Lincoln Turning Point

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, famously known by some for leading the US to freedom during the Civil War in 1861. Significance can be defined as an important historical event that had an impact on society immediately following the event up until fifteen years. It is clear that Abraham Lincoln was not of great significance in the short term; however the events of 31 January 1865 arguably acted as a turning point. According to leading historian Scholar David Zarefsky, acts such as the Confiscation Act (1861) “changed the terms of political discourse, making the slavery issue not…isolated.” Gossie Harold, however, contradicts this statement by expressing that “Blacks…were systematically treated as inferiors, and…were

This had short term significance because it promoted the assurance and willingness that the white politicians were starting to give Black, Hispanic and Native Americans. Abraham Lincoln “was a great supporter of the 13th Amendment, which did wind up being the one to free the slaves.” This implies that he did not instigate the abolition of slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation and so legal freedom for slaves didn’t come about until the 13th Amendment which is therefore a key turning point. This is supported by Appendix 1 which states that “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States…” Appendix 1 illustrates the way in which he has short term significance mainly because of his decision to propose a change to free slaves and because it prevented one citizen from constraining another. The usefulness of this source can be examined through the extent to which is allowed the freedom of slaves. This is evident through all the slaves being released in the south (reword this). The reliability of this source is apparent through the fact that it was publicized. (Reword and put in more detail). This is further strengthened by famous Historian, Allen C. Guelzo who wrote: “Slavery, in fact graded personally on Lincoln’s self-made passion for work. Similarly Appendix 2 supports this through showing “(put in sources that shows something that happened under the 13th amendment showing that he did bare to make it help free slaves better than he worked on the emancipation proclamation).” which further shows that Abraham Lincoln had short term significance because he made a practice of acting upon racist views to reduce racial discrimination. Appendix _ is more credible than Appendix 2 _ because it… as a primary