Of course it was the mindset of the era. But it failed and was given up. You seem to be stuck on the fact that Lincoln tried it. The people you attacked as experts have known that for a long time and aren’t shocked or surprised by it (unless they are — like many professors — Lincoln haters). The more significant thing is if Lincoln learned from those failures and wasn’t going to pursue that strategy further.
In other words, stop blaming 19th century people for having a 19th century mindset and values and take it into account if they manage to outgrow that way of thinking in whole or in part. If you don’t understand that, talking to you is a waste of time.
I consider "motive" to be the true window to their soul.
A lot of people want to see the good in people, while I generally look for the bad. I generally find it too.
I was always taught that are all sinners who are only saved by the grace of God, but we are inherently evil. We have to work at being good.
In other words, stop blaming 19th century people for having a 19th century mindset and values and take it into account if they manage to outgrow that way of thinking in whole or in part.
I get that "the past is a different country", but so many people who argue on the issue of the civil war and "slavery" *DO NOT* get it.
They keep trying to judge the motives of 19th century people with 20th century beliefs. Take "Progressing America" for example. He can't seem to grasp that yes, the founders founded a nation of slave holding states.
Yes, they thought better of it later, but the fact is, at the time they did it, there was no other choice.
And all who want to divert any discussion of the Civil War to slavery and nothing but slavery, are also trying to judge the 19th century by 20th century views.