Slavery and Abraham Lincoln

Madugundu Krishna October 21, 2012

Slavery was an ancient social custom. Those who were taken captive in war were distributed as slaves to his followers by a king. He could also such people. A person who could be sold like any domesticated animal was a slave.

In European countries, the slaves were expected to render various services. The slaves were thrown to be devoured by lions in ancient Rome. This was entertainment to the Romans. To keep the saves under control, they were punished indiscriminately. In the Greek city state of Sparta, to keep the large slave force in submission, the citizens were always in a condition of military preparedness. The state of Sparta was dictatorial. Even in Muslim countries, slavery was very popular.

The Europeans who had explored sea routes, developed slaves trade and used Asians, and especially there was the African Blacks for the purpose. The Portuguese and the Spanish were the leaders in slave trade. But European country was free from this evil practice. The use of slaves was started in the America colonies in 1619. They employed the African slaves in their estates in the southern colonies. But a majority of the South American countries had abolished slave trade long back. Britain banned slave trade in 1807. Even in the West Indies islands (the Caribbean’s) which were under Britain, slavery was abolished by Britain in 1834. (In India, abolition of Slavery Act was passed in 1843 by the British Government.

A great humanist Abraham Lincoln contested for presidency in the United States in 1860. He promised to abolish slavery. When he was elected President in 1861, the 11 southern states seceded from the union (of US) and formed an arrangement called `Confederacy,’ a new separate state. David was elected President of the new State. Gen. Lee was appointed the Commander –in –chief. There followed a civil war between the North and the South. In 1863, Lincoln issued order abolished slavery.

The two regions united in 1964, Lincoln was elected president again. But the very next year (1865) this great humanist was shot dead. Following the example of the United States, Brazil abolished slavery in 1888. The League of Nations also passed a resolution in 1926 recommending the abolition of slavery in all countries.