Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln

OverviewOverview

To understand the Civil War, To understand the Civil War, you must be a student of you must be a student of LincolnLincoln

WittyWitty CharismaCharisma

Captivating storytellerCaptivating storyteller Analytical, logical Analytical, logical A humble visionary – see big A humble visionary – see big

picturepicture He was the right person at He was the right person at

the right time and the the right time and the country has been shaped by country has been shaped by his leadership ever sincehis leadership ever since

Lincoln on SlaveryLincoln on Slavery

““I hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slaveryI hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slaveryitself. I hate it because it deprives our republican example of itsitself. I hate it because it deprives our republican example of itsjust influence in the world – enables the enemies of freejust influence in the world – enables the enemies of freeinstitutions, with plausibility, to taunt us as hypocrites – causesinstitutions, with plausibility, to taunt us as hypocrites – causeshe real friends of freedom to doubt our sincerity, and especiallyhe real friends of freedom to doubt our sincerity, and especiallybecause it forces so many really good men amongst ourselvesbecause it forces so many really good men amongst ourselvesinto an open war with the fundamental principles of civil libertyinto an open war with the fundamental principles of civil liberty– – criticizing the Declaration of Independence, and insisting thatcriticizing the Declaration of Independence, and insisting thatthere is no right principle of action but self interest.”there is no right principle of action but self interest.”

Lincoln: A House DividedLincoln: A House Divided

Acceptance speech Acceptance speech for Illinois Senate for Illinois Senate Race -1858Race -1858

””I believe this I believe this government cannot government cannot endure permanently endure permanently half slave and half half slave and half free. I do not expect free. I do not expect the union to be the union to be dissolved – I do not dissolved – I do not expect the house to expect the house to fall – but I do expect it fall – but I do expect it will cease to be will cease to be divided. It will become divided. It will become all one thing or all the all one thing or all the other” (all free or all other” (all free or all slave)slave)

Lincoln Douglas Debates - Lincoln Douglas Debates - 18581858

Lincoln and Douglas debated seven Lincoln and Douglas debated seven timestimes

Well attendedWell attended Fan FareFan Fare

Both men were excellent speakers and Both men were excellent speakers and keen intellectskeen intellects

Critical of one anotherCritical of one another Douglas said…Douglas said…

People/states should have sovereignty over People/states should have sovereignty over slaveryslavery

House Divided speech radicalHouse Divided speech radical Lincoln an Abolitionist – Black Republican Lincoln an Abolitionist – Black Republican

who wants equality for Blackswho wants equality for Blacks LincolnLincoln

No place in a democracyNo place in a democracy Won’t abolish slavery, but won’t let it spreadWon’t abolish slavery, but won’t let it spread Douglas want to extend slaveryDouglas want to extend slavery

Equal Rights IssueEqual Rights Issue

Douglas accused Lincoln of wanting equal rights for Douglas accused Lincoln of wanting equal rights for African Americans.African Americans.

At the Charleston debate, Lincoln said,At the Charleston debate, Lincoln said,

““I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black political equality of the white and black races. I am not nor ever have been in favor of races. I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and races living together on terms of social and political equality. And insomuch as they political equality. And insomuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race”assigned to the white race”

Lincoln’s plan to handle Lincoln’s plan to handle slaveryslavery

The Union comes first: “Much as I hate The Union comes first: “Much as I hate slavery, I would consent to the slavery, I would consent to the extension of it rather than see the extension of it rather than see the Union dissolved, just as I would Union dissolved, just as I would consent to any great evil to avoid a consent to any great evil to avoid a greater one.”greater one.”

Government can’t remove slavery Government can’t remove slavery UnconstitutionalUnconstitutional Focused on stopping the spread of slaveryFocused on stopping the spread of slavery

Preserve opportunities for white workersPreserve opportunities for white workers Supported government funded expansion for Supported government funded expansion for

white peoplewhite people

Freeport Freeport DoctrineDoctrine

Lincoln: Can people from a territory exclude slavery if they Lincoln: Can people from a territory exclude slavery if they wished to do so?wished to do so?

