Lincoln believed that American democracy meant equal rights and equality of opportunity. But he drew a line between basic natural rights such as freedom from slavery and political and civil rights like voting. He believed it was up to the states to decide who should exercise these rights.
The Dutch believed that they had more of a claim on New Amsterdam than the British is:
They were the first one to claim the land.
Back when territories between countries still haven't been settled, the one that first settle the territory will have control over it.
The KKK attack African-Americans because they were white supremacists.
The French concentrated in exploring Canada because they already had forts in it in Quebec and in other parts of Canada, also there wasn't too much fighting over Canada except for the British so they decided to explore Canada.
