Many northerners opposed abolitionism because:

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Many in the North feared that abolition would lead to racial equality. While many were willing to cede that slavery was wrong, the racism of the time inhibited willingness to embrace legal equality and citizenship for African Americans. When debating Stephen Douglas in the 1856 senate race, Abraham Lincoln made it clear that ending slavery did not mean equality. His position changed during the course of his presidency; nevertheless, his strategy illustrated the importance of clarifying the difference between freedom and equality.

Many Northerners Opposed Abolitionism Because