Monday, December 12, 2011

LAD#19: Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

Summarize.
Lincoln starts by saying there is little new to say as there was in his first inaugural. Unlike the first, where half the nation was desperately trying to save the union without war and the other half trying to break from the union, now they were in the middle of it. He attributes the issue of slavery as a major component of the war, as the southern insurgents wished to extend it while the government merely wished to restrict its territorial enlargement. No one thought slavery would end, due to the emancipation proclamation, before the fighting did, but then again God did not fully answer either side’s prayers. Lincoln continues to speak of God, indirectly praying that the conflict should soon come to an end but accepting that if it were to continue, that was His will. He ends by not wishing malice upon anyone, only peace, and for the nation’s wounds to be healed.

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