Taking Sides/Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in American History.

Historians have long debated over the issue "Did Abraham Lincoln free the Slaves" or did the slaves free themselves from slavery by engaging in a dramatic movement of self-liberation. This debate can be seen in the writings of James M. McPherson from "Drawn with the Sword: Reflection on the American Civil War" and in Vincent Harding from "There Is a River: The Black Struggle for Freedom in American." McPherson believes Lincoln was the great emancipator of the slaves through his endless pursuit to abolish slavery, his political leader ship, and the use of the Union Army to act as a liberator of the slaves. Harding on the other hand maintains that Lincoln refused to use the issue of ending slavery as a war aim in the beginning and then issued the Emancipation Proclamation only when it fit it to who his own needs. Harding also states that after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued it failed to free any slaves and that it was the slaves who freed themselves by joining in !

a dramatic movement of self-liberation.

McPherson has stated that Lincoln was a man of principle and would not compromise his beliefs or his principles. On different occasions Seward tried to compel Lincoln into compromising with the southern states on the issues of the Crittenden Compromise (which would allow the expansion of slavery) and the evacuation Fort Sumter. Lincoln did not compromise, but he was willing to reassure the southern states that slavery would be protected were it already existed. During the crucial issue of slavery in the territories Lincoln refused to compromise. Due to Lincoln's action particularly his unwillingness to endorse the Crittenden Compromise (which if endorsed would have placed the preservation of the Union over the abolishment of slavery) sheds light on the fact that Lincoln did place antislavery above the preservation of the union.

McPherson recognizes the limited Emancipation Proclamation was limited in its power to free the slaves. McPherson also recognizes that Lincoln was slow to act in making the war a movement to free the slaves and told the southern states that he would not interfere with slavery in those states were it already existed. It is also true that Lincoln revoked orders to free slaves during the war. Out on the battlefield it was the slaves who escaped to the Union armies and the generals who accepted the slaves as contraband of war. All of these events seem to support the fact that the slaves freed themselves. It is clear though that no matter how many slaves freed themselves and crossed over to the Union, the fate as slavery as a whole rested on the outcome of the war. If the Union won the war slavery would be weakened or destroyed altogether. If the Confederacy won slavery would be strengthen.

Harding credits the slaves themselves for gaining their own freedom. Harding also states, "Lincoln initially refused to declare the destruction of slavery as a war aim and the issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which failed to free any slaves in areas over which he had any authority." Harding shows many examples on how the slaves freed themselves and that it was not Lincoln who was the great Emancipator of the slaves.

amples to reaffirm his belief that Lincoln was the great emancipator of the slaves. Lincoln's political career was based on the opposition of the expansion of slavery. This theme was Lincoln's first step towards ending slavery. From the time of Lincoln's return to politics up to the time Lincoln was elected President, Lincoln gave several speeches were the central issue was slavery. McPherson states, "Lincoln denounced slavery as a monstrous injustice, an unqualified evil to the Negro, to the White man, to the soil and to the state."

Several treaties were signed by Indian tribes that would allow them to move on their own experiences and means. The only tribe to hold out was the Cherokees because they felt they had a right to self-government. The issue went before the courts and was decided that Indian Territory was a part of the United States and that the government was responsible for the protection of Indian rights. Eventually Jackson's policies won acceptance and that Jackson had dealt fairly with the Indians on all issues. In order to protect the Indians from decimation and to protect Nation as a whole.

Wallace has cited several examples that Jackson did indeed oversee a harsh policy of removal when dealing with Indians. In the state of Georgia a crisis was began to form when the Cherokee Indians refused to move and developed their own constitution that nullified Georgia law and in effect made the Indian nation a state within a state. By these actions the Cherokee would never sell their land. Georgia looked to the new president to resolve this crisis between the Indians and the Georgia s

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Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)