Omar Bennett
In his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865, Abraham Lincoln, reiterated that slavery was the cause of the American Civil War. Lincoln suggested that the death and destruction caused by the civil war were divine retribution for 250 years of slavery. Lincoln's use of the term peculiar and powerful interest refers to the institution of slavery and the slave owners and their allies who protected and benefited from it. Lincoln is using a term from the 1850s to describe the conspiracy of those who wanted to preserve and expand slavery.
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What You'll Learn
Lincoln's belief that slavery was the cause of the Civil War
During his second inaugural address as President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln reiterated his belief that slavery was the cause of the Civil War. In his address, Lincoln described slavery as a "'peculiar and powerful interest', suggesting that the war was divine retribution for 250 years of slavery. He implied that God intended for the war to continue until the "woe due" was paid in full.
Lincoln's belief that slavery was the root cause of the Civil War was not without evidence. The conflict between free states and slavery advocates over territories was a significant factor leading up to the war. For example, the Mexican-American War resulted in the acquisition of new territories, and the question of whether slavery would be permitted in these territories became a highly contested issue. Despite efforts by Representative David Wilmot to prohibit slavery in any territory gained from Mexico, these attempts were unsuccessful, and the treaty that ended the war contained no prohibition of slavery.
The controversy over slavery intensified with the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which left the decision of whether to allow slavery in these territories to their inhabitants. This act led to civil violence as free state and slave state advocates fought to gain the advantage in determining the fate of slavery in these territories. The Dred Scott decision by the Supreme Court in 1857 further fuelled the sectional conflict. The Court held that persons of African descent had no rights and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories, implying that Southerners could take their slave property into any state.
Lincoln's actions during the Civil War also reflected his belief that slavery was the central issue. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued in 1863, changed the legal status of millions of enslaved African Americans in the Confederate states, freeing them. Lincoln made the eradication of slavery an explicit Union war goal, linking support for the South to support for slavery. He also required acceptance of the Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery, as a condition for rebellious states to regain their civil status.
In summary, Lincoln's belief that slavery was the cause of the Civil War was evident in his words and actions. He considered slavery a "peculiar and powerful interest" that had led to divine retribution in the form of the war. The conflict between free states and slavery advocates, the impact of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott decision all supported his belief. Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation and his insistence on the abolition of slavery as a condition for peace further demonstrated his conviction that slavery was at the heart of the nation's woes.
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Slaves made up one-third of the Southern population
In his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865, Abraham Lincoln stated that "slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest". Lincoln was referring to the fact that slavery was the cause of the American Civil War, which was coming to an end around the time of his address.
Lincoln's statement highlights the central role that slaves played in the Southern United States, where they made up one-third of the population by 1790. This significant proportion of the population was largely due to the high and sustained natural increase in the enslaved population over a century and a half. The Southern slave population grew from 293,000 in Virginia in 1790 to about 1.1 million in 1810, and over 3.9 million in 1860. This rapid growth can be attributed to several factors, including higher birth rates due to a more equal ratio of female to male slaves, lower mortality rates, and the ability of the enslaved population to reproduce naturally.
The Southern way of life was heavily dependent on slavery. Slaves worked in a variety of industries, including tobacco and cotton farming, domestic work, and growing food crops. The success of slavery in the South was enabled by political and legal institutions that validated the ownership of human beings as property. Southern state laws governed various aspects of slavery, including slave status, the treatment of slaves by their masters, and the rights and duties of slaveowners and non-slaveowners towards slaves.
The domestic slave trade in the United States caused the displacement of approximately 1.2 million people, who were mostly born in America. The trade often resulted in the destruction of families, with slaves being "sold down the river" to places with grim reputations, such as the Louisiana sugar plantations. Slaves suffered from various physical and mental health issues due to inhumane living and working conditions, with infant and child mortality rates twice as high as those of Southern White children.
The peculiar and powerful interest constituted by slaves in the Southern United States was thus a result of their significant numbers, their central role in the economy and society, and the legal and political institutions that upheld the practice of slavery.
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Lincoln's view that slavery was divine retribution
During his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865, Abraham Lincoln alluded to the notion that slavery was divine retribution. This address was delivered during his second inauguration as President of the United States, at a time when the Civil War was nearing its end and slavery was close to being abolished. Lincoln's speech did not express happiness at this victory, but instead, he reflected on the sadness of the war and the evil of slavery.
Lincoln suggested that the Civil War and the destruction it caused were divine retribution for 250 years of slavery in the United States. He stated that God may will that the war continues:
> "until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword",
And that the war was the country's "woe due". This sentiment is reflected in Psalm 19:9, "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether". Lincoln also acknowledged that God's purposes are not directly knowable to humans.
