The cause of the Civil War was primarily over the issue of slavery and Lincoln was determined to end it. He had always known, even since a young boy that the morality of slavery was evil and he wanted to participate in the ending of its reign. In a lecture, Lincoln, Slavery and the Civil War, Eliot Landau describes Lincoln’s first encounter at a slave market. “He promised he would work against the market of slavery.” After the outbreak of the war, his belief still remained steadfast under the issue of slavery, however, his main objective was to save the Union. His mission became a priority stating that he wanted the land to be united again to “declare this land that all men are created equal.” In order for this to happen he had to save the Union and win the war. Lincoln knew that ending slavery would be a difficult challenge but in order to end it, he had to be certain of winning the war. After the battle of Antietam the Union confidence was rising, especially knowing that Europe would most likely stay out of the war, Lincoln took the chance of bringing the issue of slavery back to the forefront. He was informed that the South was utilizing the slaves in the Confederate Army which was also a motivation to bring forth his Emancipation.
Many slaves were not freed right away following the announcement of the Proclamation, however, the document, denounced by many also showed that the issue of slavery had created a moral war that generated an exceedingly fierce fight among the Union and the Confederates. Each side threw everything on the table, and with Lincoln his, “Whole soul” was “in it.” The Union and the Confederacy had no choice and both sides wanted nothing more than unequivocal victory.
Lincoln did not embody the understanding of how far the Proclamation would go or how long it would survive. With all of the opposition he faced with his Proclamation, he knew it was a start in the right direction to freeing all slaves while protecting the Constitution. Although, still a particular politician in how he handled the slavery issue during the war, he saw this as his time to finally abolish slavery, which he once envisioned as a young boy.
Eliot Landau, “Lincoln, Slavery and the Civil War” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDz1ORAYF8
Doris Kearns Goodwin, My whole soul is in it, Smithsonian, Jan 2006, Vol. 36 Issue 10, p48-58.
James Percoco, Lincoln, Race, and Slavery 1856-1865, OAH Magazine of History. Oct2007, Vol. 21 Issue 4
James Percoco, Lincoln, Race, and Slavery 1856-1865, OAH Magazine of History. Oct2007, Vol. 21 Issue 4
