In Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”, he articulated the significance of war with a new theme that serves as a turning point for both Abraham Lincoln and the United States. For example, before the Civil War, Lincoln’s “House Divided” speech emphasized national unity, limitations of state power over national authority, and the injustices toward Negroes, but in the “Gettysburg Address,” Lincoln stressed the “proposition that all men are created equal.” This highlighted statement expressed a change in the definition for war from a fight for constitutional value to a fight for the values of liberty that “four scores and seven years ago our fathers brought forth.” Furthermore, Lincoln articulated that the engagement of the Civil War was to “[test] whether [the] nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.” Through these words, he then asserted that this war was to prove to the world that freedom could exist in a nation. Moreover, he explained, “the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” Lincoln was trying to show that actions of liberty from soldiers resonate louder than words from important politician and that in order to honor the dead, “we [must] take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.” Thus, Lincoln illustrated a new identity of liberty for the people that were involved in the Civil War.
In Lincoln’s “Second Inaugural Address,” he focused on the themes of Christianity and the justification of war in order to place higher moral value in their fight for civil rights in the Civil War. For example, Lincoln asserted, “Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came.” These words represented the Lincoln’s recognition that war was inevitable and that they had to respond to the Southern states cessation with the Union in order preserve the nation. Moreover, Lincoln stated, “Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes his aid against the other.” Lincoln realized that both sides of the Civil War had a common belief that their side was righteous and that they prayed to the same God for different reasons. He then concluded that “the prayers of both could not be answered,” and that one would be vindicated in their beliefs for the war and one would not. Furthermore, he then prayed to God in his speech in hopes that they were on God’s side and that their fight for liberty, freedom, and justice was justified in God’s eyes. He asked God “to give us to see the right, let us strive on and finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds.” These words showed that Lincoln wanted to see the right that would lead to greater goodness for the country and with the help of God to be able to end the war. Finally, Lincoln said, “The judgments of the Lord are true at the righteous altogether.” This statement explained that any events that occur only happen due to God’s belief that they should arise. Thus, Lincoln affirmed that the certainty of war could not be forestalled and that only through God’s support in the rightful winner would the war end.
Lincoln ends his speech that he would do “all which may achieve and cherish just and lasting peace among ourselves, and will all nations.” He was justifying his beliefs with God and that their moral value is the greater good that will achieve peace will all nations
makes an increase in references to God and Christianity
as the protection
motivate the Northerners to take action upon their beliefs in slavery and national unity. Bring the reality
showed the Southern states’ increased influence of state authority in the federal government. He then asserted that
increased authority in the South toward state authority.
He then pointed out that sacrifices must be made in order to create stability because the “[government] must become all one thing, or all another.”
state
Through these words, Lincoln encourages Northerners to eliminate the division within the House in order to preserve the federal government. Furthermore, Lincoln exemplifies the growing power of the South by showing their political influence on recent changes in slavery. He points out that the actions of the Supreme Court, Senator Douglas, and President Buchanan coincidentally set the country in motion toward legalizing slavery. By notifying the general public of the injustices that Negroes receive, Lincoln incites abolitionist movements across the northern states. Finally, Lincoln reminds them “the result is not doubtful. We shall not fail-if we stand firm, we shall not fail.” These parting words serve as an inspiration for the Union to remain strong through the difficulties that might arise. Thus, Lincoln raises these issues in order to motivate the Northerners to take action upon their beliefs in slavery and national unity. Bring the reality
“the Dred Scott decision,” in which a Negro slave was declared property, “Senator Douglas’ ‘care not’ policy,” and
that “will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached and passed”
the coincidence in currents events with the Supreme Court’s decision to the Dred Scott case where a Negro was declared property,
declares that preceding events disrupt the balance of power between the Northern and Southern states and that the strengthening Southern authority in the central government undermines North’s ideals of slavery. He first shows a court case regarding a Negro slave, Dred Scott, where
These issues that Lincoln raises, serve as spark for Northern action for their beliefs in slavery and national unity.
He preaches to stand firm their bleifes and they wil prevail. That is how it serves as a spark that don’t let these isuues let u down. (Current events)
Through these major differences, Lincoln shows that the infrastructure of the government will weaken due to preceding events.
In March of 1857, the United States Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, declared that all blacks -- slaves as well as free -- were not and could never become citizens of the United States. The court also declared the 1820 Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, thus permiting slavery in all of the country's territories.
The case before the court was that of Dred Scott v. Sanford. Dred Scott, a slave who had lived in the free state of Illinois and the free territory of Wisconsin before moving back to the slave state of Missouri, had appealed to the Supreme Court in hopes of being granted his freedom.
Taney -- a staunch supporter of slavery and intent on protecting southerners from northern aggression -- wrote in the Court's majority opinion that, because Scott was black, he was not a citizen and therefore had no right to sue. The framers of the Constitution, he wrote, believed that blacks "had no rights which the white man was bound to respect; and that the negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit. He was bought and sold and treated as an ordinary article of merchandise and traffic, whenever profit could be made by it."
Referring to the language in the Declaration of Independence that includes the phrase, "all men are created equal," Taney reasoned that "it is too clear for dispute, that the enslaved African race were not intended to be included, and formed no part of the people who framed and adopted this declaration. . . ."
Abolitionists were incensed. Although disappointed, Frederick Douglass, found a bright side to the decision and announced, "my hopes were never brighter than now." For Douglass, the decision would bring slavery to the attention of the nation and was a step toward slavery's ultimate destruction.
