LINCOLN'S SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS. Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address on 4 March 1865. As Lincoln prepared to speak, the Civil War was drawing to a close. Newspapers were filled with reports of the armies of William T. Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant. As late as August 1864, neither Lincoln nor his Republican Party believed he could win reelection. Now Lincoln would be the first president inaugurated for a second term in thirty-two years. The crowd of thirty to forty thousand was greeted by an ongoing rain that produced ten inches of mud in the streets of Washington. Sharpshooters were on the rooftops surrounding the ceremony. Rumors abounded that Confederates might attempt to abduct or…
On May 30, 1922, the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated, the world witnessed how $2,000,000 in federal dollars, 38,000 tons of marble, limestone and granite and eight years of American elbow grease, had finally resulted in something truly spectacular, had resulted in a very, very expensive typo.…
President John F. Kennedy (JFK) is the 35th president of the United States of America. On January 20, 1961, he made his Inaugural Address. In this speech, he addressed his goals for the nation when he says, "we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty." By this means that as a nation, we should meet any needs necessary to maintain the freedom and justice of the people. He uses effective tactics and rhetorical devices, such as anaphora, chiasmus, and asyndeton, to maintain a conversational, yet clear and compelling, tone throughout the speech.…
The consistency of Lincoln’s view over slavery and equality Reading the excerpts of speeches from Mr. President Lincoln, one conclusion can be drawn quickly that Mr. Lincoln believed consistently in man’s equality and he would not be convinced by any reasons that a man should be driven from this power. In the speech at Peoria, Illinois ( October 16, 1854), Mr. Lincoln criticized the white supremacy by saying that a white man practicing to govern himself is self-govern but why not a black man doing so? Besides, Mr. Lincoln said “when he governs himself, and also governs another man, that is more than self-government--- that is despotism.” According to the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are…
On the day the United States president-elect gets sworn into office, he/she has to give an inaugural address. The inaugural address is the first thing that the president does after taking the oath and is also one of the last steps of the transition process. This speech is important because the president can discuss the current issues occurring in the nation at the time and summarize the plans they have to fix the nation’s problems in the future. Every four years, the new president delivers an address that is similar, yet different to previous presidents. Each of the presidents has their own unique style of writing while also borrowing certain styles from inaugural speeches prior to their own. Ever since George Washington gave the first inaugural…
Despite extreme weather conditions the night before, on January 20th, 1961, John F. Kennedy gave his inaugural speech in Georgetown, Washington D.C. after a very close presidential race. JFK addressed a celebration of freedom, how the world was had changed, the survival and success of liberty, countries need to join together and work through differences; the obligation to help those less fortunate, even if not American citizens; and doing away with the suppression of slavery. John F. Kennedy addressed his presidential election as a day to celebrate freedom because it stood for a beginning of change. He said that the world was very different, that the current generation were heirs of the first revolution (2). And to let the word go out to all manner…
Tragedies are apparent everywhere around the world. From mass shootings of terrorism to extravagant wars on human rights raging on for several years as anticipated. Even on the grounds of America, a mongrel nation built on freedom and equality, exists the culprit of bondage and discrimination. But, hope yet ceases to exist in these hardships with unity in our differences and motivation towards optimism.…
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.…
On January 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy gave one of the most memorable speeches when he gave his inaugural address. That day, the people of the United States were observing him in person, as well as on television. This speech was written to persuade Americans to be active in their country. It was so influential, people still remember quotes from it today. Kennedy appeals to a large amount of people due to the fact that he used ethos, pathos, and logos. In addition, he creates a certain compelling rhythm by including parallelism throughout his speech. Kennedy’s inaugural speech was assuring and convincing to citizens, making them realize with a new president comes a new beginning.…
The first contrasting idea was slavery. In the first inaugural address Lincoln says that he did not have any intentions to end slavery in the U.S. He also mentions that he didn’t know what to do about slavery because slavery was not mentioned in the constitution. Also in the first inaugural address, Lincoln believes that this possibility of war is just a phase. He believes that the strength of the country will be able to force this issue to just pass over time. Again the first inaugural address is different then the second because Lincoln gives chances to the confederates to stop what they have started. He gives them time to realize what they have done. The statements made in the first inaugural address clearly show the national identity that Lincoln believes this country has. The national identity in the time of the first inaugural address is more laid back and believing that the country can get through anything without force. However the second inaugural address is different than the first. While the first is more laid back the second address mentions God heavily. Over the last four years the country must have become more involved in religion while the war had been going on. During the second inaugural address, Lincoln mentions God almost fifteen times. Clearly, religion is an active part of how the union dealt with the civil war. By the time the second address came around the national…
On March 4, 1865, Abraham Lincoln delivered his Second Inaugural Address. The man known as “Honest Abe” was the sixteenth president of the United States of America who was an abolitionist of the Republican party. About forty-thousand people were present at the U.S. Capitol to witness Abe’s speech after his reelection. Now, President Lincoln’s first inauguration was the last straw for South Carolina, as they seceded from the U.S. with others to follow. But now about four years later Abraham Lincoln’s goal was to unite the North and the South and to end the war; furthermore, events such as the conclusion of the Civil War reveal that this goal was achieved.…
Abraham Lincoln gave his second Inaugural Address on March 4, 1865, as President of the United States. Lincoln touched the hearts and minds of the nation, filled with slaves and people whose family members or spouses were in the war. He not only related his speech to politics as he did in his first inaugural address but also used emotional language and rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, and logos, to support his argument that the war could have been avoided, and that the war started because of the issue of slavery. He succeeded at letting the American people know that there was hope for the nation after the devastating war.…
Lincoln’s speech helped rouse to the people of America the recognition of the extent to which slavery had gone. Lincoln’s speech is still relevant in this 21st century in that even today, each nation should embrace unity in all its undertakings whether political, social and economic. He believed that the ideals of a nation with freedom for all could not have a chance of coexistence whether socially, morally or in legal terms under one nation. Thus slavery should either be accepted among all people or be universally denied.…
In the "Second Inaugural Address" (1865), Abraham Lincoln contemplates that they, as a United Nation, should reflect on the effects of the Civil War and move towards a better future for this nation. He addresses God and the issue of slavery in order to encourage the Northern and Southern states towards reconciliation. Lincoln tries to reveal his intention by utilizing figurative diction, parallel syntax, and a shifting tone.…
The election of 1800 marked the first time in United States history in which there was a transfer of power from one political party to another. The transfer of power was peaceful even though it followed a heated campaign. Thomas Jefferson, former Secretary of State under George Washington and creator of the Democratic-Republican Party, defeated the Federalist, John Adams, for the presidency. In March 1801, Jefferson delivered a memorable inaugural address. It was memorable for its "consummation of eighteenth-century elegance in style", for its conciliatory tone, and for its restatement of Republican principles. (1) Jefferson indirectly addressed' his speech to Samuel Adams. Jefferson hoped the principles expressed in the Inaugural Address were in the spirit of Samuel Adams. He wanted Adams to approve of the principles he would put into place as president. (2)…