Lincoln, the South, and Slavery The Political Dimension

In 1858, Abraham Lincoln declared his hatred for the institution of slavery, likening his feelings of opposition to those of the abolitionists. Although it is an indisputable fact that Lincoln always disliked slavery, the idea that he always opposed it with the zeal and fervor of the abolitionists remains questionable. Only four years prior to his bold declaration, Lincoln admittedly paid little attention to slavery, viewing it as only a minor issue. But in the six years preceding his presidency, his antislavery ideology and his prescription for dealing with it moved from what he initially labeled a middle-ground stance to a more radical position.As no other work has don, Lincoln, the South, and Slavery shows how Lincoln, in response to the demands of politics, became increasingly antislavery and antisouthern during the 1850's.Johannsen, Robert W. is the author of 'Lincoln, the South, and Slavery The Political Dimension', published 1993 under ISBN 9780807118870 and ISBN 0807118877.