Why Did Lincoln Choose To Act The Way He Did?

Alternative 1: Why Lincoln chose to act the way he did : In 1861, the Civil war began, and Lincoln was freshly elected into office. He proclaimed that war was not about slavery but restoring the Union (Kennicott,2013). Lincoln felt very strongly about abolishing slavery and gaining freedom for the African Americans. He once stated ” I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong, I cannot remember when I did not so think, and feel” (Holzer, 2016). Lincoln wanted to wait until he gained respect and popularity from the nation before he would propose the anti-slavery proclamation. Lincoln chose this move carefully and strategically. If he played his cards correctly, he could gain support from the American people. If Lincoln would have proposed this right

The Emancipation Proclamation was a presidential order, not a law passed by congress and could not be bypassed by congress. If Lincoln would have chosen to have it go through the legislature, it might not have been passed. It was issued on January 1, 1863 and set freedom for more than 3 million black slaves in the United States. It shifted the direction of Civil War as a fight to ban slavery (Kennicott,2013). This would set those 3 million slaves free within 100 days after this was issued. This Proclamation did not pertain to border states who had slaves but were loyal to the Union (Kennicott,2013.). Part of the decision for Lincoln to wait before making this judgment, was due to the fact that he was advised by his cabinet members to hold off until there was a Union victory. After the Union victory of the Battle of Antietam, that is when the proclamation was announced. This proved to the Country that he was making wise decisions and that he could be trusted and admired as president.