Preview

Lincoln's First Inaugural Address Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
683 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Lincoln's First Inaugural Address Analysis
During the Civil War, President Lincoln’s position on the practice of slavery changed from the start to the end of the war. He expresses his views about slavery through a variety of primary documents; both of Lincoln’s inaugural addresses, his letters to Horace Greeley, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the 13th amendment to the United States Constitution. Through these documents, Lincoln demonstrates his initial feeling towards slavery as being neutral/indifferent for his priority was to keep the Union/nation unified. As the war continued, he stuck by his desire to keep the unification of the Union regardless of the status of slavery.

When President Lincoln first took office, his view on slavery is that he can’t and has no position getting rid of it in the states where it already exists. In his first Inaugural Address, he explains, “ I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it already exists.” This greatly expresses his view in that, slavery is not his to deal with at all. Another example of this, also stated in Lincoln’s first Inaugural Address, “. . . the right of each state to order and control its own domestic institutions according to its own judgement exclusively, is essential to that balance …show more content…
In his letter to Horace Greeley, Lincoln vocalized, “ If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it. . .” Here he is showing that he wants to do things for the Union. He wants it to be united with no problems. Another example of this is also in Lincoln’s letter to Horace Greeley, Lincoln notes, “ What I do about Slavery and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union.” He is further expressing the value of the Union to him and how it is an important part of the Northern
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Summary 10 Stephen B. Oates, Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation
    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Summary 10 Stephen B. Oates, Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation

    He comes to us, too, as the Great Emancipator who headed the North off to Civil War to free the slaves and subsequently offered his kindred Southerners a delicate and forgetting hand. Lincoln was the man who headed the slaves into the common war and eventually liberated them from the Southerners, whom he'd lended a hand after the war. This is the generally speaking perspective of Lincoln, which isn't fully accurate, and is demonstrated to not be totally right however history, demonstrating that he didn't have totally intensive and reliable perspectives and didn't dependably help nullification. He acknowledged how wrong it was that subjection ought to exist whatsoever in a self announced free and edified republic. Lincoln's emotions of the Declaration of Independence, which inside and out say that all men are made equivalent, disaffirm his nations agreeableness and shared traits around bondage. This at last pushes Lincoln to change his perspectives on subjection, instead of supporting it before and all around the war, while it was vital. Kansas-Nebraska Act -The enactment toppled the old Missouri Compromise line, which rejected subjection from the limitless northern zone of the old Louisiana Purchase domain. The demonstration then built another recipe for managing subjection in the national grounds: now Congress might stay out of the matter, and the individuals of every region might choose whether to hold or bandit the organization. This gesture toppled the Missouri Compromise which had awhile ago avoided region in the Louisiana Purchase domain and besides counteracted Congress from mediating, permitting the individuals to take care of their own issues with prominent power. This gesture advanced Congress' freedom to its nation and made it recoil and provided for it no force in the bargains and contentions its nation was managing and additionally left open a yawning opening of chance for professional bondage control. At that point in 1857 came the notorious Dred…

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis
    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis

    Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address was put in the president’s awareness of the Union citizens’ developing concern about the grave causes and effects of the then warring Civil conflict. In order to push Union citizens to remain influenced towards this repair of the Union by forgiving Confederate insurgents and seeing pass the necessary war, Lincoln changes between inclusive pronouns to dual language to capture battles and shared beliefs among Americans, as well as intense statements to God’s high powers to portray the war as revenge for the sins of slavery.…

    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

    Lincoln begins his second inaugural address by creating himself as a trustworthy and humble speaker. He concedes to his audience repeatedly, sharing that he understands they do not want to listen to a lengthy self-righteous speech at this point, he cannot give them any new information, and “with high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.” By showing great understanding and sympathy for his audience, he lets them know he is on their side and will not lead them astray. If he were to predict outcomes the audience would be well aware that the war had not proceeded as any of them had predicted. Making claims such as this could make him easily lose his credibility, which would be detrimental at the beginning of his speech. Lincoln is hoping to end the war and convince his listeners to extend a nonjudgmental and forgiving hand to their Southern brethren to help reunite the country. By calming his audience and making them feel they are in trustworthy hands, he is setting them up to hear his logic and do as he wishes.…

