Why didn’t Lincoln free the slaves in ALL states?
There are several reasons why Abraham Lincoln did not free the slaves in all states during his presidency:
1. Constitutional limitations: At the time, the Constitution recognized slavery as a legal practice in the states where it existed. Lincoln believed that he did not have the authority to unilaterally abolish slavery in these states without a constitutional amendment or congressional action.
2. Political considerations: Lincoln was aware that a significant portion of the Northern population was ambivalent or opposed to emancipation. He had to carefully navigate public opinion and maintain support for the Union cause. Pushing for immediate abolition in all states would have been politically challenging and potentially detrimental to the war effort.
3. Legal complexity: The Emancipation Proclamation, issued in 1862, only declared slaves as free in Confederate territory, not in the border states that remained loyal to the Union. Since these border states still upheld slavery, Lincoln did not have the authority to unilaterally free slaves there.
4. Strategic considerations: Lincoln aimed to weaken the Confederacy economically and militarily, and he strategically used emancipation as a means to achieve this. By declaring slaves in Confederate territory as free, he hoped to disrupt their labor force and encourage African Americans to join the Union side.
5. Gradual approach: Lincoln considered a gradual approach to emancipation, where slavery would be abolished state by state over time. He believed this would be a more practical and less disruptive way to end slavery, allowing for a smoother transition for both the Southern economy and society.
Ultimately, Lincoln's main concern was preserving the Union and winning the Civil War. While he personally opposed slavery, his priority was to prevent the secession of states and maintain national unity.