Did Abraham Lincoln believe that Negroes were equal to white people?

Answer 1

President Lincoln altered his views on slavery and Black people throughout his public life. It is clear he opposed slavery, however, he was not, nor has ever been, labeled an abolitionist. Lincoln had what can be termed a commonsense approach idea concerning slavery and equal rights for Black people. Unlike the abolitionists, Lincoln took the view that freeing all slaves at once would cause the nation serious economic, social and political strife. He and his mentor, Henry Clay agreed on this and they, until the time of Clay's death had no solution to the problem. Clay, the House speaker was a slave owner yet Lincoln admired the man for his political know how. Each of them were members of the American Anti-Slavery Society. Lincoln and Clay were well aware of the fact that in states that had long ago outlawed slavery, also had laws restricting the rights of Black people.Lincoln and abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe for example, did not believe that freed slaves or Black people could receive a "fair shake" in American society. Their solution was to find locations for former slaves, such as Central America or West Africa. Importantly, it was not a wild idea. President US Grant, for example, worked to have Black people sent to the Dominican Republic as a safe haven for them.

However, other high profile individuals opposed this. Scholar, author and former slave, Fredrick Douglas, strongly opposed the "deportation" of former slaves or freed Black people.

As an example of the complexity of the issue, Douglas, refused John Brown's offer to join with Brown in the foolish Harpers Ferry project, although Underground Railroad founder, Harriet Tubman cooperated with Brown by suppling him with maps.

It's clear that understanding the fullness of Lincoln's ideas on the issue ended with his assassination.

There is no doubt that Lincoln believed that Black people should have the same political rights as any other white group of people had in the 1860's. His beliefs on racial equality are in doubt.