Abraham Lincoln's thoughts about slavery are an important part of his time as president during the Civil War. It's interesting to see how his views changed over time, especially considering what was happening in the country back then.

Early Views:

• When Lincoln became president in 1861, his main goal was to keep the United States together, not to end slavery right away.
• He believed slavery was wrong, but he thought he didn't have the power to stop it where it already existed. Instead, he wanted to stop slavery from spreading into new areas.

The Emancipation Proclamation:

• As the Civil War continued, Lincoln changed his mind. By 1862, after facing some early losses in battle, he realized that freeing enslaved people could help the Union’s cause.
• On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This declared that all enslaved people in places controlled by the Confederate states were now free. However, it did not end slavery in the border states that stayed loyal to the Union.

Moral Conviction:

• As the war went on, Lincoln's feelings about slavery grew stronger. He started to see ending slavery as not just a way to win the war, but as something he felt was morally right.
• One of his famous quotes is, "If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong." This shows how much his views changed. By the time he gave his Second Inaugural Address in 1865, he saw slavery as a major cause of the war and called for a future that included citizenship and voting rights for African Americans.

Legislation and Aftermath:

• Lincoln played a key role in supporting the 13th Amendment, which made slavery illegal in the United States. His growing commitment to ending slavery left a big mark on history.
• Sadly, he did not get to see the amendment become law because he was assassinated in April 1865.

In summary, Lincoln went from being careful about politics to taking a strong stand against slavery. His journey reminds us how personal beliefs and political situations can change, especially in difficult times.