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Lincoln and Slavery

© Michael J. Swogger

The topic of Lincoln's thoughts on the issues of slavery and race is one that surfaces often on this site. There seem to be so many angles by which to approach his views for the purposes of both disparagement and commendation. Are these criticisms or acclamations warranted if laid out in total isolation of each other? Or is it most appropriate, using the benefit of historical hindsight, to balance the scales with objective critique of Lincoln's ever so evolving standpoints on race that include both positive and negative assessment? I feel it to be the latter, for the truth is that there was probably no 19th Century president, with the possible exception of Thomas Jefferson, who was more candid and more willing to challenge his own limited points of view on the most difficult issue of his time, slavery.

The format of this piece is somewhat different from my usual style. I am approaching this subject in a question and answer type of format. The questions are derived from various discussions I have been involved in over my lifetime that concern this very topic, including those that have emerged here at Suite101.com. The answers to these questions will be drawn from various sources I have on Lincoln, including general Civil War texts and biographies of our 16th President.

How young was Lincoln when he was first exposed to the issue of slavery?

Anti-slavery sentiment was introduced to Lincoln at a rather early stage in his life. He was about eleven years of age when his family joined Pigeon Creek Baptist Church in Indiana, and there is little doubt that he was exposed to the minister's hard-line sermons against slavery. And though he never joined the church, Abe, like his father (who came from a slaveholding family himself) began to oppose human slavery, though most of his childhood was devoid of any real experience with actual slaves (Oates, 1994).

How did Lincoln approach the issue of slavery while in the Illinois state legislature?

In 1837, Illinois passed a series of negative "black laws" that, given the racist sentiment of the time in both North and South, most politicians favored. These laws greatly limited the rights of Blacks living in (or attempting to live in) Illinois and relegated them to the lowest of social status. They could not vote, nor could they run for political office or exercise their civic duty by serving on juries. They had to, however, pay their share in taxes if they were permitted to reside in the state. Lincoln voted against the majority of these resolutions, making it the first time he had publicly taken a stance on an issue that involved race. However, he did vote for the exclusivity of white suffrage, catering to the overall racist sentiment of the state and the North. Voting otherwise would have meant political suicide for Lincoln, and he pragmatically operated under that prospect (Oates, 1994).

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