on of slaves, but the unity of a nation. Lincoln was not the “Great Emancipator”, but a man who wasmade by the events that occurred around him.Lincoln was a politician. His goal since hisinauguration was to maintain the unity of a nation and notto achieve the emancipation of the slaves. He tried toachieve this goal by any means necessary, by appealing toboth the abolitionists and the pro-slavery southerners. Onlyin a last attempt, when unity seemed unachievable didLincoln compose the Emancipation Proclamation. But ifLincoln is not deserving of the “Great Emancipator” title,then who freed the slaves? The emancipation of the slaveswas achieved by various factors, which included theabolitionist movement, the direct effect of the civil war,and the role of slaves themselves.One of the greatest influences in the emancipation ofthe slaves was the role of the abolitionists. Forms ofabolitionism came in many different ways. For example, theQuakers played an important role in portrayed ex-slaves weregood workers; men who were said to “work well”. Also , theynoticed that thy were very religious. “When we entered,they were all kneeling, at prayer”. This depiction allowedallowed many northerners to better understand these ex-slaves, since most of them had never seen them before.(Majewski, pg.64). Another great influence was Frederick Douglas. Douglaspushed for the rights of the Negro and demanded their rightto vote. He believed that it was a contradiction of whatthe American government stood for, this ideal of “universalsuffrage”, if the Negro himself could have the right tovote. “No class of men can, without insulting their ownnature, be content with any depravation of their rights.” As more and more Negroes began to be educated, theyunderstand that they were being denied their basic right,the right to vote. “We want it, again, as a means foreducating our rac...
