1. Abraham Lincoln

2. Overview To understand the Civil War, you must be a student of Lincoln To understand the Civil War, you must be a student of Lincoln Witty Witty Charisma Charisma Captivating storyteller Captivating storyteller Analytical, logical Analytical, logical A humble visionary – see big picture A humble visionary – see big picture He was the right person at the right time and the country has been shaped by his leadership ever since He was the right person at the right time and the country has been shaped by his leadership ever since

3. Background Raised poor & uneducated Raised poor & uneducated Born in Kentucky… moved to Indiana and then Illinois Born in Kentucky… moved to Indiana and then Illinois Parents Parents Education Education Young Adult Young Adult Appearance Appearance

4. Lincoln in Politics Illinois HOR - 8 years Illinois HOR - 8 years US House of Reps from 1847-49 US House of Reps from 1847-49 Left politics - focus on law career Left politics - focus on law career Returned in opposition to Kansas Nebraska Act Returned in opposition to Kansas Nebraska Act Where to go? Where to go? The Northern Whig party continued to collapse The Northern Whig party continued to collapse The Know Nothing Party or The Know Nothing Party or The newly formed Republican Party The newly formed Republican Party

5. Lincoln on Liberty Lincoln had no respect for Know-Nothings Lincoln had no respect for Know-Nothings In private, Lincoln said, In private, Lincoln said, “As a nation, we began by declaring that all men are created equal. We now practically read it as ‘All men are created equal, except negroes.’ When the Know-nothings get control, it will read “All men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and catholics.’ When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty…” “As a nation, we began by declaring that all men are created equal. We now practically read it as ‘All men are created equal, except negroes.’ When the Know-nothings get control, it will read “All men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and catholics.’ When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty…”

6. Lincoln on Slavery “I hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slavery itself. I hate it because it deprives our republican example of its just influence in the world – enables the enemies of free institutions, with plausibility, to taunt us as hypocrites – causes he real friends of freedom to doubt our sincerity, and especially because it forces so many really good men amongst ourselves into an open war with the fundamental principles of civil liberty – criticizing the Declaration of Independence, and insisting that there is no right principle of action but self interest.”

7. Lincoln: A House Divided Acceptance speech for Illinois Senate Race - 1858 Acceptance speech for Illinois Senate Race - 1858 ”I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the union to be dissolved – I do not expect the house to fall – but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other” (all free or all slave) ”I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the union to be dissolved – I do not expect the house to fall – but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other” (all free or all slave)

8. Lincoln Douglas Debates - 1858 Lincoln and Douglas debated seven times Lincoln and Douglas debated seven times Well attended Well attended Fan Fare Fan Fare Both men were excellent speakers and keen intellects Both men were excellent speakers and keen intellects Critical of one another Critical of one another Douglas said… Douglas said… People/states should have sovereignty over slavery People/states should have sovereignty over slavery House Divided speech radical House Divided speech radical Lincoln an Abolitionist – Black Republican who wants equality for Blacks Lincoln an Abolitionist – Black Republican who wants equality for Blacks Lincoln Lincoln No place in a democracy No place in a democracy Won’t abolish slavery, but won’t let it spread Won’t abolish slavery, but won’t let it spread Douglas want to extend slavery Douglas want to extend slavery

9. Equal Rights Issue Douglas accused Lincoln of wanting equal rights for African Americans. Douglas accused Lincoln of wanting equal rights for African Americans. At the Charleston debate, Lincoln said, At the Charleston debate, Lincoln said, “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. 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; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And insomuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race” “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. 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; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And insomuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race”

10. Lincoln on African Americans He believed that whites and African Americans could not coexist equally He believed that whites and African Americans could not coexist equally Caribbean colony – failed in 1864 Caribbean colony – failed in 1864 Political posturing? Political posturing? Later he would change his position Later he would change his position Always believed Afr-Amer entitled to natural rights per the D of I Always believed Afr-Amer entitled to natural rights per the D of I

11. Lincoln’s plan to handle slavery The Union comes first: “Much as I hate slavery, I would consent to the extension of it rather than see the Union dissolved, just as I would consent to any great evil to avoid a greater one.” The Union comes first: “Much as I hate slavery, I would consent to the extension of it rather than see the Union dissolved, just as I would consent to any great evil to avoid a greater one.” Government can’t remove slavery Government can’t remove slavery Unconstitutional Unconstitutional Focused on stopping the spread of slavery Focused on stopping the spread of slavery Preserve opportunities for white workers Preserve opportunities for white workers Supported government funded expansion for white people Supported government funded expansion for white people

