Abraham Lincoln’s View on Freedom
34,000 people gathered around the nation’s capital to hear Abraham Lincoln give his “Second Inaugural Address”. Lincoln expressed in his address that he made his speech short because there is no time for a long one, considering the circumstances of the Civil War that they were in. His speech was only 703 words long, making it one of the shortest addresses ever (Ronald). In the “Second Inaugural Address”, Abraham Lincoln believes freedom is the ability to live life out from under the dictation of others and make choices for themselves and to do this the war had to be won and ended by the North, thus ending slavery.
In order to win the war Lincoln had to endure much stress. Lincoln at this point had been
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dealing with the Civil War for a while. He was leading the North’s war efforts, because the North was against slavery. Lincoln wished for an immediate end to the war. In his “Second Inaugural Address”, Lincoln says, “Fondly do we hope and fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away”. He says this in his address because he is trying to get people to understand his views on freedom and the current war that they are in. The biggest reason that Lincoln wanted to end the war so fast was because he wanted slavery to be abolished for good. Lincoln had already abolished slavery and any involuntary servitude in the 13th amendment in the year 1863 (Amendments to the Constitution). Lincoln abolished slavery to take a step towards ending the war therefore granting freedom to all of the slaves. By ending freedom Lincoln expresses his view of freedom is not living under the rule of others. He did this with the Emancipation Proclamation, which is another famous speech of his. Lincoln’s wish for a quick end to the war became a reality only a couple months after delivering his “Second Inaugural Address”. In order to help end the war with a speech, Lincoln had to carefully write his speech so that it would get the people to see things from his point of view.
In this address Lincoln used many different strategies to convince the people to finish the war. One of the most important things he did was use God as a way to persuade the people to do what he thought was right. Lincoln tries to do this when he quotes the Bible four times in his speech (Ronald). Lincoln did this so he could compare his view on freedom and ending the war to things said in the Bible. Lincoln believes that freedom is living one’s own life without the dictation of others, and he thinks that the Bible gets that point across also. In Lincoln’s time religion played a major role in everyone’s day to day lives. He almost uses God to make the people feel like they are obligated to do what he is saying. Lincoln talks about how God made this war happen so that they can learn from the terrible mistakes of slavery. He then goes on to say that God thinks that they have learned from their mistakes and that it is now time to end the war. Lincoln expresses this when he says, “In the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove” (Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address). When stating this, Lincoln creates the illusion that God is on the North’s side, when it comes to trying to end the war. Lincoln wants everyone to be able to make their own …show more content…
decisions, and in this quote he is trying to get people to understand that by saying that it is God’s beliefs also. Lincoln believes that if he speaks on God’s half people will believe that what he is saying is true. If Lincoln gets the people on his side it will help quickly end the war and slavery. Another strategy that Lincoln used was, trying to make the people come together as a nation. He was doing this in order to get everyone to believe in an end to the war. Lincoln hoped that the nation would want to protect the equal rights of all their citizens (Morel). Lincoln is hoping for this because he thinks that if the people want to protect their own equal rights, they will protect the rights of African-American’s also. Lincoln thinks this because it goes along with his view of freedom because he believes freedom is equality. He used different things that the people of the United States had in common and tried to use them to convince the people to do what was right. Lincoln was trying to get the people to believe in peace throughout the nation. Lincoln proves this point by stating at the end of his address, “To do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations”. Lincoln wants to end the war with peace so that when the slaves are finally free, they will be treated equally. Lincoln ends the speech by talking about peace because he wants to end the war with peace between the North and South. Lincoln incorporates peace and freedom into a lot of his other speeches also. Like in the “Emancipation Proclamation”. Lincoln does not only free slaves in some areas with this proclamation, but he also lets African Americans serve in the military (Harold). When Lincoln allowed African-Americans to serve in the military, it did a lot of things to help him end the war. It helped the North beat the South for many reasons. It also was a statement of equality for all Americans. The “Emancipation Proclamation” demonstrates Lincoln’s view that freedom is living out from under the order of others. Another speech that demonstrates Lincoln’s view on equality is the “Gettysburg Address”. In the “Gettysburg Address” Lincoln says “In the proposition that all men are created equal” (Bori). This quote, coming from the “Declaration of Independence”, is a very big deal to Lincoln because Lincoln is using it by saying all men are created equal, not just all white men are created equal, but every single person is created equal no matter their race. Lincoln, being the president, firmly believes in the “Declaration of Independence” and everything the founding fathers believe in. In saying this Lincoln proves that his belief of freedom is that everyone is created equal, and everyone should have the same rights. Therefore, in Lincoln’s “Second Inaugural Address” he believes in the ability of everyone being able to make their own life choices without being told what you can and cannot do by your owners, he believes in a quick and peaceful end to the war, and a result of the North’s victory.
