During the Civil War era views of race were changing. Due to the limitations of slavery and poverty, people of color were usually viewed as inferior to the white man. All but people of European heritage were viewed as less intelligent and even a threat to the American way of life at the beginning of the Civil War era. There was, however, change happening. Proof of this change can be found in the Lincoln-Douglass debates of 1858. Douglass was a representative of what was about to change-- racism. Lincoln stood for giving non-whites a chance to thrive, while still seeing them as inferior. Even though Lincoln still viewed white as the superior race, he thought that all people should have their natural rights. He thought that non-whites deserved a chance to prove themselves as a race. Even though his views were flawed with a tint of racism, it was these views that changed American history as we know it.
Lincoln was simply a representative for the movement that was taking place in most of the North. This movement lead to the abolition of slavery and the growing opportunity for non-whites in America. Views of race was forever changed in America. People still opposed equality for non-whites and whites, but it was a giant step for mankind in the walk of equality for all.