12. Freeport Doctrine Lincoln: Can people from a territory exclude slavery if they wished to do so? Lincoln: Can people from a territory exclude slavery if they wished to do so? Douglas: Yes… they could legislate to that end Douglas: Yes… they could legislate to that end Alienated Douglas from Southern Democrats Alienated Douglas from Southern Democrats Contradicted Dred Scott Contradicted Dred Scott Already mad at him for rejecting the Lecompton Constitution Already mad at him for rejecting the Lecompton Constitution Regardless, Lincoln will lose in 1858 Regardless, Lincoln will lose in 1858

13. Election of 1860 Republicans: Lincoln – moderate on slavery Republicans: Lincoln – moderate on slavery Democrats: Divided Democrats: Divided Northern Democrats: Stephan Douglas Northern Democrats: Stephan Douglas Southern Democrats: John Breckenridge Southern Democrats: John Breckenridge Constitutional Union Party: John Bell Constitutional Union Party: John Bell Lincoln not on southern ballots, but wins Lincoln not on southern ballots, but wins

14. Election Results of 1860

15. Southern Secession The Southern way of life in danger The Southern way of life in danger Draw parallel to 1776 Draw parallel to 1776 South Carolina on Dec. 20th, 1960 South Carolina on Dec. 20th, 1960 First Ordinances of Secession First Ordinances of Secession In Jan-Feb of 1861 – the following secede In Jan-Feb of 1861 – the following secede Georgia Georgia Florida Florida Alabama Alabama Mississippi Mississippi Louisiana Louisiana Texas Texas

17. Crittenden Compromise Dec 1860 Amendments to Constitution Amendments to Constitution Protect slavery where it exists Protect slavery where it exists 36* 30’ line - demarcation for slavery 36* 30’ line - demarcation for slavery Allow slavery on federal property (forts) and in Washington Allow slavery on federal property (forts) and in Washington Interstate slave trade – no federal interference Interstate slave trade – no federal interference No future amendments could override these No future amendments could override these Lincoln rejected it Lincoln rejected it Devalued all that the republicans stood for Devalued all that the republicans stood for Some Southerners rejected it as well. (Jeff Davis, Robert Toombs) They felt war was necessary and inevitable Some Southerners rejected it as well. (Jeff Davis, Robert Toombs) They felt war was necessary and inevitable

18. James Buchanan Pennsylvania – democrat - pro- Southern Pennsylvania – democrat - pro- Southern Felt “Black” Republicans were disunionists Felt “Black” Republicans were disunionists He aligned himself with Southern interests He aligned himself with Southern interests Lecompton Constitution Lecompton Constitution Dred Scott v. Sanford Dred Scott v. Sanford Opposition to Stephan Douglas Opposition to Stephan Douglas Disagreed with secession, but did not know how to react Disagreed with secession, but did not know how to react Did not support either side Did not support either side This made him an outsider to both northerners and southerners This made him an outsider to both northerners and southerners Felt it was not in federal govt’s power to force states back into the Union Felt it was not in federal govt’s power to force states back into the Union Said he would not use force Said he would not use force

19. Southern Organization Efforts Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as the President of the Confederate States of America Feb 18th, 1861 Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as the President of the Confederate States of America Feb 18th, 1861 Alexander Stevens - VP Alexander Stevens - VP Constitution – Mar 11, 1861 Constitution – Mar 11, 1861 Provisional Army – 10,000 troops Provisional Army – 10,000 troops They begin to seize federal forts in the South They begin to seize federal forts in the South

20. Jefferson Davis Oath of office - Montgomery Ala Oath of office - Montgomery Ala Brittle, nervous, unable to sleep, partially blind in one eye Brittle, nervous, unable to sleep, partially blind in one eye Not diplomatic Not diplomatic Background Background Grew up in Kentucky Grew up in Kentucky Son of itinerant farmer Son of itinerant farmer Educated at West Point – 1828 - fought in Mexico Educated at West Point – 1828 - fought in Mexico Served as Sec of War under Franklin Pierce Served as Sec of War under Franklin Pierce Senator from Mississippi when secession happened Senator from Mississippi when secession happened

21. Not the Real Deal Lincoln believed most white Southerners were Unionists Lincoln believed most white Southerners were Unionists Extort concessions from North Extort concessions from North E.g. - Simon Cameron - Secretary of War E.g. - Simon Cameron - Secretary of War corrupt and weak corrupt and weak Lincoln owed him a political favor Lincoln owed him a political favor Cameron replaced in 1862 for fraud Cameron replaced in 1862 for fraud

22. Inaugural Address He reaffirmed that he had no intention of interfering with slavery in the Southern States He reaffirmed that he had no intention of interfering with slavery in the Southern States He pledged … He pledged … to enforce the fugitive slave law to enforce the fugitive slave law he endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment protecting slavery in the states. he endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment protecting slavery in the states. Finally he said, “In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war” “The government will not assail you. You can have no conflict, without being yourselves the aggressors” Finally he said, “In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war” “The government will not assail you. You can have no conflict, without being yourselves the aggressors”