Abraham Lincoln considered the ____________ to be the central component of his political thought?

Abraham Lincoln considered the effects of slavery on the country and the expansion of slavery to be at the center of his political thoughts. Abraham Lincoln believed slavery was wrong from a moral standpoint. He knew it would be very difficult to get rid of slavery. His main goal was to prevent the spread of it. Lincoln understood that slavery was protected by the Constitution. He said that if he could keep the country united...

Abraham Lincoln considered the effects of slavery on the country and the expansion of slavery to be at the center of his political thoughts. Abraham Lincoln believed slavery was wrong from a moral standpoint. He knew it would be very difficult to get rid of slavery. His main goal was to prevent the spread of it. Lincoln understood that slavery was protected by the Constitution. He said that if he could keep the country united by keeping slavery, he would follow this course of action.

When President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, he did this for military reasons. While he knew southerners wouldn’t follow it, he knew it would help sway the European countries to not help the South. The European countries were ending slavery in their countries, and this would give them a reason to support the Union. The Emancipation Proclamation could also potentially hurt the South militarily. If slaves became free, the South would have fewer possible soldiers that could fight on their side.

President Lincoln’s thoughts about ending slavery grew stronger as the Civil War progressed. He knew the issue of slavery had torn the country apart, and he believed a Union victory would end the debate about slavery. A Union victory would lead to the abolition of slavery.