Abraham Lincoln s Emancipation Proclamation - 1899 Words

Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation declared â€Å"all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free†. While it continues to be a symbol of equality and social justice, his legacy has generated a century and a half debate that questions if he was the â€Å"progressive man† whose death was an â€Å"unspeakable calamity† as Frederick Douglass proclaimed or had he done â€Å"more to trick Negroes than any other man in history† as Malcolm X claimed in 1964. In order to offer an answer, one must look at Lincoln’s evolving views on slavery and more importantly his reasons for drafting the executive order that†¦show more content†¦While opposed to slavery, the early settlers were still deeply prejudice and vehemently discouraged growth of the free black population. John Woods, an English farmer who settled in Illinois, once said, â€Å"Though now living in a free state, they retain many of the prejudices they imbibed in infancy, and still hold negroes in the utmost contempt† Being raised in this environment, Lincoln most likely had very little actual contact with slaves and his early beliefs, if any existed, were based on those of his family and society. On a trip down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to sell farm goods in New Orleans, nineteen year old Lincoln observed how the market revolution of the early nineteenth century was consolidating the national economy, while further dividing the slave and free societies. Changes in the north, brought on by the building of canals and use of steamboats, created an integrated economy of commercial farms and growing urban and industrial centers; while the South remained mostly agricultural, moving towards westward expansion of its slave system and growth of the cotton industry along the gulf shores. These conflicting cultures would eventually shape him into a politician who was ever adapting to political necessities, willing to compromise for the good ofShow MoreRelatedAbraham Lincoln s Emancipation Proclamation2278 Words   |  10 PagesAbraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation is one of the most successful and influential documents in America’s history and throughout the w orld. Slavery in America had been a substantial part of its history since the early 1600’s and would eventually lead to be a very controversial topic throughout the country. It was an issue that divided the nation momentously into one of the bloodiest wars in world history where even further history would be made through the final abolition of slavery. The effectsRead MoreAbraham Lincoln s Emancipation Proclamation859 Words   |  4 PagesThe Emancipation Proclamation Although Abraham Lincoln produced numerous timeless events in the history of the United States of America, perhaps none more effective as the Emancipation Proclamation. The innovative and impactful Emancipation Proclamation consisted of two executive orders issued by President Lincoln. The first order was issued on September 22, 1862 and gave freedom to all slaves in the Confederate States of America that did not return to Union control by January 1, 1863. One hundredRead MoreThe Emancipation Proclamation By Mr. Harding1259 Words   |  6 PagesThe Emancipation Proclamation has two points of views from highly qualified professors if the Emancipation was to free the slaves or not. The first Professor is Mr. Allen C. Guelzo and the other professor is Vincent Harding. Mr. Allen proposed that Abraham used the Emancipation Proclamation to free the slaves. 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