Slavery played a prominent role in America’s political, social, and economic history in the antebellum era. The South’s “peculiar institution” was at the forefront of discussions ranging from the future of the nation’s economy to Western expansion and the admission of new states into the Union. The public discourse in the first half of the nineteenth century exposed the nation’s ambivalence about slavery and race. Politicians were increasingly pressured to make their opinions known, and Abraham Lincoln was no exception.

Objectives:

Students will:

1. Examine primary documents—the letters and speeches of Abraham Lincoln—in order to analyze Lincoln’s position on slavery.

2. Look at the historical context to understand Lincoln’s views.

3. Increase their understanding of the influence of race on politics in the antebellum era.

A more thorough discussion of Abraham Lincoln’s politics and debates about slavery can be found in a good textbook or at this website: http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/rcah/html/ ah_053700_lincolnabrah.htm

An overview of events leading up to the Civil War can be found on the Gilder Lehrman website:
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/module9/index.html