Source Revision: Reasons for Emancipation

Question 1

Historian Views

Answer 1

• Barbara J Fields, actions of the Black people themselves put pressure on Lincoln to issue a proclamation recognising the legality of the circumstances.
• Kenneth M Stampp, Lincoln was reluctant to emancipate the slaves, but the war demanded such drastic action.

Question 2

Military advantages

Answer 2

Southern economy based on slavery — emancipation would potentially weaken the South’s ability to fight.

Question 3

International Relations

Answer 3

Emancipation would ensure that the war remained a domestic conflict and the south couldn’t receive supplies from abroad.

Question 4

Contraband

Answer 4

Pressures regarding treatment of runaway slaves put pressures on Lincoln to decide a definitive way to treat them.

Question 5

Abolition

Answer 5

Lincoln’s administration was under constant pressure from Abolitionists to introduce emancipation.

Question 6

Political Pressures

Answer 6

Radical Republicans put considerable pressure on Lincoln. There were a number of differing reasons for their view, but all agreed that it would weaken the Southern war effort.

Question 7

Ideology

Answer 7

Emancipation would provide a psychological and ideological boost for North and a blow to the South

Question 8

Need of Soldiers

Answer 8

As the war dragged on, recruitment was always an issue for the Union. White volunteers were less willing thus emancipation would make wide scale use of Black people as soldiers more acceptable.

Question 9

War measure

Answer 9

Lincoln didn’t have the power to abolish slavery so he was under pressure to make it a war aim/measure

Question 10

Black Soldiers fighting

Answer 10

Lincoln was under pressure to allow black northerners to fight by people like Douglass. It would help north & damage south.

Question 11

All of them

Answer 11

• Military Advantages
• International Relations
• Contraband
• Abolition
• Political Pressures
• Ideology
• Need of Soldiers
• War Measures
• Black Soldiers fighting