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Analysis
    • 434 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Analysis

    A new president or presidential term often centers attention to the issues. Lincoln took advantage of this extra attention to send a message to the earnest American people, especially the individuals involved in war. During Lincoln's second Inaugural Address, he makes his purpose clear to the nation by using deliberate parallelism to appeal to each side, obvious reasoning to the audience's desires to demonstrate his position, and by building his character and trust.…

    • 434 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Abraham Lincoln's Inaugural Address Analysis
    • 298 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Abraham Lincoln's Inaugural Address Analysis

    The story is told of a union soldier who during the early days of the Civil War in America was arrested on the charges of desertion.…

    • 298 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis Essay
    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    In addition, he appeals to the guilt and obloquy felt about the war by the American people, both north and south. In order to do this, Lincoln calls to action those responsible: everyone, even himself; he wants the southerners to willfully renounce slavery because it is wrong according to the will of God saying: “It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces” and with this, he appeals to the consciences of the former southern slave owners, and to show them that banning slavery was right. (44-47). Furthermore, as stated earlier, he uses his position as president to convince the people to strive for this change, but this might also cause a rift between himself and the southerners. In order to remedy this, he references the bible which both the northerners and…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    President Abraham Lincoln's Core Values
    • 189 Words
    • 1 Page

    President Abraham Lincoln's Core Values

    Though President Abraham Lincoln was cognizant that slavery was indeed erroneous, he strongly emphasized that the war was fought, not for the abolishment of slavery, but for the salvation and conservation of the Union. Mr. Lincoln was aware that many northerners would support a war to preserve the union but not a war to free slaves, this is one ethical reason, in sense, that he didn’t want to spread slavery where it didn’t exist as stated in Source B.…

    • 189 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator Essay Example
    • 2258 Words
    • 65 Pages

    Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator Essay Example

    Abraham Lincoln is known as "The Great Emancipator" who freed the slaves. Yet in the early part of his career and even in the early stages of his presidency, Lincoln had no objection to slavery where it already existed, namely, in the Southern states. As a savvy politician, he always wanted to maintain the union, and he would use any device to keep the country together. However, his views on slavery evolved during his presidency, and the personal opposition towards slavery that he claimed he always had began to show through in his policy. As Lincoln noted in 1864, "I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I can not remember when I did not so think, and feel" (Lorence 306). Despite such strongly worded beliefs, Lincoln policies towards slavery often shifted for the sake of political expedience. For example, he pledged that states would be compensated for their loss of property as a result of emancipation to keep the border states from seceding. Still, by 1862 Lincoln had become firm in his convictions that slavery must be abolished. He even pressed for a constitutional amendment to ensure freedom to all the slaves. Lincoln espoused strong anti-slavery views, but he often put what he viewed as the good of the country ahead of the cause. Despite many detours along the way, he proved himself to be "The Great Emancipator." As a self-made politician from humble origins, Lincoln struggled in his early political life to define his identity. He described his childhood as "The short and simple annals of the poor. That's my life, and that's all you or any one else can make of it" (Oates 4). Lincoln felt extremely embarrassed about his background and worked his entire life to overcome the limitations he faced. He made himself a "literate and professional man who commanded the respect of his colleagues" (Oates 4). It is difficult to assess Lincoln's early views on slavery and race because they were constantly changing in an effort to achieve such…

    • 2258 Words
    • 65 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Slavery In The Gettysburg Address
    • 266 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Slavery In The Gettysburg Address

    Abraham Lincoln’s star shined when his administration took place during the Civil War proving excellency in both politically and rhetorically. From that war the 16th president got his most famous nick name as the Great Emancipator that dwells between Americans till the present day. However, history doesn’t say quit the same about the complete representation of Abraham Lincoln’s attitude towards the war and even the issue of slavery. Such a title proposes an acceptance that the civil war was a war for abolishing slavery and freeing the slaves under the lead of a free man who is motivated by the moral code of equality between blacks and whites. The sentiment about slavery was totally different than today’s. Slaves were private property and not even considered as human beings who have lost rights as Americans. Actually, slaves were a joker in the pack to both Northerners and Southerners. Saying all this make the slavery issue seems the cover of the civil war. Therefore, the goal of this chapter’s second section is to examine whether slavery was used only as a front image to fulfil a higher aim and securing the country from the danger that disturbed it with the threat of dissolving the union.…

