Why did Lincoln want to free slaves?

Answer 1

Besides being the right thing to do, it prevented England and France from interceding on the side of the South, and it sent a message to the states in rebellion that they would lose their slaves unless they rejoined the Union before the next January 1st.

Answer 2

Lincoln did not like the institution of slavery but he was not an abolitionist and he respected the constitutional right to own slaves. However when some states seceded from the union he decided they had lost their right to have slaves so he issued his famous emancipation proclamation that freed slaves outside the federal union. I think he thought it would encourage the anti-slavery forces in the North and help demoralize the South.

Answer 3

As a boy, Abraham Lincoln attended a church opposing slavery with his family. Later, he witnessed slavery as he traveled to and through parts of the South. The historic record would indicate he always opposed slavery and wanted to end it because he regarded it as immoral. He also opposed the abolitionists, who he believed were making things worse rather than better. In the end, the Civil War put him in a position of having to act, but his wishes were formed long before.

Answer 4

Lincoln actually started the war to preserve the union, he used freeing slaves as a way to help preserve the union, he once said "If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it..." Lincoln was very racist against blacks saying once "I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and black races..." A sad piece of information, but completely true.