Abraham Lincoln: The Great EmancipatorDuring his brief time as president, Abraham Lincoln managed not only to save a deeply divided nation at war with itself, but to consolidate the United States of 'America. America as a nation dedicated to the advancement of civil rights. Years after his death, he was given the title "The Great Emancipator". In this article I will examine many different aspects of Lincoln's presidency to come to one conclusion: whether the title bestowed upon Lincoln was deserved or not. To fully understand Lincoln, it is necessary to understand the motives that drove this man to action. While some of his intentions may not have been for the welfare of the slaves, but for the preservation of the Union, the actions still stand. Abraham Lincoln, though motivated by his devotion to his nation, struck the first blows against the institution of slavery and rightfully earned the title “The Great Emancipator.” In a speech Lincoln gave before his presidency, we can see how ambiguous his position on slavery really was. This speech, known as the "House Divided" speech, was delivered on June 16, 1858, and outlined his beliefs regarding secession, but did not solidify the abolition of slavery as his primary goal. Lincoln states that the nation “could not bear to be permanently half slave and half free” and that slavery would either cease to exist or legally encompass all states (Lincoln). At this point in his life, Lincoln's primary concern is clearly the preservation of the nation. Contrary to a common modern misconception, Lincoln did not believe that Negroes were equal to white men in intellect or morals. In his fourth debate in Charleston, Illinois, he is directed... to the center of the paper... ar.' Rather than seeing Lincoln as a man who sought emancipation as his primary goal, which is misleading, we should remember him as a man who rose above the prevailing prejudices of his time to reject a morally corrupt institution. The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery.New York: W. W. Norton &, 2010. Print.Lincoln, Abraham. Lincoln's "House Divided" speech. The Annals of America.Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1968. Page no. Print.Lincoln, Abraham and Terence Ball. Abraham Lincoln: Political Writings and Speeches.NewYork: Cambridge UP, 2013. Print.Lincoln, Abraham, and William H. Seward. "Emancipation Proclamation". National Archives and Records Administration. Np, nd Web. 10 December 2013.ml>.