Essay --

Abraham Lincoln’s outlooks on slavery were constructed by the times and places in which he was raised and during his time serving his country. Slavery was an accepted foundation in the United States across Lincoln’s developmental years. Lincoln’s own feelings about African Americans and slavery were constant over the years; however when it came to his political positions and actions regarding slavery, they changed as the national situation changed. Lincoln had always acknowledged that slavery was wrong, but that it was accepted and mandatory for the South’s economy. â€Å"In Bloomington, Illinois, he stated ‘that southern slaveholders were neither better, nor worse than we of the north, and that we of the north were no better than they. And we never ought to lose sight of this fact in discussing the subject.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Dillon, Amber. "Lincoln's Changing Views on Slavery†) Lincoln first supported the idea that African Americans did not earn the same rights and treatment of the white men. His perspective of this came from his background and family. With Lincoln’s election to congress in 1854 and the start of the Mexican War, it brought the issue of the expansion of slave territory to the nation’s attention. With this, Lincoln created a coherent position on slavery. â€Å"He was opposed to black equality and had no intention of disturbing slavery in slave states. However, he recognized that slavery was wrong and should not be allowed to spread to new states.† (Dillon, Amber. "Lincoln's Changing Views on Slavery†) This obvious alter in Lincoln’s position developed as he gained political maturity. Lincoln’s next big outlook change on slavery came from when he ran for Senate in 1858 against Stephen A. Douglas. With this lively campaign, Lincoln an... ...widow, and his orphan- to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ ("Second Inaugural Address." Documents America's History) Lincoln expresses how he wants the nation to change the way they have been rationalizing throughout the previous years with the issue of slavery. He doesn’t want anyone to think he holds spite towards them for their previous ways of thinking. Lincoln wanted the Nation to come together as one, instead of two as they have always been. In the previous quote he said just that. Abraham Lincoln wasn’t born â€Å"The Great Emancipator,† though he became â€Å"The Great Emancipator.† Even though Lincoln didn’t particularly have an opinion on slavery in his beginning years, his opinion changed drastically over time. Lincoln always had the Nation’s best interest in heart, and that was made clear.