Abraham LincolnAbraham LincolnCline BeamCline BeamSally BrockSally Brock

First Inaugural AddressFirst Inaugural Address Monday, March 4, 1861Monday, March 4, 1861 Before he delivered his address, Lincoln knew Before he delivered his address, Lincoln knew

that the fight was inevitable but he tried to that the fight was inevitable but he tried to implore the country to stay together. He made implore the country to stay together. He made it clear that he was a “typical Republican” but it clear that he was a “typical Republican” but he was more in favor of keeping the union he was more in favor of keeping the union together. together.

Southern states were worried about abolition of Southern states were worried about abolition of slavery, but Lincoln reassures them by stating:slavery, but Lincoln reassures them by stating:

““I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.”inclination to do so.”

He recognized that the He recognized that the rights of the States with rights of the States with slavery, and he knew slavery, and he knew that he could not that he could not change it. change it.

He reassured them in He reassured them in his address that if one his address that if one of their slaves was to of their slaves was to escape, then it was escape, then it was under the law of the under the law of the Constitution that the Constitution that the slave be returned to the slave be returned to the owner because it was owner because it was their “property”. their “property”.

As the speech continued, he emphasized that he As the speech continued, he emphasized that he would rather have the American people abide by the would rather have the American people abide by the laws that were set by the Constitution than rebel, laws that were set by the Constitution than rebel, which would be a permanent disruption in the Union.which would be a permanent disruption in the Union.

He reiterates that all the states signed the He reiterates that all the states signed the Constitution together and because of that, all the Constitution together and because of that, all the states must agree to break the constitution together. states must agree to break the constitution together.

““But if destruction of the Union by one or by part only But if destruction of the Union by one or by part only of the States be lawfully possible, the Union is of the States be lawfully possible, the Union is lessless perfect than before the Constitution, having lost the perfect than before the Constitution, having lost the vital element of perpetuity.”vital element of perpetuity.”

He says that he trusts the people to keep the He says that he trusts the people to keep the Constitution strong and that it will be able to maintain Constitution strong and that it will be able to maintain itself throughout this time of controversy over slavery.itself throughout this time of controversy over slavery.

Lincoln says in his speech that he will not allow the Lincoln says in his speech that he will not allow the American people to use “force against or among the American people to use “force against or among the people anywhere” or that “there will be no invasion”people anywhere” or that “there will be no invasion”

He believed that the Union would go on because no He believed that the Union would go on because no one should interrupt the plan of the states written in one should interrupt the plan of the states written in the Constitution by the founding fathersthe Constitution by the founding fathers

He says that if the Union separates, then it will be He says that if the Union separates, then it will be worse afterwards than it was during the time of his worse afterwards than it was during the time of his speech. He then says that it is not “physically” speech. He then says that it is not “physically” possible to separate or “build an impassable wall possible to separate or “build an impassable wall between them;” therefore, they have to stay face to between them;” therefore, they have to stay face to face. Because of this situation, he says that fighting face. Because of this situation, he says that fighting will not be easy. The condition they choose to have, will not be easy. The condition they choose to have, either hostile or amicable, is their choice.either hostile or amicable, is their choice.

He ends this address by saying that it He ends this address by saying that it is the decision of the people for what is the decision of the people for what the future holds. He says that the the future holds. He says that the government will not overcome their government will not overcome their decision, but they will have to suffer decision, but they will have to suffer if they decide that war is the only if they decide that war is the only answer to try to solve the problem. answer to try to solve the problem.

““We must not be enemies.”We must not be enemies.”

The Gettysburg AddressThe Gettysburg Address

Thursday, November 19, 1863Thursday, November 19, 1863 Given in Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaGiven in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Begins with “Four score and seven years ago…” referring Begins with “Four score and seven years ago…” referring

back to the time of the American Revolution.back to the time of the American Revolution. He also states in his address that the forefathers of our He also states in his address that the forefathers of our

country said that all men are created equalcountry said that all men are created equal The main purpose of this speech is to say that the ones who The main purpose of this speech is to say that the ones who

fought were holy ones because they were willing to give fought were holy ones because they were willing to give their lives so that the country had a chance in survival.their lives so that the country had a chance in survival.