Douglas: Yes… they could legislate to that endDouglas: Yes… they could legislate to that end

Alienated Douglas from Southern DemocratsAlienated Douglas from Southern Democrats Contradicted Dred ScottContradicted Dred Scott Already mad at him for rejecting the Lecompton ConstitutionAlready mad at him for rejecting the Lecompton Constitution

Regardless, Lincoln will lose in 1858Regardless, Lincoln will lose in 1858

Election of 1860Election of 1860

Republicans: Lincoln – Republicans: Lincoln – moderate on slaverymoderate on slavery

Democrats: DividedDemocrats: Divided Northern Democrats: Stephan Northern Democrats: Stephan

DouglasDouglas Southern Democrats: John Southern Democrats: John

BreckenridgeBreckenridge Constitutional Union Party: Constitutional Union Party:

John BellJohn Bell

Lincoln not on southern Lincoln not on southern ballots, but winsballots, but wins

Election Results of 1860Election Results of 1860

Southern SecessionSouthern Secession

The Southern way of life in dangerThe Southern way of life in danger Draw parallel to 1776Draw parallel to 1776 South Carolina on Dec. 20th, 1960 South Carolina on Dec. 20th, 1960

First Ordinances of SecessionFirst Ordinances of Secession In Jan-Feb of 1861 – the following In Jan-Feb of 1861 – the following

secedesecede GeorgiaGeorgia FloridaFlorida AlabamaAlabama MississippiMississippi LouisianaLouisiana Texas Texas

Crittenden Crittenden Compromise Compromise

Dec 1860Dec 1860

Amendments to Constitution Amendments to Constitution Protect slavery where it existsProtect slavery where it exists 36* 30’ line - demarcation for slavery 36* 30’ line - demarcation for slavery Allow slavery on federal property (forts) and in Allow slavery on federal property (forts) and in

Washington Washington Interstate slave trade – no federal interferenceInterstate slave trade – no federal interference No future amendments could override these No future amendments could override these

Lincoln rejected it Lincoln rejected it Devalued all that the republicans stood forDevalued all that the republicans stood for Some Southerners rejected it as well. (Jeff Davis, Robert Some Southerners rejected it as well. (Jeff Davis, Robert

Toombs) They felt war was necessary and inevitableToombs) They felt war was necessary and inevitable

James BuchananJames Buchanan Pennsylvania – democrat - pro- SouthernPennsylvania – democrat - pro- Southern Felt “Black” Republicans were disunionistsFelt “Black” Republicans were disunionists He aligned himself with Southern interestsHe aligned himself with Southern interests

Lecompton ConstitutionLecompton Constitution Dred Scott v. SanfordDred Scott v. Sanford Opposition to Stephan DouglasOpposition to Stephan Douglas

Disagreed with secession, but did not know how to Disagreed with secession, but did not know how to reactreact Did not support either sideDid not support either side

This made him an outsider to both northerners and This made him an outsider to both northerners and southernerssoutherners

Felt it was not in federal govt’s power to force states Felt it was not in federal govt’s power to force states back into the Unionback into the Union

Said he would not use forceSaid he would not use force

Southern Organization EffortsSouthern Organization Efforts

Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as the President of Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as the President of the Confederate States of America Feb 18th, the Confederate States of America Feb 18th, 18611861 Alexander Stevens - VPAlexander Stevens - VP

Constitution – Mar 11, 1861Constitution – Mar 11, 1861 Provisional Army – 10,000 troops Provisional Army – 10,000 troops They begin to seize federal forts in the SouthThey begin to seize federal forts in the South

Inaugural AddressInaugural Address

He reaffirmed that he had no intention of He reaffirmed that he had no intention of interfering with slavery in the Southern States interfering with slavery in the Southern States

He pledged …He pledged … to enforce the fugitive slave lawto enforce the fugitive slave law he endorsed the proposed constitutional he endorsed the proposed constitutional

amendment protecting slavery in the states. amendment protecting slavery in the states. Finally he said, “In your hands, my Finally he said, “In your hands, my

dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war” mine, is the momentous issue of civil war” “The government will not assail you. You can “The government will not assail you. You can have no conflict, without being yourselves the have no conflict, without being yourselves the aggressors”aggressors”