They Got It Wrong: History by Emma Marriott

Author:Emma Marriott
Language: eng, eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Readers Digest

Abraham Lincoln’s main aim in fighting the Civil War was to free the slaves.

Abraham Lincoln is regarded as one of America’s greatest presidents. He successfully led his country through the Civil War of 1861 to 1865, preserved the Union, and abolished slavery throughout the United States. It’s commonly assumed that the issue of slave emancipation spurred Lincoln—to invade the southern states. It’s an impressive theory, and worthy of such a fine president, but not quite true.

It took four years for the Union forces of the North to crush the Confederates of the South, and in that time Lincoln’s objectives changed. At the outset of hostilities, Lincoln had two basic aims: to preserve the Union and to halt further expansion of slavery into the West. But as the war continued the abolition of slavery became his new and primary motive.

Reality Check

Lincoln’s Stance at the Outset of War

Abraham Lincoln declared this in a 1858 public debate on the future of slavery:

I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races, that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people. . . . I do not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the negro should be denied everything. I do not understand that because I do not want a negro woman for a slave I must necessarily want her for a wife. My understanding is that I can just let her alone.

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