
What is the purpose of the second inaugural address?
President Lincoln delivered his Second Inaugural Address on March 4, 1865. In the address he urged people to "bind up the nation's wounds" caused by the Civil War and to move toward a lasting peace.
Why did Lincoln make the second inaugural address?
President Lincoln (center at the podium) giving his Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865 (Library of Congress) In his Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865, a re-elected President Abraham Lincoln wanted to unify a broken nation.
What was Lincoln's tone in the second inaugural address?
Regarding the end of the war, Lincoln's tone in his address is confident but far from celebratory. As the speech continues, he carefully considers the humanity of all involved in the war: the Union, the Confederacy, and the slaves.
What is the purpose of this passage from President Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address quizlet?
What is the purpose of this passage from President Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address? Lincoln expresses he doesn't know what will come next, but will continue to update people and the war and finish the efforts he began.
When did Abraham Lincoln give his Second Inaugural Address?
Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address was delivered on March 4, 1865, during the final days of the Civil War and only a month before he was assassinated.
What was the message of Lincoln's inaugural address?
In his inaugural address, Lincoln promised not to interfere with the institution of slavery where it existed, and pledged to suspend the activities of the federal government temporarily in areas of hostility. However, he also took a firm stance against secession and the seizure of federal property.
Is the Second Inaugural Address persuasive?
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.
What is the historical context of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address?
In his second inaugural address, Lincoln is more forward about his distaste for slavery than he had been as a candidate four years earlier. In the speech, Lincoln goes so far as to present the Civil War as a divine punishment for the nation's centuries-long history of slavery.
How does Lincoln connect slavery and the occasion of his second inaugural?
Rejecting the South's defense of slavery as “a positive good” and the North's assumption that they bore no responsibility for the peculiar institution, Lincoln used his Second Inaugural Address to propose a common public memory of both the war and American slavery as the basis for restoring national unity.
Did Lincoln think his speech was a success?
We think the speech was a failure because Lincoln thought so. But Lincoln thought most things he did were a failure, so that's not a good way to judge. It is true the applause following the speech was a bit scattered; people did not expect the speech to be so short, and the audience was taken by surprise.
What was Lincoln's original reason for entering into the Civil War?
Lincoln's decision to fight rather than to let the Southern states secede was not based on his feelings towards slavery. Rather, he felt it was his sacred duty as President of the United States to preserve the Union at all costs.
What did Lincoln say caused the Civil War?
Slavery, Lincoln stated, was the reason for the war: One eighth of the whole population were colored slaves. Not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the Southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest.
When did Lincoln give his second inaugural address?
e. Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address on Saturday, March 4 , 1865, during his second inauguration as President of the United States. At a time when victory over secessionists in the American Civil War was within days and slavery in all of the U.S. was near an end, Lincoln did not speak of happiness, but of sadness.
What is the most famous photograph of Lincoln's inaugural address?
This image of Lincoln delivering his second inaugural address is the most famous photograph of the event. Lincoln stands in the center, with papers in his hand.
When was Lincoln's second inaugural address?
Lincoln's Second Inauguration. President Abraham Lincoln looked tired and careworn as he stepped up to give his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865. The country had been embroiled in Civil War for nearly four years, and the conflict had taken its toll on the President. He hadn't even been sure that he would win reelection, ...
What was the first question asked in Lincoln's inaugural address?
The first question was: 'What was the war really about?'.
What happened after Lincoln was assassinated?
After Lincoln was assassinated in April, however, public perception of his speech changed. Copies multiplied and spread throughout the nation in tribute to the fallen President. Politically, however, his ideas about reuniting the country mostly fell on deaf ears. Reconstruction without Lincoln would be a long, painful process.
How long was Lincoln's inaugural speech?
President Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address packed a series of powerful messages into a weighty 6-7 minute speech. See the themes and purpose of this speech in addressing the ongoing Civil War, and the response of the public to his message. Updated: 11/10/2021
Was Lincoln's address a disappointing reception?
A Disappointing Reception. Initially, Lincoln's address wasn't very popular. His listeners were certainly moved emotionally, some of them even to tears, but many didn't care for the President's message. They didn't like being told that they shared in the guilt of slavery.
Did the President want to punish the South?
The President wasn't out for revenge against the South. He didn't want to punish Southerners. In fact, his plan for Reconstruction included an easy readmission to the Union, pardons for any Confederates willing to take an oath of loyalty, and the full restoration of rights and property (except for slaves) to the South.
What was Lincoln's second inaugural address?
Lincoln’s second inaugural address was delivered shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War and less than six weeks before his assassination. Perhaps heralded as the most eloquent inaugural in American history, the speech attempted to examine the war and slavery in a broader context and establish principles for Reconstruction. His concluding sentence is often quoted, although not always in its entirety: “With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan-- to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."
How many words are in an inaugural address?
Inaugural addresses vary in length, with an average of 2,337 words. William Henry Harrison gave the longest inaugural speech in history ...
What is the purpose of inaugural speeches?
Instead, the text of inaugural speeches provides an initial blueprint of governance for the electorate. Additionally, inaugural addresses serve as a guidepost for historians, both contemporary and forthcoming, who will subsequently evaluate and contextualize a president’s decisions and leadership.
Why do presidents give their inaugural addresses?
Since Washington established the tradition of the inaugural address (such practice is not required by the United States Constitution), presidents have used their first speech to speak about the nation’s past, hopes for the future, and their general policy goals for the next four years . While public expectation and tradition dictate some constraints, considerable latitude remains, enabling presidents to adapt the address to their particular speaking style or preferred leadership posture.
