELVES out of poverty.

Answer 10

filibustering questions deserve filibustering answers