    • 266 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Abraham Lincoln Be Abolished
    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Did Abraham Lincoln Be Abolished

    Lincoln believed that slavery was insufferable and intolerable, and that Blacks should have their natural rights like the Whites and suggested to relocate the Black in order to gain their freedom.…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Abraham Lincoln Inaugural Address Analysis
    • 644 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Abraham Lincoln Inaugural Address Analysis

    Lincoln warned the South in his Inaugural Address: "In your hands, my discontent fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is that the significant issue of war. the govt won't assail you.... you've got no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the govt, whereas I shall have the foremost solemn one to preserve, defend and defend it."…

    • 644 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Analysis
    • 606 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Analysis

    Abraham Lincoln meant to keep his second inaugural address short and to the point because the public was already well aware of what was happening, so there was not a need for him to elaborate. Lincoln’s vision for the country was to end the civil war, repair the damages, and ultimately create peace in the nation. Lincoln had no intentions of having the union lose the war. He made it clear that the union would finish the battle that they started in order to uphold the morals that they deemed righteous. Lincoln also includes his intentions of binding the nation back together for long lasting peace, suggesting that the outcome of the war would be unity, rather than separation of the North and South. Lincoln brought a lot of religion into his speech,…

    • 606 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    1850 Dbq Analysis
    • 1684 Words
    • 7 Pages

    1850 Dbq Analysis

    Stephen Douglas made a remark about compromise in his speech in Alton, Illinois,”… Our fathers knew, when they made the government, that the laws and institutions which were well adapted to the green mountains of Vermont, were unsuited to the rice plantations of South Carolina.” In order for those laws of Vermont to be suite to South Carolina, Vermont has to give up something and South Carolina has to give something back, like obeying those laws for instant. The government was built upon compromise. Before the Civil War and in Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address, Lincoln repeatedly said, “I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so…” Lincoln was being persuasive in getting the South states to stay in the Union. He knew that slavery will be abolished soon but it was not the time yet. Lincoln went about winning the Congressmen seat by figuratively trapping Douglas; he cornered him with questions during the Lincoln-Douglas Debates on slavery. Lincoln thought it was wrong but wanted to leave it alone, but Douglas had been tied to the Kansas-Nebraska Act which almost allowed slavery in an anti-slavery North but didn’t thanks to popular sovereignty, which is a decision that is decided by its people. Lincoln claimed he was going against the North by letting slaves in the Northern Territories, Lincoln (Republican) went on to lose the Congress seat to Douglas but later beat him for the Presidency of 1860. Again, in an attempt to save the Union, this time by Lincoln, failed because the South knew Lincoln would abolish slavery one way or another. They knew he would do so because of his speech given at the Republican state convention in Springfield, Illinois. He said, “…I believe this Government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free…It will become all one thing, or all…

    • 1684 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Lincoln Second Inaugural Address Analysis
    • 1142 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Lincoln Second Inaugural Address Analysis

    Abraham Lincoln was more than qualified to be the president during his first inauguration, let alone by the time he was speaking at his second inauguration. In his Second Inaugural Address, Lincoln examines the fact that slavery was going to rip the fact that slavery is not only a sin of the South, but also of the North. (Basler, p.793) He understands the nation to have a progressive aspect built into its very nature, and it must overcome any shortcomings along the way. For a nation to erupt in a civil war over a matter that seems as destructive and corrosive as slavery is, it just pays tribute to the success rate of recovery for the a nation as a whole. Lincoln attributed this sense of retribution to a devotion to God and one owns people in…

    • 1142 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Civil War Dbq
    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Civil War Dbq

    So his veiw was not for or against slavery, it wasn’t until he felt he may lose re-election. He knew that he would have to change his view. This comes at a convenient time for President Lincoln, he needed to…

    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More