To what extent can it be argued that the issuing of the Emancipation proclamation was purely a military expedient

 After the slaves were set free in the rebel states, Lincoln formed black regiments which allowed ex-slaves and freed blacks to contribute directly to the war in the north, the blacks were very optimistic in fighting for a war to end slavery, which Lincoln knew they would be ‘Emancipation might mitigate the manpower problem in another way as well .Ever since the war broke out the free blacks of the North had been trying to enlist’. Lincoln waited for a military victory at Antietam before he issued his emancipation proclamation. Reason being so he did not look desperate and freeing the slaves was a last measure to victory, also he did not want the blacks and the slaves to think that he only issued it for military reasons, otherwise he would not get the young radicals who were willing to fight ‘a war to end slavery’ supporting him.

Overall it is very clear that a large part of the explanation for the emancipation proclamation was due to military reasons. The north side was very weak in manpower, morale, they had bad supplies they were losing the war and needed a huge turn around something very radical. A quote from Lincoln proves this ‘if I could win the war by freeing all the slaves I would do that, if I could win the war by freeing none of the slaves I would do that … and if I could win the war by freeing all slaves and leaving others alone I would also do that’ Lincoln is desperate to win this war so he is willing to do anything to win the war. Therefore it is very clear to see that Lincoln only issued the proclamation for military reasons.

However there are other reasons to suggest why a emancipation proclamation was issued. Another very important argument is political reasons. When Lincoln was elected he was a Republican, Lincoln personally did not like the slave trade and was infact against it, ‘his hatred of slavery was strong and deep, his attitude to black men one of straightforward friendliness, like his attitude to whites’. However he kept his personal thoughts to himself. When the civil war began in America the Republican Party was very divided over the war, the abolitionists within the Republican Party had been constantly tearing it apart over the slavery issue, therefore if Lincoln made this civil war about ending slavery as this was a great chance to do so, then it would ensure that Lincoln would maintain the integrity of his party also securing his own position within the party. ‘foremost was the consideration that slavery had caused the  great rebellion. It had also poisoned political life for more than thirty years. The only way of making sure that it would never wreak such mischief again was to destroy it. Lincoln no longer had any doubt that it was a legitimate aim of the war to remove the cause of the war’. He would become very popular with the Republicans in his party and gain more votes so therefore stay in power. Also with Lincoln upsetting the south by having the civil war with them he obviously was not going to get there votes, therefore if he freed the blacks and slaves then the ex- slaves and the blacks would vote for him later on, whenever they would be given the opportunity to do so. Therefore it is very possible to see that Lincoln introducing the emancipation proclamation was a lot to do with political reasons and gaining more power in parliament and resolving the myriad of political problems both he and his country faced.

Also another major argument to why Lincoln emancipated the slaves is international reasons. Lincoln feared Britain would use the opportunity to re-invade the USA and take advantage of weakness to control America again. Britain and France had already ended the slave trade, Lincoln had a fear that if the war went on in America there was a huge danger that Britain would recognize the Confederacy or invade as a protest against slavery. Therefore if Lincoln made this war into a war that attacked slavery in America it would ensure that Britain would support the North and would not interfere or give the confederacy legitimacy.

However another argument expressed since the 1960’s is Economic reasons it was very clear in America that the rural south relayed very much so on there slaves on there plantations, and the North was industrialised. Lincoln saw an opportunity to increase wealth and prosperity of his country and get rid of outmoded methods of production i.e slavery ‘even the south, even if there had not been a war, would have suffered grievously from its self- imposed exclusion from the markets and resources of the North’. Marxist historians such as Charles Beard argue that the war was not a clash of politics or idealism: rather a clash of economies. It was about the rural Southern plantation economy against industrialized economy of the north.  ‘The emancipation proclamation was, in the strictest possible sense of the word, revolutionary. Therefore the argument that the emancipation proclamation was issued because of economic reasons is in fact a strong debate, as it is clear to see that the North had industrialised and saw the production as being much better than slavery, therefore it was a great opportunity for Lincoln to increase wealth in his country by getting rid of outmoded methods of production (slavery). Therefore the emancipation could have been issued solely for economic reasons. To modernise an outdated plantation economy and encourage laissez – faire liberalism.

Humanitarian reasons disagrees with the above, the idea that Lincoln was a Republican and from the North he himself disagreed with slavery ‘ he wanted all men, every-where, to be free’ ‘his hatred of slavery was strong and deep’ Lincoln felt that it was moral evil and that he should take advantage of this opportunity to get rid of it at once and for all, Lincoln showed his distaste of slavery ‘by holding large and enthusiastic meetings’ Lincoln and his party members all disliked slavery and although Lincoln did not speak of his distaste for slavery straightaway the war was a great way and opportunity to tackle the humanitarian issues Lincoln disliked so much. It is argued that maybe the emancipation proclamation was a way of challenging an aspect of his country that he did not like at a time when he had extra powers to do so.

Also strong abolitionist movement was developing not only in his party but in the North who were pressurizing for change ‘Northern opinion never faltered, that grew, in fact, more vigorous and vociferous: the abolitionists, who were steadily gaining ground in congress, in the republican party and in the country at a large’.

My overall conclusion is the civil war in America between the north and south began because the south feared that Lincoln with him being a republican and large members of his party greatly being against slavery would soon enough abolish slavery, the south wanted to protect what they had and did not want Lincoln to interfere. However the reason why Lincoln introduced the emancipation proclamation was for many reasons as I have discussed above not solely for just one reason. Although a civil war is bad in any country it is a time when huge things (i.e. slave trade) can be changed, as there is already a war going on the situation cannot get any worse. So the fact that Lincoln issued the emancipation was probably to add extra man power to win the war, but also he issued it because of political reasons, Lincoln was under great pressure by certain members of his party to end slavery, of course Lincoln did not want his party splitting over the situation so again this was a great chance to abolish slavery. Again international reasons are again a major reason to why Lincoln may have issued the emancipation proclamation. Lincoln did not want Britain and France to invade the USA because of slavery. Economic reasons was a hugely important reason too, the world was industrialising Britain and France no longer had slaves they had modernise factory’s like the north of America Lincoln needed his country to keep up with the moving times to keep his economy working. The fact that Lincoln disliked slavery, although not a major reason to why he would emancipate the slaves it still adds more reason to his actions in 1863. However the fact that Lincoln only issued it to the rebel states suggests very strongly that it was at first for military reasons to help win the war, but the fact that Lincoln had issued anything was extraordinary and there must have been other reasons behind his motivations because soon later the emancipation frees all slaves. So although at first the emancipation was in my opinion issued for a military reason, the fact that later on it was issued for all slaves suggests that the reasons above which I have studied also played a major role in his decision to emancipate all the slaves in America! It seems ultimately that the Emancipation Proclamation was a fusion of a number of issues. Part social concern, part political ambition and part military necessity. At varying points in the conflict the most important motive altered slightly, however the overriding concern does seem to be with the war.

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