In his First Inaugural Address on March 4, 1861, US President Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech that sought to pacify the Southern states, which were on the brink of secession due to the issue of slavery. Lincoln reiterated his commitment to preserving the Union and emphasized that he did not intend to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it already existed. However, he also made it clear that he would oppose the expansion of slavery into new territories. Lincoln's address demonstrated his efforts to avoid conflict and find a peaceful resolution while defending the principles of equality and the preservation of the Union.
Jefferson Davis's Proclamation
On February 9, 1861, Confederate States of America President Jefferson Davis issued a proclamation after Southern states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederacy. Davis denounced the federal government and accused it of violating the rights of the Southern states. He presented the secession as an act of self-defense to protect their sovereignty, states' rights, and the institution of slavery. Davis's proclamation provides insight into the motivations of the Southern leaders and their determination to establish an independent nation based on the principles of states' rights and the preservation of slavery.
The Emancipation Proclamation
Issued on January 1, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation declared that all enslaved individuals in the Confederate states were free. While it did not immediately free all enslaved people in the United States, it was a significant step toward ending slavery and marked a turning point in the Civil War. The Emancipation Proclamation demonstrated the Union's commitment to fighting for the abolition of slavery and signaled a shift in the war's objectives, from preserving the Union to also addressing the moral issue of slavery.
These primary source documents offer different perspectives on the reasons behind the start of the US Civil War. Lincoln's First Inaugural Address highlights his efforts to avoid conflict and preserve the Union while opposing the expansion of slavery. Jefferson Davis's Proclamation presents the Southern perspective on states' rights and the defense of slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation indicates the evolution of the war's goals to include the fight for the abolition of slavery. By studying these documents, historians gain a deeper understanding of the complex factors that led to the outbreak of the Civil War.