Lincoln is not only a historical figure but a role model for doing what is right. One of Lincoln’s main points in his speech was for our country to learn from the mistakes it has made in the past and apply them to the future. To this day Lincoln still is teaching America the importance of equality no matter your religion, culture, gender, or race, we are
equal.
The Gettysburg Address given by President Lincoln in the November following the Battle of Gettysburg acted as a call to arms. This speech gave the North a sense of pride and reassured them that they did have a chance at winning the Civil War. In The Gettysburg Address, Lincoln tells the audience not to let the men who died in the battle die in vain he tells them that their dedication will lead to a “new birth of freedom” in the nation(document D). This newly found sense of pride and hope led confidence which was something that the Confederate army was lacking at the
Disapproval, the Confederacy, and slavery were amongst the many crises Abraham Lincoln faced when addressing his First Inaugural speech (Lincoln, First Inaugural, p.37). Above all, Lincoln’s speech was stepping on the boundaries of the southern slave states. Once states began to secede, new territories formed and the disapproval of Lincoln grew. Despite Lincoln’s attempts of unifying the antislavery and confederate views, many whites refused to follow his untraditional beliefs. Lincoln encountered hostile and admirable emotions from the people of the Union and the Confederacy. However, despite his representation of the Union, not everyone agreed with his views.
'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.' In the delivery of Lincoln's 'Second Inaugural,' many were inspired by this uplifting and keen speech. It had been a long war, and Lincoln was concerned about the destruction that had taken place. Worn-out from seeing families torn apart and friendships eradicated, he interpreted his inaugural address. It was March of 1865, and the war, he believed, must come to an end before it was too late. The annihilation that had taken place was tragic, and Lincoln brawled for a closure. The 'Second Inaugural' was very influential, formal, and emotional.
Abraham Lincoln’s original views on slavery were formed through the way he was raised and the American customs of the period. Throughout Lincoln’s influential years, slavery was a recognized and a legal institution in the United States of America. Even though Lincoln began his career by declaring that he was “anti-slavery,” he was not likely to agree to instant emancipation. However, although Lincoln did not begin as a radical anti-slavery Republican, he eventually issued his Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves and in his last speech, even recommended extending voting to blacks. Although Lincoln’s feeling about blacks and slavery was quite constant over time, the evidence found between his debate with Stephen A. Douglas and his Gettysburg Address, proves that his political position and actions towards slavery have changed profoundly.
Four and a half months after the Union defeated the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. He gave the Union soldiers a new perspective on the war and something to fight for. Before the address, the Civil War was based solely on states’ rights. Lincoln’s speech has the essence of America and the ideals that were put into the Declaration of Independence by the founders. The sixteenth president of the United States was capable of using his speech to turn a war on states rights to a war on slavery and upholding the principles that America was founded upon. By turning the Civil War into a war that was about slavery he was able to ensure that no foreign country would recognize the south as an independent nation, thus ensuring Union success in the war. In his speech, Lincoln used the rhetorical devices of juxtaposition, repetition, and parallelism.
...to collapse because they were not economically stable. The speech showed that the boldness of Lincoln helped the Union win the war.
He had just beaten out George B. McClellan for president. McClellan wanted the country split into two- one slave-holding and one free. However, the country had chosen Lincoln, they wanted the country to stay together. People wanted too much of Lincoln. He would have enemies no matter what choice he made. So now, instead of staying passive like he did in his first Inaugural Address, he took a stand in his second. He told the country that God sent the slaves to them early in this country, but now He wanted them gone. The war was a punishment from God for all slaveholders. Lincoln made this a rallying cry for all northerners, telling them that they would fight “until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword.” This war would be bloody, but if they could only keep fighting a little more, there would be success at the
Four and a half months after the Union defeated the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. He gave the Union soldiers a new perspective on the war and a reason to fight in the Civil War. Before the address, the Civil War was based on states’ rights. Lincoln’s speech has the essence of America and the ideals that were instilled in the Declaration of Independence by the Founders. The sixteenth president of the United States was capable of using his speech to turn a war on states’ rights to a war on slavery and upholding the principles that America was founded upon. By turning the Civil War into a war about slavery he effortlessly ensured that no foreign country would recognize the South as an independent nation, ensuring Union success in the war. In his speech, Lincoln used the rhetorical devices of juxtaposition, repetition, and parallelism, to touch the hearts of its listeners.
