f free individuals. There were three main goals of the Slave Power: "to re-open the slave trade; to extend the institution of slavery throughout the entire nation and beyond, and to remove from the free white man those constitutional and traditional guarantees of liberty which stood in the way of the exercise of slaveholder and capitalist." (p. 22) The South was obviously willing to compromise personal rights and morals to make this Slave Power a reality. However, the abolitionists were not having it. They believed that the existence of these Slave Powers "jeopardized the American tradition" (p.24).
             Everyone is familiar with Abraham Lincoln and his "Emancipation Proclamation," which is many times viewed as being the speech that freed the slaves. However, many aren't familiar with the events leading up to this historically famous speech. Lincoln disagreed that it was political or economic circumstances, which brought about the war. He instead insisted that it was slavery that was breaking the country up and threatening the strength of the Union; "All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war."(p.146) Lincoln believed that slavery disrupted the interests of American society and that it disregarded any and everything that the Constitution stood for.
             Highly regarded as a most distinguished historian, specializing in the Civil War Era, Kenneth Stampp firmly believes that slavery was the epicenter of the conflict between the North and South. He believes that every event or occurrence during this time can somehow be linked to slavery. Northern abolitionists attacked the South directly, regarding it as immoral and a "national disgrace."(p.179) The North also hoped to eliminate slavery indirectly, by monitoring the Slave Powers and preventing further expansion. As an answer to the North's means of destroyi
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