This timeline displays the progress of the Civil War through the eyes of Abraham Lincoln, thus it shows us how his thoughts changed over time during this war, leading to the decisions he made concerning this subject and affecting the overall equality between blacks and whites in America today.Perhaps the best examples of Lincoln's contrasting views concering slavery are his first and second inaugural addresses.These two clearly display this changed viewpoint; in his first address, he just wants to keep the Union together and not touch the issue of slavery; in his second address, slavery is one of his primary focuses.Throughout Lincoln's two terms as President, he goes through transitions.He begins his presidency with the view that blacks are inferior to whites (although he does not support...more >> enslaving them), then he uses the issue of slavery (through the Emancipation Proclamation) in order to gain the upper hand in the war- it is merely a military strategy- then by the end of the war Lincoln firmly believes in the equality of blacks and whites and the two races living together peacefully.