The Changing views of Race during the Civil War Era.

During the Civil War Era, beginning in the 1800's, both North and South polarized their own views on slavery.

In the North abolitionists became more active, and more people became convinced that slavery was an evil injustice. Abolitionist writers, like William Lloyd Garrison, painted a picture of how despicable slavery was. By 1860 many Northerners resented slavery.

In the South, advocates of slavery polarized their own views as well. What had once been a "peculiar institution" was now a mandate of God. John Bell Robinson even argued that slaves were a gift from god, and that spurning that gift would cause grievous consequences. By 1860 both sides were strongly rooted in their polarized views.

Some politicians tried to find common ground. During the Lincoln-Douglas Debates Mr. Lincoln consented that whites were superior to blacks, and stated all he wanted to do was stop the expansion of slavery. In the end, the polarized view of both north and south that had been developing in Antebellum America made evading war impossible.