Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address As I read the lines carefully of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, I wonder how a man who is elected for his second term as president with over 54% of the popular vote, and in turn, compose such an eloquent address can be assassinated little more than a month later. In reading other commentaries concerning this address it seems to me that everyone concurs that this address is one of the finest speeches ever written by a president. Lincoln wrote other memorable speeches such as his first inaugural address, and the Gettysburg Address, which are of equally high caliber, however, his second inaugural address is considered a favorite by most critics. Even the surrounding circumstances at the time …show more content…
Lincoln balanced that rejection of triumphalism, however, with recognition of the unmistakable evil of slavery, which he described in the most concrete terms possible. Unbeknownst to him, in the crowd, at his second inaugural address John Wilkes Booth, George Atzerodt, and many other conspirators involved with Lincoln's assassination. It is inscribed, along with the Gettysburg Address, in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C." Besides Lincoln's revered speeches, there are other things he is remembered for during his two terms as president. He is best remembered for his very important role as the leader in preserving the Union during the Civil War and beginning the process that led to the end of slavery in the United States. He is also remembered for his Godly character, his many speeches and letters, and as a man of humble beginnings whose determination and perseverance led him to become the nation's 16th president. The time of the speech was towards the end of the civil war, when the North and the South where still fighting after a bitter 4 year war. The battle of Gettysburg had already been fought and Lincoln had given the distinguished Gettysburg address just a few months before. He spoke of freedom, devotion, and the ideals for which he believed the Union stood. Lincoln had also already written the emancipation proclamation which had freed the slaves of the south in the previous year. The audience which
In his Second Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln provided one of the most memorable speeches in history that affected the way American citizens saw the war. The March 4th speech in 1865 gave more people hope for the country and allowed them to trust that God will help them through the Civil War. The people trusted Lincoln to help them through the situation because he had already served his first term as president, and the people knew he was trustworthy, so they re-elected him. Lincoln professionally used rhetorical appeals such as ethos pathos and logos to press his audience to agree, as well as tone to show his audience how importantly they should be taking the subject. Abraham’s Second Inaugural Address was an introduction to his plan for the United States for the next years he would be president, and much of it was a discussion about the Civil War and how they would bring it to an end.
The Gettysburg address was announced by Abraham Lincoln after the Battle of Gettysburg in the civil war. His main goal was to remind the nation that the soldiers who fought this battle did it to create a country where everyone is equal and to unify America. He reminds everyone of this through the use of repetition throughout his speech, designed to provoke a shameful feeling from the audience. This shame provoked is used to inspire people to continue fighting for a better nation by joining the army or trying to unify the states, which is Lincoln’s true motive, specifically through juxtaposition.
It was full of the history about the nation, the civil war, and a recap of the three day battle. The real purpose of this speech was to dedicate a cemetery to the fallen soldiers (“Wise Words” 1). Lincoln had said during his two minute speech was that the best way for the living to honor the dead was to continue with the cause (Wise Words 1). What lincoln had meant by a new birth of freedom was that the nation would be free for both blacks and whites. This government cannot endure a permanently half free and half slave population (Barney, Brett, and Lisa Paddock 1). With this being said, the speech gave universal satisfaction to the
Abraham Lincoln, guided his country through the most devastating experience during his time—the Civil War. He is considered by many historians and people to have been the greatest American president. Abraham Lincoln, was a self-taught Illinois lawyer and a legislator with a belief that every man should be free in America. Many were shock that he had overcome several prominent continents in the Republicans Party’s nomination for president in 1860. In the North many people agreed that is was fair to let the slaves be free, but for the south who need slaves for picking cotton were not so happy. People in the South, called the confederates hated the idea of freeing the slaves, and this is how the Civil War started.
Four and a half months after the Union defeated the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. He gave the Union soldiers a new perspective on the war and something to fight for. Before the address, the Civil War was based solely on states’ rights. Lincoln’s speech has the essence of America and the ideals that were put into the Declaration of Independence by the founders. The sixteenth president of the United States was capable of using his speech to turn a war on states rights to a war on slavery and upholding the principles that America was founded upon. By turning the Civil War into a war that was about slavery he was able to ensure that no foreign
In Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, He talks about the Civil War America was facing at the time. In his speech, his exaggerative diction, allusions to the Bible, and appeals to emotion helped strengthen and portray his point of view.
