Pressure from Republicans Flashcards
(5 cards)
Topic sentence
Some historians such as James McPherson argue that pressure from others such as the Republicans forced Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.
Background
The Republicans had a range of motives for their opposition to slavery. Most resented white slaver holders and therefore blamed them for starting the war, some were genuinely concerned for the welfare of African Americans and finally Radical Republicans believed that if Union was to be restored without the destruction of slavery, no change had been made. However, overwhelming the Republicans saw the introduction of the abolition of slavery as a Northern war aim, a way to weaken the Southern war effort and a way to prevent the Confederacy from gaining any support from International powers as countries such as Britain had abolished the Slave trade as early as 1807. In 1861, prominent Radical Republican, Charles Sumner said, “it is often said that war will make an end of Slavery. This is probable. But it is street still that the overthrow of Slavery will make an end of the war.”
Evidence - bills
From within Congress, Radicals were able to put pressure on Lincoln to act on Emancipation. In 1862, a number of anti - slavery bills were passed into congress, including the Militia Act. This called for another draft of men and also called for the President to allow any African American who was competent for war service to be enrolled. This Act was proposed by Radicals who saw this as a way of enticing racist Northerners to support the emancipation of slaves, they developed the argument of “Military Necessity”. Lincoln therefore felt pressure to act on emancipation as he was led by Northern public opinion and as the Radical Republicans developed convincing arguments, majority of Northerners began to warm to the idea of emancipation. Therefore, historian Alan Farmer argues military considerations dominated Lincoln’s thoughts during the summer of 1862.
Counter analysis
However, many Radicals and Abolitionists were critical of Lincoln’s handling of the Slavery issue, arguing that he was moving too slow due to his perseverance to stay in line with Northern public opinion so that he wouldn’t loos support. William Lloyd Garrison described Lincoln’s handling of the slavery issue as “Stumbling, halting, prevaricating, irresolute, weak, besotted.”
Evaluation
To evaluate the pressure felt by Lincoln from Radicals within his party played an important role in forcing him to issue the Emancipation proclamation. From within their party, radicals were able to propose anti-slavery bills which increased the pressure on Lincoln for Emancipation. Other acts such as The Second Confiscation Act of July 1862 were passed. It tightened up the measures of the First Confiscation Act 1861, which was an act passed due to the actions of General Butler. In May 1861, Butler declared that any slaves who came to his camps would be deemed as “contraband’s of war”, preventing them from being returned to the Confederacy. Lincoln showed his support of this decision by passing the First Confiscation Act, which showed that he was beginning to consider acting on emancipation through pressure from individuals within his own party. The Second Confiscation Act confiscated Confederate property (slaves) by saying that they “shall be deemed captives of war and shall be forever free.”
