Could american friends help me with these questions?

Question

Is it true that president Abraham Lincoln should be honored for abolishing the institution of slavery in america?

why did leaders such as George washington, Thomas jefferson and even woodrow wilson condemn slavery while holding african american slaves on their farms?

ex muslim / atheist

Answer 1

For economic reasons.
Indentured servants would eventually pay off their debt and would become free men and women.

Slave owners did not just own a slave they also made it so they could also own their slaves children. In fact towards the end of slavery in the US, slave breeding was found to be more economical instead of paying to ship slaves from Africa.

By the way, slavery still exists today in parts of the world like Africa, the Mideast and Asia.

Answer 2

Hi and GM Senita.....President Abraham Lincoln was an excellent President for his era. He believed that every man should be 'free'. He certainly didn't approve of 'slavery' and that is why we ended up in a Civil War because of his beliefs and others as well. These beautiful people that had been literally 'kidnapped' from their homes to become slaves for the rich and others alike, abused, murdered and beaten ,children being sold taken away from their parents, Lincoln saw this and wanted it stopped permanently! Lincoln was determined and his beliefs won unfortunately he died due to his beliefs and America lost a good man as well as a good president. As to George and Thomas they were from a different time period. Way before Lincoln came to be. In their time, slavery wasn't an issue. No one actually complained about the fact that all men should be free although the Constitution had been established it wasn't considered an issue concerning slavery. Why I'm not certain. Maybe perhaps. since it was in a different time and era and the beliefs were of no issue. Who knows. But things changed when Lincoln came to be known. As to Woodrow Wilson, here again, a different time, long after George and Thomas and Lincoln. I imagine if Woodrow had African Americans working at his home or while he was President, they were considered 'employed' and getting wages for their time and work, not being 'slaves' as to the 1700 & 1800's era. Hope this has helped. Take care and have a wonderful day!

Answer 3

Woodrow Wilson was born in 1856, so I doubt he owned any slaves, he was 9 when the Civil War ended.

Washington and Jefferson owned slaves but were conflicted over it. Washington ordered the freeing of his slave on his wife's death. Jefferson is a paradox.

The Civil War ended slavery in the U.S., the Emancipation Proclamation meant nothing in the Confederacy.

Answer 4

Thomas Jefferson had tried writing something in the Declaration of Independence about freeing slaves but everyone else was so against it he took it out and decided that could be taken care of later.

Answer 5

Its an excellent question and doesn't have an easy answer. Remember that slavery was a worldwide evil and existed legally in some parts of the world until 1970. In past times, slavery was considered a part of the economy. When the world slowly woke up to its evil, the entire economy of our south literally couldn't exist without it, and they insisted it be continued. The most horrible war we ever fought was our civil war over slavery, and it was a painful lesson for us. I believe Lincoln should be honored as the main person who fought against slavery. Evolution is a slow hard process, and all of the people who helped that process along should be honored, even those who commited sins for not being perfect.

Answer 6

No, Abraham Lincoln should not be honored. His intents were not to free slaves and really he had no power. Only the Constitution of The United States has the Power and it was not until it was amended that slaves went free. Lincolns Plan was to upset the south and send all the slaves back to land in Africa that the USA had purchased.

Lincolns famous letter to Horace Greeley in which he wrote that "my paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and it is not either to save or destroy slavery, 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."
Maybe you should read US History

Lincoln continually insisted the purpose of the war was to save the union and not the freeing of slaves. Who deserves credit are the slaves who fought and took the opportunity to fight for freedom.

Answer 7

The late President Abraham Lincoln was honored of his being the President of the United States of America and was respected by all the citizenry in abolishing slavery in America.

All passed and present Presidents of America are being honored and respected including great people who contributed their services to the citizenry were honored and respected. Study your History, US History.
jtm

Answer 8

That was on its way out anyway.His big heroic deed that cost him his life was bucking the illuminati and issuing Greenbacks to fund the unneccessary War of Northern Agression.Second question has to do with time.Things do not change overnight.They take time.And if one runs against the grain,a mighty endeavor will lose supporters pronto.You know there were White slaves as well.

Answer 9

Has there ever been a president of that country who could be honoured for anything?The more you read about them,the worse they all appear to have been.As for the present occupier of the white house,every time he opens his rotten lying mouth it is evident that he didn't,does not and never will deserve honour.

Answer 10

this is the common misconception always think lincoln had sole power to free slaves...and yes he was worried about saving the union not slaves.. he owned slaves...