Abraham Lincoln is regarded by many Americans as the greatest president to ever hold office in the history of the United States, and his reputation is definitely well deserved. Lincoln wasn't scared to stand up and fight for what he knew was right. He was convinced that within the branches of government, the presidency alone was empowered not only to uphold the Constitution, but also to protect, and defend it. Lincoln was able to lead our country and preserve the Union, keeping the United States from splintering during the devastating times of the Civil War. As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization, and he rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that changed the war into a battle for freedom and declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy. That November, Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address, which stated how a country must be dedicated to human freedom in order to survive. He dedicated the battlefield to the soldiers who had perished, and called on the living to finish the task the dead soldiers had begun. (Donald, 1995) Lincoln believed that democracy could be a lasting form of government. He showed a nobility of character that had worldwide appeal, and he was a man of great integrity. However, Lincoln was not only the 16th president of the United States, he was an American hero. Lincoln was a well-rounded individual and he had numerous outstanding qualities. However, it is important to remember that Lincoln also led a private life, complete with close friends and family.
There is no doubt that Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as one of the great American presidents. The general public, when asked about Lincoln, will often tell the tale of a great man. Holding their head high, they will embark on the journey of a benevolent leader, praising the man who envisioned a new America: a great country of racial equality, and the pillar of human liberty. There are some, however, who have quite the opposite view.
Abraham Lincoln is considered by many to be one of the most influential people in United States history. As the 16th President of the United States, Lincoln was faced with the pressures and violence of the Civil War during his administration. During this time, many soldiers had died fighting and Lincoln was presented with an opportunity to speak at the dedication ceremony in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. The speech delivered that day is known as the Gettysburg address. In Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, he proposed to freedom, by honoring the soldiers who lost their lives, promote equal rights, and inspire his audience with a strategically short speech.
The North and the South do not have wars today, and the fact no states have tried to succeed since the Civil War proves the fact that the United States is truly one nation. In Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural speech he tells the people of the South that they should not be afraid and that their peace, property, and personal security are not in danger. Abraham Lincoln made a speech called the Emancipation Proclamation which addressed the southern states and started the end of slavery. Today the North and the South remember the battle of Gettysburg which brings the North and the South closer.
President Lincoln in his Inaugural Address explains the cause of war in order to unify the nation. One of the causes of war, as described by Lincoln, was that "slave constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that interest was the object of the war." At this point in United States history the young nation was divided in half by those who opposed slavery and those who agreed with slavery. Lincoln brings forth a larger and more profound meaning to the war that it is more of a holy war of God's ultimate judgment. During this war the divided nation is praying for their own intentions and reading the same bible "yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil
The respectable Gettysburg Address promotes the skillful ideas that spread his wisdom of the Civil War and enlightened those who wished to respect the many dead that fought on the grounds of Gettysburg. Sprinkled throughout human history, great men have arisen, who have devoted much of their lives to certain ideals, and have done so in the face of grave circumstances and opposition. Abraham Lincoln, Former president and also a general in the war, gave a speech to uphold and encourage the spirits of the weary soldiers in his army. The speech was called the Gettysburg Address. This speech uses parallel structure and determines the tone of powerful tranquility so that it may convey to an idea that all the men that fought for their part in the Union will not perish in vain and that there is a lot to do before the United States is whole.
The purpose of Lincoln’s speech was to dedicate a plot of land that would become Soldier’s National Cemetery to honor the fallen. However, the Civil War still raged and Lincoln realized that he also had to inspire the people to continue the fight. During his speech, Lincoln begins invoking the principles of human equality contained in the Declaration of Independence and connected the sacrifices of the Civil War with the desire for “a new birth of freedom,” as well as the all-important preservation of the Union created in 1776 and its ideal of self-government