The Economics Discussion Thread

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 Gamemako wrote:

 Equality 7-2521 wrote:

He wanted blacks to be shipped back to Africa. He didn't want them to be able to vote. His economic policies and curtailment of personal freedoms are identical to current Republicans. Modern republicanism idolizes him. His saving of the Union had nothing to do with emancipation of the slaves.

To be fair, Lincoln was a lot like Jefferson. Jefferson preached small government and freedom until he found himself in position where he had to weigh his beliefs and what he knew would a better outcome.

It is unclear what Lincoln actually believed with regard to slaves. He preached sending them back to Africa, but that may have been Lincoln the Politician showing his hand. He may have freed the slaves in the South because he believed that all men were equal, or he may have done it as part of the war effort. I've read two biographies on Lincoln, and while I'm no Lincoln scholar, it's really not clear what he believed. It is extremely likely that he found slavery abhorrent -- that much is pretty clear from pretty much all personal accounts. However, whether he thought blacks should be integrated into society is hard to say. It was a shrewd man who invited Franklin Douglas to his second inauguration.

You mean Frederick Douglas?

And at the time I can see why "Shipping black people back to Africa" would be considered by GOOD and moral people. For some people it might not have been "Lets get all dem dere negroes out of our country". You have to remember that initially most slaves were taken from Africa against their free will. Many slaves might have preferred going back to Africa to staying in America.
Shipping slaves back to where they come from doesn't necessary have to be a negative position to have had back then. Obviously today it WOULD be.