---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lincoln has accepted America as a…"
description: "\"Lincoln has accepted America as a biracial society. He's talking about giving at least some black men the right to vote. In the Emancipation Proclamati..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb0/eric-foner-20891_accepted_lincoln-has-accepted-america-as-a-biraci_1871731.jpg"
---

#  Lincoln has accepted America as a biracial society. He's…

![“Lincoln has accepted America as a biracial society. He's talking about giving at least some black men the right to vote. In the Emancipation Proclamation he advises some blacks to labor faithfully for reasonable wages, here in the United States. He doesn't say anything about them leaving the…” quote by Eric Foner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb0/eric-foner-20891_accepted_lincoln-has-accepted-america-as-a-biraci_1871731.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb0/eric-foner-20891_accepted_lincoln-has-accepted-america-as-a-biraci_1871731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb0/eric-foner-20891_accepted_lincoln-has-accepted-america-as-a-biraci_1871731.jpg)

> “Lincoln has accepted America as a biracial society. He's talking about giving at least some black men the right to vote. In the Emancipation Proclamation he advises some blacks to labor faithfully for reasonable wages, here in the United States. He doesn't say anything about them leaving the country. He puts black men in the army. That is a whole different vision than simply saying "let's have them go out of the country." I think what's interesting is the change in Lincoln's view, but one must realize that he did adhere to this idea of colonization for many years.”

[Eric Foner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-foner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Lincoln’s stance on black rights evolved, showing tension between emancipation and colonization ideas.

**In simple terms:** Lincoln’s views on black rights changed over time.

Key Takeaway

Recognize historical complexity.

Themes

history civil rights political evolution

Mood

analytical thoughtful

Type

historical political

When to use this quote

- political speeches
- policy debates

Key Concepts

emancipation colonization military service

Questions to Reflect On

- What factors drove Lincoln’s policy shifts?
- How did public opinion influence his decisions?

A Different Perspective

Lincoln’s policies were pragmatic, not purely idealistic.

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