How many people heard George Washington speak?
Approximately one hundred people heard Washington speak. Many of the formal details, such as the location for the administration of the oath and his speech, were determined by parallel committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate. 1. Edward J. Larson. The Return of George Washington 1783-1789.
When was the inaugural address given?
The Inaugural Address. George Washington established the tradition of the inaugural address on April 30, 1789. After taking the presidential oath of office on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, he gave a speech inside the Senate chamber before members of Congress and invited dignitaries. Approximately one hundred people heard Washington ...
Where did George Washington give his inaugural address?
After taking the presidential oath of office on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, he gave a speech inside the Senate chamber before members of Congress and invited dignitaries. Approximately one hundred people heard Washington speak. Many of the formal details, such as the location for the administration of the oath and his speech, were determined by parallel committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate. 1#N#Edward J. Larson. The Return of George Washington 1783-1789. New York: HarperCollins, 2014. pp. 287-288.
How does Lincoln use repetition in his Gettysburg address?
Throughout the speech, Lincoln repeats many words to reiterate his ideas. His repetition of “we” unifies the audience, which helps them unite against their enemies. They are motivated by his words to work together and honor the men who have lost their lives here by winning the war. Lincoln also repeats “nation” many times in the address.
Who was the first person to address the United States during the Civil War?
John F. Kennedy but perhaps no greater leader in American history came to addressing the country like Abraham Lincoln. In his Second Inaugural Address, Lincoln gave a short speech concerning the effect of the Civil War and his own personal vision for the future of the nation. In this speech Lincoln uses many different rhetorical strategies to convey his views of the Civil War to his audience.
Why does Henry use the word "light" in his speech?
The word light was used by Henry, to show again that his views are like gods, and he is not against them. Extending his use of ethos Henry shows that he is religious and that he is establishing his stand as a Christian. Along with using biblical notes he also used a motif to show that the light is the same as fighting for God 's truth. Throughout the speech, Henry establishes various efforts to connect with his audience. He uses logos to show the convention that he has completed his research and fathoms what he is talking about.
Why did Lincoln write the Gettysburg Address?
Abraham Lincoln wrote “The Gettysburg Address” to remind the audience that they’re fighting the war to unite the nation and give equality to everyone. He uses rhetorical appeals to develop and support his purpose. Throughout his speech, he uses ethos by alluding to the Declaration of Independence, an example being in the first paragraph when he states, “all men are created equal”. By using ethos, he establishes that he is credible by referencing a trusted document that supports his purpose of equality. Another way he develops his purpose is by using logos when he claims that it’s “fitting and proper” that they should dedicate part of the battlefield to the people who died fighting (2).
What did Lincoln say about the right to see?
Lincoln did not know if he were to live to see the nations rebuild and reunite, he trusted what was right would be done. The power and firmness in the “right” of God gives us the “right” to see. “We hope.” “We Pray.” We, a very powerful word when used in the right way. Lincoln was deliberately pulling the nation together as one.
Why does Abraham Lincoln use the pronoun "all"?
Also, especially, from paragraph 2, Abraham Lincoln starts using the pronoun “all” and, different forms of it, more often to highlight the inclusiveness of the aggregation, North & South, and to make everyone, including himself, on equal ground. This is to bring a sense of unity and appeal to reason. By bringing a sense of unity, he tries to achieve peace and ease in the tension.
How does Lincoln set the atmosphere of righteousness within the North?
He sets the atmosphere of righteousness within the North by using long, lengthy sentences and words like “dreaded” to describe how the North and the South felt about the “impending civil war”. In acknowledging the morals and humanity of the enemy, Lincoln boosts himself up showing that he is the “bigger man” essentially. Lincoln also says that the government before the Civil War tried to do nothing else “than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it [slavery]” showing everyone that the North did not try to abolish slavery but merely contain it. By that logic, the South would be the aggressor seeking to tear apart the Union by their desire for economic gains beyond what they already have. This would naturally make the audience even more eager to fight for the side of justice and

Overview
Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address on Saturday, March 4, 1865, during his second inauguration as President of the United States. At a time when victory over secessionists in the American Civil War was within days and slavery in all of the U.S. was near an end, Lincoln did not speak of happiness, but of sadness. Some see this speech as a defense of his pragmatic approach to R…
Sources and theme
Lincoln used his second inaugural address to touch on the question of Divine providence. He wondered what God's will might have been in allowing the war to come, and why it had assumed the terrible dimensions it had taken. He endeavored to address some of these dilemmas, using allusions taken from the Bible.
Lincoln reiterates the cause of the war, slavery, in saying that "slaves constituted a peculiar and …
In popular culture
• An excerpt of the speech was dramatized in the 2012 Steven Spielberg film Lincoln, with Daniel Day-Lewis portraying Lincoln.
• An excerpt of the speech was dramatized in the two-hour 2013 National Geographic Channel political docudrama Killing Lincoln, with Billy Campbell portraying Lincoln.
See also
• Lincoln's first inaugural address
Further reading
• Burt, John (2015). "Collective Guilt in Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address". American Political Thought. 4 (3): 467–488. doi:10.1086/682042.
• Hahn, Dan F.; Morlando, Anne (1979). "A Burkean Analysis of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 9 (4): 376–379. JSTOR 27547509.
External links
• Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Excerpt, Written and Signed in His Own Hand, Part 1 "Both Parties" Shapell Manuscript Foundation
• Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Excerpt, Written and Signed in His Own Hand, Part 2 "With Malice" Shapell Manuscript Foundation
• U.S. Library of Congress website on Lincoln's second inauguration