The Emancipation Proclomation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Emancipation Proclomation - Essay Example It is relevant to mention that there were no radical steps taken by Lincoln in Emancipation Proclamation. The President followed a well-balanced strategy of the conservatives. He did not want to take radical measures in order not to provoke a strong resonance. Vice versa, Lincoln was very much concerned about the necessity to foster the principles of freedom and the equality of all people, as it is stated in the constitution, but this policy could be implemented only in the case of a well-considerate politics of the President. Thesis statement: anti-slavery moods of Abraham Lincoln, his well-balanced politics, his respect to God, moral and the nation resulted in Emancipation Proclamation and freedom mode of the American society development. Historical Background of Emancipation Proclamation Abraham Lincoln fostered emancipation at the highest speed and no one expected that this process would occur in such a way. The Civil War exerted a great influence on the policy of Lincoln and it shifted the accents of anti-slavery policy of the President. Lincoln is an evident antagonist of slavery, but he is aware of the fact that it is impossible to remove this phenomenon at once, because it takes time and radical instantaneous changes are impossible. Slavery is a deeply-rooted phenomenon of the American society and in order to eradicate it, there is a need to develop innovative reforms and different preventive practices are relevant to halt the development of slavery in America. He was dependent on the environment and the events of the country to the greatest extent that is why it was necessary to develop a properly considered strategy of slavery eradication. Lincoln is often considered as â€Å"an antislavery moderate, a "gradualist," who hoped slavery would slowly die away†1. The striking document of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 was an alternative for creation of new territories of slavery expansion in America. The political party of Lincoln, Whig Party, expe rienced an inner split because of different attitudes of its members to the issue of slavery. Lincoln commented on his indignation about Nebraska Bill: â€Å"I have always hated slavery, I think as much as any abolitionist. I have been an Old Line Whig. I have always hated it, but I have also been quiet about it until this new era of  introduction of  the Nebraska Bill began†2. Lincoln meant that there is an expansion of slavery, in case different states will join the slave states and the question of the slavery will rise again. Arguments about the Nebraska Bill were intensified, when the Republican Abraham Lincoln opposed to the Democrat Stephen Douglas in 1858. The latter supported the Bill very much and Lincoln opposed to the division of the nation, because no nation would survive in case it is half slave and half free. Lincoln denied his intention to make all the races equal. This fact can be criticized, because Lincoln claimed that in the Declaration of  Independen ce "all men are created equal" and this was a starting point for him to foster his fundamental anti-slavery principles. Lincoln won a great reputation and support of the nation. In 1860 he clearly stated that he opposes to slavery and thus he won the election against a split Democratic Party. In the beginning of his presidency, the Civil War broke out. Lincoln made an attempt to please different states and he persuaded those states, where slavery has already been introduced that he would not eradicate it in those states. He