A Mind That Evolved

Lincoln's views on race evolved sharply during his presidency. Early in his career, he endorsed colonization — sending freed Black Americans to Africa or Central America.

By 1864, he was calling for Black voting rights, at least for veterans and the educated. His final public speech, on April 11, 1865, included this stance. John Wilkes Booth, who was in the audience, vowed it would be the last speech Lincoln ever gave. Three days later, Booth shot him at Ford's Theatre during Our American Cousin.