What was Lincolns second inaugural address about?

Answer 1

Put simply, the address related three ideas:

1. The war was not a controlled action by either side; it had its own identity, independent of the people of the North or South;

2. Slavery was a truly national sin, the responsibility of both North and South. For that reason, the penalty for this sin must be paid by the entire nation (..."and that he (God) gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offense came...");

3. Despite the fact that "both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God", neither party could claim God's special favor; God's justice would be meted out in His own time, not man's, and it is simply our responsibility to behave as a penitent people, striving "to bind up the nation's wounds" and to achieve "a just and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

Answer 2

I was glad I came upon this question as it gives all serious and open minded people a close look at US President Abraham Lincoln. It should explode any myths surrounding the US Civil War. It shall enhance the thoughts of many people who understand the complexity of this war.

US President Lincoln's second inaugual address on March 4 1865 was given about one month before the surrender of the Confederacy. Before the speech was given in Washington DC, its worth noting a few incidents about it. Just before the speech, anti slavery abolishinist Frederick Douglas was in the crowd and Lincoln nodded to him. Douglas had been invited to the Inaugural Ball that evening and as Douglas tried to enter, policemen barred the way. Lincoln happened to see this and of course the police appologised.

Of tragic note was that during the speech that afternoon, unnoticed in the crowd was the to be assassin of Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth.

Lincoln's second inaugual address surprised many and brought him croticism from readical Republicans and radical anti slavery people. Newspapers found great fault in the speech. To best describe it, with the understanding that the War was still on, is to center on its main themes and the reaction to it from many people in the North. If anyone has read Lincoln's Gettysburg Address which I recently wrote about, then the content of the inaugural address should not be shocking:

A. Jounalists and historians all agree that the audience was puzzled by the speech;

B. A portion of the audience was inpired, others were left cold and most newspapers in the North were either critical or politely praised its brevity;

C. Most people who followed Lincoln's presidential bids, knew him to be a man of few words. His Gettysburg address was an example of it, so were his words at the fall of Richmond. Other speakers at Gettysburg spent hours of time delivering their speeches. The brevity of his second inauguarl addresss were still surprising to his supporters and -or foes. at its length. Lincoln delivered the 2nd shortest address US history. The speech was a mere 701 words.

D. Lincoln spoke in a low key, and it had a humble beginning. Its humbleness did not waver. Its worth taking note that the war was still being fought, and most people blamed the South for this horrendous stain upon the fabric of the Nation. Lives lost, families destroyed, property set ablaze, and all the horrible events that began just 4 years ago, were the blame of someone. Lincoln had time after time sought a reunification of the Union. But by then the gulf between the North & South was far too wide.

E. Lincoln spoke of the progress of the War only briefly. He explained that we all knew about "the progress of our arms...as it is well known to the public. He gave however .."no prediction in regard to it is ventured." What Lincoln was communicating was that everybody knew what was going on so there was no point in talking about it nor making any predictions. His tone was said to be detached & he rarely used any personal pronouns.

F. Here's why many had a problem, and we all can place ourselves, or at least imagine, hearing Harry Truman not blaming Imperial Japan as the cause of the Pacific War. In his address, Lincoln did not blame the South for the war. ..

Rather, the war happened despite good intentions on both sides. "All dreaded it, sought to avert it, .. Both parties deprecated war.... And the war came."

G. This part should enlighten people, especially Americans about President Lincoln. "Nor was the cause of the war unequivocally self evident." All knew that this [interest] meaning slavery, was somehow, the cause of the war."

As historians note, the word "somehow" qualified the cause.

H. Lincoln took no side in the conflict. " Neither party expected for the war the magnitude, or the duration, which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease. Each side looked for an easy triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding."

I. As readers may know, the roots of the Republican Party, were heavily watered by the Second Great Awakening and by evangelican Christians. I am not ruling out other sources for its birth. I mention it here as it pertains to those people who believed God was on the side of the Union. With that said, the next part of Lincoln's speech travels down a religous road.

J. "Both sides read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; each invokes His aid against the other." Here historians say that Lincoln is heavily suggesting that God may not favor either side. " In great contests, each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be wrong. God can not be for, and against the same thing at the same time."

K. If slavery caused the war, and to be sure, it was not a certainty to Lincoln, the stain was not on the South alone. It was a stain on the Nation. Before there was a serious anti slavery abolishion movement, Northerners tolerated the institution of it. Lincoln continuess " He gives to both the North and South this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offense came."

The States as a whole were responsible for its existence

Later, a few months after Lincoln was dead, the Radical Republicans took the stage with anger. Without the calming and commonsense of the larger than life man that Lincoln was, the Nation would suffer longer than it did.

Answer 3

President Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address was given on March 4, 1865. At this time the US Civil War was almost over. Lincoln spoke about forgiveness and healing. He did not blame the South for the war at all. He believed each side was to blame and that no one had realized how much of a cost in human lives the war would take. He almost pleaded the large crowd that people should not judge lest they be judged. In short Lincoln wanted the unified nation to move on and not place undo harshness on anyone. It was the second shortest inaugural speech in presidential history for that time.