Times were VERY different back then.
It's kind of like us trying to compare today's NFL against the NFL of the 1960's.
(Yes, I KNOW that slavery and war is not the same, just trying to show something that maybe some here can more identify with)
Lincoln did what he could do to end slavery. I'd say, that for that time in history, that's NOT a small thing.
Many northern WHITE men died fighting for the end of slavery.
Was Lincoln perfect? No. Then again, who of us IS perfect?
Who of us would have had the GUTS to do what Lincoln did?
It ended up with him getting a bullet in the head for his troubles.
Originally Posted by: Cheesey
You're right, times were different back than and we should take your word for it because you were there!!! haha
Lincoln emancipated some (not all) of the slaves so he could win the war. A war that was not started with the goal of ending slavery in mind.
Lincoln should be credited for getting the ball started to end slavery, not for ending slavery.
What if the Union was on the verge of winning the war, does he still emancipate some of the slaves?
Lincoln didn't like slavery, but shit he didn't believe Blacks and Whites could live together in harmony and wanted Blacks to leave the Country for Africa, or somewhere I forget specifically.
Lincoln did what he was forced to do in order to win the war and prevent the Country from being divided.
What if Virginia hadn't seceded the Union? Robert E. Lee (who freed his fathers slaves, yet apparently had some himself) and Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson would have led the Union military and the war most surely would have ended much sooner and without the emancipation.