Says that the battlefield should be a living memorial for Says that the battlefield should be a living memorial for those who lost their lives those who lost their lives

It should also be a final resting place that should be treated It should also be a final resting place that should be treated with a great amount of respect and that it should not be with a great amount of respect and that it should not be treated like a cemetery.treated like a cemetery.

He says that his words can not compare to He says that his words can not compare to the actions that these men accomplished.the actions that these men accomplished.

““The world will little note, nor long The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.”never forget what they did here.”

He says that it is time for the nation to be He says that it is time for the nation to be reborn as a nation of freedom and “that reborn as a nation of freedom and “that government of the people, by the people, government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the for the people shall not perish from the earth.”earth.”

““Wills argues that the Wills argues that the Gettysburg speech made a Gettysburg speech made a formal political connection formal political connection between the principles of between the principles of the Declaration of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Independence and the U.S. Constitution. At Gettysburg Constitution. At Gettysburg the Declaration became the Declaration became the foremost source of the foremost source of American moral principles, American moral principles, giving priority to the giving priority to the equality of mankind. equality of mankind. Lincoln thus gave America Lincoln thus gave America a mission.”a mission.”

http://www.lib.niu.edu/http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/1993/ii930233.htmlipo/1993/ii930233.html

Lincoln’s Second InauguralLincoln’s Second Inaugural Sunday, March 4, 1865Sunday, March 4, 1865 The main point of this The main point of this

address was to heal and address was to heal and repair the nationrepair the nation

He knew that the war was He knew that the war was about to be over.about to be over.

He warned that they He warned that they could not separate the could not separate the nation and could not hold nation and could not hold the South accountable for the South accountable for the disruption. The North the disruption. The North should not punish the should not punish the South.South.

quote from Second Inaugural Bookquote from Second Inaugural Book

He refers back to his first inaugural address where the He refers back to his first inaugural address where the country was dreading the war and were trying to avoid country was dreading the war and were trying to avoid it altogether. it altogether.

““Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would makemake war rather than let the nation survive, and the war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would other would acceptaccept war rather let it perish, and the war war rather let it perish, and the war came.”came.” Uses this quote to show that the North accepted the war Uses this quote to show that the North accepted the war

just with the purpose to save the countryjust with the purpose to save the country He mentions the harshness to the slaves and about how He mentions the harshness to the slaves and about how

people with anti-slavery views were concerned about people with anti-slavery views were concerned about how these slaves were being treated.how these slaves were being treated.

Lincoln questions how people could ask God to help Lincoln questions how people could ask God to help them hurt others, but he says not to judge them. He them hurt others, but he says not to judge them. He was thankful that God did not answer their prayers and was thankful that God did not answer their prayers and says that “the Almighty [had] His own purpose”says that “the Almighty [had] His own purpose”

Lincoln says not to hold hatred toward each Lincoln says not to hold hatred toward each other and to take care of the widows and other and to take care of the widows and children of the soldiers that died. children of the soldiers that died.

He says to forgive, forget, and move on.He says to forgive, forget, and move on. He wants everyone to take care of their He wants everyone to take care of their

fellow country men whether or not they are fellow country men whether or not they are from the North or the Southfrom the North or the South

Lincoln made a point not to blame either Lincoln made a point not to blame either side, but he called it on both for their sins.side, but he called it on both for their sins.

Gettysburg AddressGettysburg Address. 7 Oct 2007. . 7 Oct 2007. Wikipedia. 24 Sept 2007 Wikipedia. 24 Sept 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysbu<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address>. rg_Address>.

Volker, Todd. "Wills on Lincoln and Volker, Todd. "Wills on Lincoln and Gettysburg." February 1993. 24 Sept Gettysburg." February 1993. 24 Sept 2007 2007 <http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/1993/ii93<http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/1993/ii930233.html>. 0233.html>.