Chapter 4: Half Slave and Half Free
• Although slavery was outlawed in the north there was an immense amount of prejudice
• Lincoln opposed slavery but did not make it part of his campaign as he continued in Congress
• When his congressional term ended in 1849 he continued practicing law for five years
• In 1854 the Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed the states to decide whether to enter the Union as free or slave states.
• “Thunderstruck” Lincoln left his practice behind to campaign to his party to speak out
• In 1856, open warfare had broken out in Kansas
• U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Dred Scott case causing a major setback in the antislavery movement
• Lincoln spoke out against slavery every chance he got
• Lincoln leaves the Whig party and joined the Republicans
• Lincoln challenges long term rival Senator Stephen A. Douglas to debates for his senate seat
• At the time seats were elected by state legislatures, not by popular vote and Lincoln Lost
• Although losing the election, Lincolns debates catapulted him to national prominence
• In 1860, Lincoln was chosen unanimously as their favorite-son candidate for presidency
• On election day, November 6, 1860 Lincoln swept into office
• Prior to taking his oath South Carolina led the way and seceded from the Union
Chapter 5: Emancipation
• Prior to his Inauguration Day speech, seven states had seceded the Union and four more were about to join
• Senator Jefferson Davis was sworn in as president of the Confederate States of American
• Lincoln travels to speak avoiding uncovered assassination plots
• March 15 Fort Sumter was in need of supplies
• April 6 he notified that supplies were being sent
• April 14 as supplies arrived, rebel cannons opened fire on the fort beginning the Civil War
• Despite disagreements Douglas offered his support to oppose the the rebels
• Douglas died a month later of typhoid fever
• Battle at Bull Run ended disastrously for the Union
• Lincoln found problems in finding competent Generals
• Lincoln begins to study warfare and began to play an active role in the conduct of the war
• In 1862 both of his two boys came down with fevers, Tad recovered, Willie died.
• The Union, repeatedly lost battles
• Looking to make bold and drastic move Lincoln developed the Emancipation Proclamation to free all slaves
• Lincoln was waiting for a Union victory to announce the proclamation
• On September 17 the two armies met at Antietam Creek and the Union finally had a victory
• September 22, Lincoln read the final wording to his cabinet stating that he would free all slaves if the confederates did not return to the Union
• On New Year’s Day he signed it “A. Lincoln.”