Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln – Douglas Debates • Lincoln – Douglas Debates – August 21st to October 15th,

1858– Stephen Douglas was one of the only democrats who was

popular in the north and the south. He was running for election in the Senate as a representative from Illinois

– Douglas believed that Popular Sovereignty was the proper way to deal with slavery – it was democratic and it was implemented at the local level, allowing regions to decide on the issue – thus limiting animosity felt from control by a central authority

– The state Republican party of Illinois nominated Abraham Lincoln as their contender to office

– Lincoln disliked slavery but was not an abolitionist. He believed the two races could not coexist as equal, but he did oppose the expansion of slaver into new territories. He assumed slavery would eventually die out in the south as it had done in the north. He did not blame slaveholders for slavery – he felt it was a historical problem beyond their control

Continue– The two represented different contrast

• Lincoln – tall, somber and simplistic. Wore a simple suit that was a but run down that showed his simple roots

• Stephen- Short, aggressive, and complicated. Wore the finest clothes that showed his power and ambition

– Lincoln slavery would expand into the new territories regardless of popular sovereignty because of the Dred Scott Ruling

– Douglas tried to paint Lincoln as radical abolitionist who believed in the equal existence of blacks and whites – Lincoln objected by stating that the races were different and that prevented them from being politically and socially equal, but that they did deserve an equal right to freedom and the fruits of their labor

– Lincoln lost the election despite his party receiving the majority of votes. The debates gave Lincoln a national identity – positive in the north, negative in the south.

Lincoln’s House Divided Speech • Read Lincoln’s Housed Divided Speech and then

answer the following questions. 1 Why did Lincoln make this speech? 2 What was Lincoln’s profession before this speech?

What were his politics before the speech? 3 What does Lincoln mean by a “House Divided” and the

“Government cannot endure”?4 What two “machinery” does Lincoln mention, and how

did they impact slavery? 5 What do you think Lincoln meant by “Welcome, or

unwelcome, such a decision is probably coming…”? 6 Who do you think people in the south reacted to this

speech? How about the North?

Lincoln’s First Inauguration Speech • Read Lincoln’s first inauguration Speech and then answer

the following questions. 1 Under what circumstances did Lincoln make this speech? 2 What is Lincoln’s position on slavery as stated in the

speech? What does Lincoln say is proof of his position?3 What did Lincoln consider the “gravest of crimes”?4 What was Lincoln’s positioning on the Fugitive Slave

Law? 5 What does Lincoln mean by preserve, protect, and

defend? 6 How does Lincoln try to convince the southern states

from secession? 7 Why do you think the Southern States did not believe

Lincoln

Emancipation Proclamation • Lincoln kept captured or runaway slaves once the Civil War began.

Was convinced they would be used to help the Confederate States, and believed the Fugitive Slaves Laws didn’t apply to territories that were in rebellion.

• England was showing support of the Confederacy. England need southern cotton, and a divided US would help maintain its position as the worlds power. Lincoln realized he must change his tactics and prevent England from siding with the south.

• By issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, the war became about slavery and England, being opposed to slavery, would not support the south in a war for slavery.

• EP also brought nobility and a higher purpose to the war. It provided a rational as to why they were fighting. The original purpose was to preserve the union, but people felt that the south wasn’t worth keeping, now, northerners had their purpose, to free those held in bondage. Morale improved

Continue • Lincoln said, “My paramount object in this struggle is to

save the union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery, if I could save the union without freeing any slave I would do it, 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”.

• Lincoln agree to wait until the union had a victory until he issued the EP, if not then it would seem as a measure of last resort

• African Americans welcomed EP and many did their part to help the union in the war. Free and runaway slaves joined the union army, or worked as laborers for the war cause. Slaves in the south sabotaged the plantations they worked on and cause other forms of disruptions.

• Copperheads – antiwar democrats, who became angry with Lincoln when war shifted to free slaves and not to preserve the union. Wanted war to end as a result.

Continue • Read the Emancipation Proclamation and then

answer the following questions.1 Why did Lincoln issue the Emancipation

Proclamation under his authority as commander in chief?

2 Why did Lincoln free only those slaves in areas in rebellion against the United States? Why didn’t he free slaves in areas not in rebellion?

3 What request did Lincoln make of the newly freed slaves, and what opportunity did he offer them?

4 How do you think the south reacted to this proclamation?

Assassination • John Wilkes Booth was an actor, who believed in the

institutions of white supremacy and slavery. He did not fight in the war, but plotted against the Union on several occasions. His most successful ploy against the union was Lincoln’s Assignation

• Confederate surrender drove John Wilkes Booth over the edge, and he decided to demonstrate on final act against the Union

• Lincoln was not the only target on April 14th 1865. Secretary of State William Seward and VP Andrew Johnson were also to be targeted. Seward survived his attack and Johnson’s attacker was to frightened to go through with it.

• While attending a play at Fords Theater with his wife, a drunk John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln in the back of the head. Lincoln died the following morning.

Continue• During his escape Booth broke his leg as he jumped to

the stage. Despite this fact, it took the authorities 12 days to find him. They found in him in a tobacco barn, when he refused to surrender they shot him in the neck. Booth said he didn’t want to live in a world without war, or and blamed Lincoln for the south’s fall.

• Eight people were convicted in plotting with John Wilkes Booth. Four died by hanging.

• Lincoln was buried in Springfield Ill. His body followed the same route he took to Washington five years earlier to accept the presidency. It stopped at various places and allowed mourners to visit the fallen president. The journey lasted 16 days.