Weeks of wet weather had occurred before Saturday March 4th, 1865, making Pennsylvania Avenue a thick, muddy place; however, the pounding rain did not stop the spectators from listening to Lincoln give his Second Inaugural Address, given one month before the end of the Civil War. The Civil War was the result of a long standing controversy over slavery. The North and the South did not agree with each other. Slavery in the North had died out to the point where almost all blacks were free. The South on the other hand very few blacks were free. Causing a long lastly disagreement between both sides. When Lincoln gave his speech spectators were expecting a speech on slavery when Lincoln gave a dark gloomy speech that no one saw coming. The Civil War had lasted through his passed presidency and ended five days before his death. United States President Abraham Lincoln surprised his massive audience with a very short speech in which he talked about the effects of the Civil War, and expressed his feelings toward the future of the United States. Lincoln wanted to restore faith in the nation, talking about how the war would end soon, and that the nation was going to reunite. In this short speech Lincoln asserts that the audience knows and is knowledgeable about the war, which shows that the Americans know the war was just by using juxtaposition. Lincoln addresses his opinion towards the war, and makes it clear by utilizing biblical allusion, creating a basis of mutual agreement between the North and the South.
The Gettysburg address was to show respect to the soldiers of the Gettysburg address and what they fought for. Lincoln's " Last Public Address" was based on the slaves, and how their fate will turn out. Lincoln didn't like the idea of their fate and he knew he needed to make a change to save them and their life's. He had many political battles but once stood out the most ,The Lincoln- Douglas debates. This is a series of seven debates, the topic most focused on was slavery. Lincoln did however lose these debates, but they are still being used till this day in presidency. After the silver war broke out in April 1861 Lincoln order the Emancipation Proclamation to measure the warring to show the unions that wanted to succeed that he seriously he will fight for the union to be one into have slaves free. He was proving to them that they will be worn consequences until a solution came along and they are part of the Union again. Till this day ever him Sarot actions take major roles. Without his effort and his determination to feed the enslaved we wouldn't have an African-American president Barack Obama. Lincoln showed for many years and still to this day that we are equal to matter race religion. We are all put on this earth for a reason and we need to show people while we
Roughly six weeks before he is to be assassinated at Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln understood that in order to reunite America he could not glorify the North while simultaneously denigrating the South, as that would bring about harm and alienation to a recovery in which his aim was "to bind up the nation's wounds" (Dolbeare, pg. 277). With determination to reconstruct the devastated South and usher in a new chapter in America's history, the President succeeded when it came to not discerning between his beliefs, and those of the secessionists.
President Abraham Lincoln orated a powerful persuasive speech in his Second Inaugural Address, just one month before the end of the Civil War. This speech shed light to his contemplation of the effects of the Civil War and provided his vision for the future of the nation. Lincoln’s address was written through a logical theme that focused on the unity of the country. He used religion, specific diction, and flat-out logical thinking to convey his message. The speech was given as the Civil War was ending, and President Lincoln wanted to provide a bit of light in a very dark time. He could have given the lengthy speech that the audience expected; but instead, he gave a short message of unity that fueled the United States for years to come.
“Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address” was designed to remove the blame of the Civil War from both sides, and to encourage the South in order to unite the country when the dispute has been resolved. In the text, Lincoln believed that people should come together to end slavery and the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln effectively uses logos, repetition, and imagery to provide a strong argument to end slavery and the Civil War.
The Emancipation Proclamation stated that all slaves should be free throughout the country. (McPherson 50). In November of 1863, Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. McPherson stated," The most famous speech in American history, it was only 272 words in length and took two minutes to deliver"(51). Lincoln ran for re-election and won.
Abraham Lincoln was argued to be one of the best United States presidents in history. His views on slavery were argued, including the fact that he either did or did not actually free the slaves. It was also believed that he thought that black people shouldn't have the same rights as white people, despite that fact that he allegedly ended slavery in the North and South (especially) region of the United State, with a war. This wasn't his first rodeo when it came to politics, either. He also had a fairly long presidency, even though he was murdered at the Fords Theatre in Washington D.C after serving presidency for 4 years. Which was the average of some presidents.
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in April of 1865. Presently Lincoln is most known for his battle against slavery, the Gettysburg address, the emancipation proclamation, and the tall tale of being honest Abe. On November 19, 1963, President Lincoln delivered what had become one of the most famous speeches and one of the most famous speeches in American history, the Gettysburg Address. Around 15,000 people, came to listen to President Lincoln deliver his 272-word speech at one of the most hardest battlefields of the Civil War, the National Cemetery of Gettysburg, in Pennsylvania.
President Lincoln profoundly manifested his rejection of the organization of slavery that was undeniably complex and could not always fully