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Lincoln First Inaugural Address Analysis

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It would be more than difficult not to read Abraham Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address without some sense of pride or honor for one’s own country. He brings about a call to civility among all citizens striving for unity and harmony with one another. Lincoln understood the dilemma that slavery became for not only the Northerners attempting to abolish the practice entirely, but also for the Southerners perpetuating it in the first place. The fact that there was a faction rising in favor of slavery on a scale that would divide the country indefinitely and that Lincoln foresaw this danger demonstrates the level of prudence he was able to acquire up until his presidency. In this address, Lincoln stressed the importance of the nation staying unified and true to the principles set by …show more content…

If a minority, in such case, will secede rather than acquiesce, they make a precedent which, in turn, will divide and ruin them; for a minority of their own will secede from them whenever a majority refuses to be controlled by such minority” (Basler, p.585). Lincoln’s argument against the South not having grounds to fight for the continuation of slavery because they are a minority is an argument based strongly on the basis of the country being governed by the majority. Just because a faction pushes for something doesn’t mean they are permitted to secede from the union. That goes against everything that the Union stands for in terms of a moral foundation and allegiance to a higher undertaking se forth by Founders from the very beginning. “Plainly, the central idea of secession, is the essence of anarchy. A majority, held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations, and always changing easily with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people. Whoever rejects it, does, of necessity, fly to anarchy or to despotism” (Basler,

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During Abraham Lincoln’s presidency at the start of the 1860, an issue that had divided the nation was slavery. Lincoln’s election to presidency as a republic was not received well by the Southern slave states, as they thought that as a republican he was out to abolish slavery. In an effort to calm southern states and keep them from seceding from the United States, he attempts to ease them with his First Inaugural Address. In his First Inaugural Address his key points are to clam southern leaders of slave states, keep the states from seceding, and make them at ease as he enters presidency.

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Lincoln talks about the union in Document G and said the following: “But you say that sooner than yield your legal right to the slave—especially at the bidding of those who are not themselves interested, you would see the Union dissolved.” If the South successfully separated from the North the Confederacy would no longer be under the control of the Union and Lincoln’s access to freeing the slaves would minimal. This “new nation” that Lincoln was trying to create and put into effect had a strong foundation based upon Constitutional rights which declare that all men are created equal. Yes, maybe Lincoln at this point wanted to keep the Union together, which can most definitely be perceived as racist too but slavery on the back burner for the time being, but in the end, he encouraged and defended the rights of all humans.

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’I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.” What he means is that a country will crumble if they are fighting against themselves and cannot come to an agreement. People fought in the Civil War because they agreed with Lincoln. They believed that slavery was wrong and that it should be abolished. Also, they believed that this country was built on equality, and with slavery, there is none.

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Lincoln urges the people to “strive on to finish the work we are in,” “to bind up the nation's wounds,” he is trying to get the United Sate Citizens to become one again to unite and be one strong country, showing that even after a huge war that the country can remain strong and unified and that this war will allow for a strong brotherhood in the US. Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address is significant because Lincoln offered and objective point of view. Lincoln did not speak of the unloyalty of the South nor did he praise the North. Rather, Lincoln used multiple points to show that the Unification should be the main focus of his speech not that the states should be divided because of

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Prolific for its apocalyptic portrayal of President Abraham Lincoln’s election, Senator Robert Toombs’ speech to the Georgia state legislature reveals how Southerners were concerned about the longevity of their lifestyle. Utilizing passionate rhetoric, The South Must Strike while There Is Yet Time illustrates how the future of the Union has become unpredictable and warrants action from legislators. An address of vigorous pathos, Toombs details how the security of Southern values remains paramount to the decision of secession. Moreover, the discourse over secession often features slavery and emphasizes its role in Southern identity, deeming it essential to the preservation of their way of life. The perception of Lincoln as a radical abolitionist

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• What stylistic devices are used? The first stylistic device that Lincoln used in his speech is anaphora. “…we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot this ground” (Lincoln). We notice the repetition of the phrases “we cannot” in the part of speech that represents anaphora (Brenda).

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There were two beliefs on the inclusion of African Americans into the American society following the Civil War. President Lincoln wanted a slow and well planned introduction of free African Americans into the United States society, Pennsylvania Representative Thaddeus stevens argued that African Americans should be offered many freedoms and rights immediately. “Whatever you are, be a good one.” President Abraham Lincoln was just that, an inspiring President. In the Nineteenth Century, Lincoln along with Congress worked to pass the Thirteenth Amendment.

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President Lincoln stated that: “if I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it,..., and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would do it.”. This quote clearly shows that the freedom of slaves was not his concern and unnecessary if it did not help the Union; as the result, slavery still exists if there is no war. Free slave from bondage should be a Great Emancipator’s primary goal and he will do his best to achieve it no matter what, but president Lincoln’s thought differed from that because all he cares was the Union. Although he had many times admitting himself an anti-slavery but his words and thoughts obviously prove that he is

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