Recently I have been reading about the events leading up to the abolition of slavery in the United States of America. Two brilliant works, And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle by Jon Meecham and The Fiery Trial by Eric Foner, reading them has kindled my interest in American history. I plan to read more books on the history of the USA this year.
These two works brilliantly document the life of Lincoln and his abolition of slavery as President. They were real eye-openers, I had known nothing much about Lincoln’s life. It was surprising to see how Lincoln over the years had very limiting views about blacks, although he seems to have had a conviction that slavery was wrong he never considered them equal to white people. For many years he was a strong supporter of colonialization, an initiative to settle free blacks outside the USA. It is remarkable to read these works that document how Lincoln constantly changes his worldview about blacks over the years. The books also showcase to use the difference between a reformer and a politician, Lincoln was a politician who was elected by the white voters of the USA, he was cognizant of the fact that a completely abolitionist view will never get him elected. He was aware of public opinion which as a politician he had to represent. Compared to politicians who could promise slavery to be abolished, Lincoln was aware of the futility of such maximalist promises. This political acumen is central to Lincoln’s life.
Lincoln was born in an America where the question of the future of slavery was in a precarious balance. The constitution was ambivalent about the question of slavery, although it mentions that ‘all men are created equal’ it was not sure if blacks were included in this. The northern states had long abolished slavery and had a free black population. In the south, cotton and sugar cultivation were heavily dependent on slavery. Hence there was the Missouri Compromise was reached in 1820 to balance both interests, according to which slavery would be prohibited north of 36°30′ parallel. The slavery of the south was constantly challenged by abolitionists in the North who considered it evil. Lincoln’s ascendancy in the whig party initially and then the Republican party were the years in which the conflict between the south and the north crystallized.
The Republican party or any party in America had varying voices, there were voices in the republican party which wanted slavery to be abolished via Federal interference, and many in the party also felt that the union should not interfere in state rights. Lincoln wanted the party to be united on a common minimum denominator that will be acceptable to the entire party, they ran mainly on containing slavery to the southern states and hoping for its destruction in course of time eventually. Yet the southern states saw the rise of Lincoln as
president as a direct threat to the system of slavery central to their existence. This eventually lead to the civil war. In a sense Lincoln wanted nothing revolutionary to begin with he was willing to negotiate and avoid war and keep the union. His fundamental defense of the war was to keep the union intact, but beyond a point, the war had its own effects that no one saw. As union forces suffered reverses it was necessary for black people to be enlisted in the union army, even during this time we see Lincoln trying to be within the constitutional framework as much as possible. He wanted the actions to be in accordance with the constitution. Although many accused Lincoln to be slow he always defended himself that he never put a step back even if it was slow.
Lincoln’s leadership during the war, how at each he steps he takes those pivotal decisions and even during exceedingly difficult times sticks to them makes him great. Especially during a time when people around him suggest negotiating with the south promising that he will go back on the emancipation proclamation he refuses it. Initially, he was not keen on emancipation but once he was convinced of it there was no going back on his word. This steadfastness in the decision and pragmatic approach to achieving them is a constant theme throughout his life.
The books also document how his views changed over his life, and how he comes to see the black question constantly changes, especially after his son’s death there is a stage where his language becomes deeply religious and spiritual. He sees the subjugation of the blacks and to deny them the rightful fruits of his labor as morally wrong. He believed in the moral arc of history, and he sometimes deeply felt that he had been chosen by god to perform this act of moral perfection, a step ahead in this moral arc.
It was unfortunate that he was killed immediately into his second term
and although the 13th amendment abolished slavery, some of the reconstruction efforts were thwarted by Andrew Johnson who assumed the Presidency after the assassination of Lincoln.
I would recommend these two books to anyone trying to understand the remarkable life of Lincoln and his pivotal efforts in abolishing
slavery. A fine balancing act!
Ashok 