The election of an abolitionist President alone shows increasing hostility to southern state interests.
Lincoln was not an abolitionist. He opposed abolition, in both words and deed, something that neo-Confederates try to use to smear him today. He just opposed the expansion of slavery.
Also, if it was just the 'election', then it was not something that had been going on for decades. Nor anything that had actually occurred.
It's an interesting case, really. Were I a Southern Democrat at the time, I'm sure I would have taken as much stock in Lincoln's word as I would Biden today.
The difference being that Lincoln was an honorable man, and not senile. Though of course, the Southern Democrats did not know that.
Granted, that was before Lincoln's inauguration, but as you acknowledge, Lincoln wanted to make sure to paint the South as aggressors. The Sumter expedition was a perfect way to kick it off.
Given the extent of his actions intended to avoid setting off a confrontation, it seems pretty clear to me that this is not what he wanted. Though he placed himself in a win-win position. Either Fort Sumter would be resupplied, a victory, or the South would be forced to start a civil war.
There was a huge difference between someone who was anti-slavery, and an abolitionist. The former respected the constitutional rights of the South to hold slaves, while the latter wanted immediate abolition (as the name implies).
Of all the democratic politicians, Lincoln is one of the greatest, ranking up there with Churchill. A man of true conviction, rather than expediency. I wish we had men of their stature today.
A little cut and dry. Moderate abolitionists wanted to do it through a constitutional amendment. Only the more radical, fringe, John Brown lefty types, wanted to do it without regard to the law.
Anyone who wanted to abolish slavery was an abolitionist, by whatever means. They were all among the radical fringe, making up perhaps 5%.
Lincoln and the Republicans had the position of stopping the spread of slavery into the territories, an eminently reasonable position - which of course in the long run threatened the survival of slavery. But then again, Lincoln backed the proposal to entrench slavery by constitutional amendment, one that supposedly could not be repealed.
Lincoln was not an abolitionist. He opposed abolition, in both words and deed, something that neo-Confederates try to use to smear him today. He just opposed the expansion of slavery.
Also, if it was just the 'election', then it was not something that had been going on for decades. Nor anything that had actually occurred.
The difference being that Lincoln was an honorable man, and not senile. Though of course, the Southern Democrats did not know that.
Given the extent of his actions intended to avoid setting off a confrontation, it seems pretty clear to me that this is not what he wanted. Though he placed himself in a win-win position. Either Fort Sumter would be resupplied, a victory, or the South would be forced to start a civil war.
Okay, not an abolitionist. Just anti-slavery.
Time has given Lincoln a great deal of moral prestige he scantly enjoyed in his lifetime.
There was a huge difference between someone who was anti-slavery, and an abolitionist. The former respected the constitutional rights of the South to hold slaves, while the latter wanted immediate abolition (as the name implies).
Of all the democratic politicians, Lincoln is one of the greatest, ranking up there with Churchill. A man of true conviction, rather than expediency. I wish we had men of their stature today.
A little cut and dry. Moderate abolitionists wanted to do it through a constitutional amendment. Only the more radical, fringe, John Brown lefty types, wanted to do it without regard to the law.
Anyone who wanted to abolish slavery was an abolitionist, by whatever means. They were all among the radical fringe, making up perhaps 5%.
Lincoln and the Republicans had the position of stopping the spread of slavery into the territories, an eminently reasonable position - which of course in the long run threatened the survival of slavery. But then again, Lincoln backed the proposal to entrench slavery by constitutional amendment, one that supposedly could not be repealed.