An American statesman and lawyer, Abraham (“Abe”) Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) served as the 16th President of the United States of America. Lincoln’s presidency coincided with the American Civil War and during this time, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. While he was morally opposed to the institution of slavery, this act was largely a response to those states that had rebelled against the Union. The Emancipation Proclamation changed the federal legal status of more than 3 million slaves living within states that had seceded from the Union. It did not include the non-rebellious slave states (Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, and Missouri) and particular southern areas already under Union control. Furthermore, enslaved individuals still needed to self-emancipate themselves by running away and reaching the Union border, or wait for Union troops to free them. Because of these circumstances, only about 15% of enslaved individuals were actually freed by the end of the Civil War. Their freedom would come later that year with the passage of the 13th amendment.
However, believing that the institution of slavery is morally wrong and recognizing the need for racial equality are distinctly different. During his campaign against Stephen Douglass, Lincoln was accused of supporting racial equality. Furthermore, for a long time, Lincoln’s plan for African Americans in the United States largely revolved around setting up colonies elsewhere. While these viewpoints on racial equality may have evolved over time, it is still a perspective that he held. Comments regarding this view can be read in the linked pdf below.
