LAD #16

Summary: Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address is not nearly as lengthy as his first. Lincoln recognizes in his speech that the major issues he needed to inform them of were made in his first Inaugural Address. This first Inaugural Address informed the nation of the policies he would enforce if Civil War were to arise and also assured the American people that under his presidency none of their rights would be taken away. Lincoln told the people that he would do everything he could in order to keep the Union together. During his second Inaugural Address, Civil War is currently going on and Lincoln addresses that although both sides, pro slavery and anti slavery have prayed for the issue to be addressed their way before a Civil War could break out, neither of their prayers have been answered. Civil War was inevitable, and ultimately the only way the slavery issue could be resolved once and for all.