Why do you think Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves

Question

Everyone knows that the emancipation proclamation that Abraham Lincoln had issued on January 1, 1863, which was basically saying slaves shall be free. 
What brought this up is that my grandpa said Abraham Lincoln only did it so he could get more votes. It’s an interesting way to look at it, but how would we truly know if we weren’t there. We can only judge by what they give on databases and books. 
So I wanted to see what others thought about this as well. Do you think Abraham Lincoln set the slaves free from a genuine heart or for a self motive? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

Wouldn’t this act have hurt his voting count? POC weren’t allowed to vote until 1965. Unless I’m missing something.

Answer

March 2004
by Mackubin T. Owens
Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America by Allen C. GuelzoLincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America
Allen C. Guelzo (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2004)
There was a time when every schoolboy learned that Abraham Lincoln was the “Great Emancipator” who freed the slaves. The Emancipation Proclamation, they also learned, was a critically important step in achieving that goal.
Many historians have called this old conventional wisdom into question, arguing that Lincoln was not really motivated by commitment to end slavery. The proof, they claim, is his famous letter to Horace Greeley in which he wrote that “my paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and it is not either to save or destroy slavery, If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that.”
https://ashbrook.org/publications/oped-owens-04-guelzo/
In short, yes, he freed the slaves, but his motives were to save the Union; he did not care about the slaves.

Answer

I can see that happening. Just the same as we saw Biden looking for votes as he pushes his immigration reform. Glad he’s following through though. 
I will say this, unless a president has fought tooth and nail over a particular subject since the beginning (like Bernie💜), it’s hard to believe them altogether.

Answer

He wanted to win the war and keep the union intact.
He did not believe that Black people were equal to white people.
He gathered black leaders together and encouraged them to convince freed Black people to get on a ship and go back to Africa, because he did not believe that Black people and white people could live together peacefully as equals in America.

Answer

There’s no way to say for sure why he freed the Slaves. We know that he considered the matter immoral but, he was not considered an abolitionist...(although, they have many similar values...not all)
Remember when Lincoln succeeded Franklin Pierce he also inherited the issue of expending slavery territory.... which included the Kansas-Nebraska act; a failed bill that reopened the issue of slavery in the west..... this eventually led to the American Civil War. A war fought b/w the the northern states loyal to the union and the southern confederate states the seceded. Lincoln first introduced the freeing of slaves to qualm southern rebellion and bring them back into the Union. 
Based on historical context I wouldn’t say he freed slaves for more votes... though he probably won many votes from abolitionist. I also don’t think he freed them solely because he the thought slavery was wrong. 
I think Lincoln freed slaves as a war tactic.

Answer

He did it to help save the union. He didn't like slavery, but freeing the slave wasn't a mission for him either. That's part of why people get upset when white people act like POC should love Abraham Lincoln.

Answer

I have no idea. I didn’t personally know him.

Answer

Lincoln didn’t care about slaves. It was a political stunt. I honestly hate how people make him out to be some amazing hero. He’s not.

Answer

I only know the white washed version they teach in school... so we were told he saw a boat full of slaves all chained up and he felt bad for them and knew it was wrong. We were also told he was the type of person to stick up for other kids getting picked on. And that’s what made him into the President that freed slaves. 
And by the replies I’ve read, this was a pretty much a lie🤦🏻‍♀️

Answer

It was definitely a last ditch thing, think “oh, I guess we’re doing this”
His primary goal was never emancipation, but just to (re)unite the country. He only freed the slaves in the states where we technically had no authority; he left the Border States alone in order to keep them in the Union. Even after the E.P., the border states largely weren’t affected. He didn’t care about slaves, at least not initially.

Why do you think Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves

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