Lincoln's Shifting Views on Slavery

Throughout his biography, Donald regularly assesses Lincoln's view on the issue of slavery and notes the way in which it changes over the years. While he is now often remembered for the Emancipation Proclamation and the freeing of the slaves, Donald shows his readers that his decision to free the slaves of the rebellious states came about after long deliberation, and reflected the political necessities of Lincoln's situation perhaps more than his personal feelings on slavery at that time.

Lincoln's first major encounter with slavery came as a young man, when he traveled down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. On his journey, he sees a group of men being transported to the salve market and remarks on their apparent joviality, but leaves no other written account of his views on the institution. Later, as a lawyer in Illinois, Lincoln is called on to...