Lincoln's view that the Civil War was divine retribution for slavery is further supported by his recognition of the role of slavery in causing the war. In his address, he stated that slaves constituted a "peculiar and powerful interest", and that this interest was the cause of the war. This phrase, "peculiar and powerful interest", refers to the fact that slavery was a significant institution in the Southern part of the Union, and that it was a driving force behind the insurgents' willingness to go to war. Lincoln's use of the word "peculiar" to describe slavery is notable, as it reflects the unique and complex nature of the institution.
Lincoln's belief in divine retribution for slavery is also evident in his administration's actions during the Civil War. For example, Lincoln approved of emancipation as a war measure, and Congress passed legislation that freed slaves and provided opportunities for African Americans in the military and in the suppression of the rebellion. These actions suggest that Lincoln saw the war as a means to end slavery and bring about retribution for the wrongs committed against enslaved people.
Overall, Lincoln's view that slavery was divine retribution is reflected in his understanding of the Civil War as a consequence of the country's sins, specifically 250 years of slavery. This belief in divine retribution guided his approach to the war and the eventual abolition of slavery.
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Abolitionists' belief that slavery threatened peace and security
During his second inaugural address in 1865, President Abraham Lincoln referred to slavery as a "'peculiar and powerful interest". Lincoln reiterated that slavery was the cause of the American Civil War, suggesting that the death and destruction caused by the war were divine retribution for 250 years of slavery.
Abolitionists, who sought to abolish slavery and secure the immediate and full emancipation of all enslaved people, believed that slavery threatened peace and security. The abolitionist movement, active from the colonial era until the American Civil War, was an ideological movement with strong religious underpinnings. Many abolitionists, such as Joshua Coffin, argued that slavery constituted a real threat to public peace and security.
The movement started in states like New York and Massachusetts, led by influential figures such as William Lloyd Garrison, who started a publication called "The Liberator". Female abolitionists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott also played prominent leadership roles, boldly defying societal norms that denied them a public voice or political opinions. They organised Christmas bazaars to finance the abolition cause, selling donated gifts and spreading anti-slavery messages.
Black and white abolitionists often worked together, but by the 1840s, their philosophies and methods differed. While many white abolitionists focused solely on slavery, black Americans coupled anti-slavery activities with demands for racial equality and justice. Abolitionists employed various tactics, including sending petitions to Congress, running for political office, boycotting products made with slave labour, and giving innumerable speeches.
The divisiveness and animosity fuelled by the abolitionist movement, along with other factors, led to the Civil War and ultimately ended slavery in America.
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Lincoln's deliberate use of the Constitution to achieve his goals
Abraham Lincoln, in his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865, stated that "slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest". This address came at a time when victory over secessionists in the American Civil War was near, and slavery in the U.S. was close to an end. Lincoln, a master politician, was very deliberate and calculated in his actions, using the Constitution to achieve his goals.
Lincoln believed that the constitutional system was fundamentally sound and could ultimately lead to the extinction of slavery. He understood that the greatest threat to equal liberty and self-government was the expansion of slavery and the denial of equality. Lincoln stuck to these ideals during the war, using the crucible of conflict to intensify their meaning and accelerate their achievement. He valued both the ideals of freedom and equality, as well as legal and constitutional principles, aiming to interconnect the nation's ideals with its processes.
Additionally, Lincoln protested against the pro-slavery legislature in Kansas, where informing a negro of his rights was punishable by hanging. He recognised the expansion of slavery and the denial of equality as a threat to the Union, with each side angrily demanding its rights. Lincoln understood that slavery was a peculiar and powerful interest that was somehow the cause of the war. Despite his anti-slavery stance, Lincoln strategically chose to support a thirteenth amendment guaranteeing slavery in existing slave states to maintain peace.
Lincoln's use of the Constitution to achieve his goals extended beyond the issue of slavery. For example, he offered a presidential pardon to Southern whites who swore allegiance to the United States and accepted the abolition of slavery, demonstrating his commitment to ending slavery while also seeking to unify the nation. Lincoln's actions and strategies were calculated to win the war and achieve his vision of equal liberty and self-government for all.
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Frequently asked questions
Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865, during his second inauguration as President of the United States. The Civil War was near its end, and slavery in the U.S. was close to being abolished.
Lincoln was referring to the institution of slavery, which he believed was the cause of the Civil War. He suggested that the war was divine retribution for the U.S.'s 250 years of slavery.
Lincoln believed slavery was a sin and an evil that had to be abolished. He had previously issued the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863, freeing enslaved people in the Confederate states.
Lincoln aimed to unify the nation and promote healing rather than placing blame. He also wanted to emphasise the need for a constitutional amendment to abolish slavery.
