Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address:
At this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential 1. According to Lincoln, what was the cause
office there is less occasion for an extended address than of the Civil War? What was the fundamental
there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of disagreement between the “insurgents” and
a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the “Government”?
the expiration of four years, during which public declarations
According to Lincoln, the main cause of the
have been constantly called forth on every point and phase
Civil War was abolishing slavery. The
of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and
engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could insurgents were willing to sacrifice unity to go
be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else to war, and Lincoln was willing to go to war to
chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, help preserve the union.
and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to
all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it
is ventured. 2. According to Lincoln, how did the reality of
the war differ from Northerners’ and
On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all
Southerners’ respective expectations?
thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war.
According to Lincoln, the reality of the war
All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural
address was being delivered from this place, devoted differed from Northerners’ and Southerners'
altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents expectations because ’ they thought that it
were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to would be a quick battle and an easy triumph.
dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both Neither party anticipated that the cause of
parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war the conflict might cease with or even before
rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept the conflict itself should cease.
war rather than let it perish, and the war came.
One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not
3. What similarities does Lincoln draw
distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the
southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and between North and South? According to
powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow Lincoln, what ways are both sides’
the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend experiences of the war similar?
this interest was the object for which the insurgents would Lincoln highlights how they both read the
rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed same Bible and pray to the same God. Both
no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement sides’ experiences of war are similar
of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the because they both expected a quick victory
duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated
and the prayers of both could not be
that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before
answered.
the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier
triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both
read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each 4. Underline the religious language in this
invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that speech. Where does Lincoln’s religious
any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in language come closest to calling slavery a
wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces, but national sin?
let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both Lincoln is calling slavery a national sin and is
could not be answered. That of neither has been answered highlighting the idea that God gave them this
fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. “Woe unto the
long war as punishment for their sins of
world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses
having slaves.
come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.” If
we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those
offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come,
but which, having continued through His appointed time, He
now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and 5. The 1864 presidential election tested
South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the Lincoln’s resolve about emancipation. Some
offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from northern Democrats argued that Lincoln’s
those divine attributes which the believers in a living God
insistence on emancipation was the only
always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we
factor delaying the possibility of a negotiated
pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass
away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled peace. Lincoln refused to back down from
by the bondsman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited emancipation as a goal of the war. Based on
toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with this address, why do you think he felt Union
the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as victory depended on emancipation?
was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said
“the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.” I think that Lincoln felt Union victory
depended on emancipation so that the
With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in
government could prove that it could enforce
the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to
the Proclamation. Lincoln also wanted to be
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 able to use the slaves in the Union Army.
widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and
cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with
all nations.
