history 3-1

Was Lincoln a Racist?

President Abraham Lincoln is usually remembered as a staunch abolitionist who ended slavery. However, historians have debated whether or not Lincoln truly believed in racial equality. In this document set, you will examine selections from the Lincoln-Douglas debates, Lincoln's letter to a friend, and a contemporaneous, theoretical view of slavery to explore Lincoln’s multifaceted views on race. As you work through the document set, consider the following questions:

• Was Lincoln a racist?
• Is it appropriate to use the word “racist” when discussing events in the1860s?
• Can we judge people in the past by our standards?

Be sure to use the documents provided below to answer these questions in the forum. Specific references to the documents in your writing are expected.