Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Text Analysis of First Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln

Text Analysis of First Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln

Who wrote it:

Written by Abraham Lincoln for the occasion of his inauguration held on March 4, 1861

Audience:

The citizens of the United States

Represent:

The Inaugural address represents a seized opportunity by Lincoln to make clear to the people his intentions toward resolving the existing tensions between the North and South at the time of his election. Lincoln is eloquent in his language, but directly addresses and acknowledges the difficulties facing the nation and more immediately, his administration.

What is being said:

Lincoln focuses primarily upon assuaging the apprehensions of the Southern members of his audience, addressing the issue of slavery and state's rights from the beginning of his speech. He continues this Southern bent by stating that the responsibility of President, administration and the States themselves was to uphold the Constitution. Lincoln declares that no State has the right to remove themselves of their own volition from the Union, and that to do so is unlawful. Lincoln speaks further about the issue of slavery, indicating his support of the Fugitive Slave Act, and his belief that the Constitution already contains provisions that can be applied to the situation at hand. He speaks briefly about the continuation of mail service throughout the States through the difficult times at hand. Lincoln asks the audience to consider the seriousness of Secession, and assures the South that no action will be taken against them unprovoked.

How is it being said:

The language used by Lincoln is crafted to provide his audience with a sense of reassurance that many of the fears prevalent amongst the citizenry at this tension filled time are unfounded. Lincoln relies upon his own past statements and refers to the Constitution, the office of the Presidency and the role of government to attempt to create a sense of security for the audience. Lincoln speaks firmly and eloquently, both of his desire to maintain the Union and his distaste for violence and secession.He employs an emotive reverence, appealing to the people themselves as the key to restoring harmony.

What proof:

Lincoln makes many references to the Constitution as a means to illustrate a backdrop of unity, “All members of Congress swear their support to the whole Constitution..”, “Continue to execute all the express provisions of our National Constitution, and the Union will endure forever..” The assuaging tone of the speech is also evident in his repeated statements echoing his opening remarks about not interfering with the States right to “order and control its own domestic institutions according to its own judgement”. When urging a calm and thoughtful approach to resolution, Lincoln assures the citizenry, “The Government will not assail you.” He appeals to the higher qualities of his audience to curry their support: “Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity and a firm reliance on Him who has never yet forsaken this favored land are still competent to adjust in the best way all our present difficulty”.

7 comments:

  1. When you said in the represent column of your text analysis of how Lincoln is trying to make it clear of his intentions of trying to keep the union together I thought that was exactly right. It was clear of what his stance was by the last line in his Inaugural Address when he said “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.” When Lincoln said this it reiterated his stance taken throughout the whole entire address, that he will use the constitution to try and resolve this issue, and also he does not want a conflict.

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  2. You said that Lincoln is mostly focusing on the Southern parts of the states. With this i would not be able to agree completely. I think when he speaks of slavery and all that, he talks a lot to the northerners since he is saying that it is not his place to interfere. Instead of reaurring the south, it seems more like he is letting the north know that he wont interfere and that the south has its rights.

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  3. Your text analysis of Abraham Lincoln, "First Inaugural Address, 1861", was very similar to my own evaluation. Lincoln wanted to uphold the Constitution and did not plan on interfering with existent slavery. Lincoln was apprehensive during his address, and was trying to reassure the South that it was their actions that would cause Civil War.

    Lincoln stood in the limelight; he had a heavy burden upon his shoulders and for most Americans Civil War had already been decided on. The tension that had grown between the North and the South throughout the past fifty years finally reached a breaking point. As the PowerPoint "Collapse of the Union" mentioned, the fundamental differences and failure to compromise between North and South led to failure of their political structure. Lincoln seized the opportunity of his Inaugural Address to make it known that his administration would not be at fault for any bloodshed.

    Lincoln pleaded that his countrymen take time and think rationally before entering into Civil War. He forewarned that war would cause misery and wouldn’t resolve identical old questions. Lincoln used the Constitution as leverage for Northerners and Southerners to believe in the Union and Lincoln’s administration; he promised to preserve, protect, and defend the government. Though Lincoln did what he could do to spare our country of bloodshed; Civil War was bound to happen long before he was inaugurated into office on March 4, 1861.

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  4. I don't think Lincoln was just talking to the Southern states, he was addressing the whole nation. He was reminding the South about our constitution and the laws of secession, and at the same time, he was letting the North know that he is trying to keep the peace and that the South will not be attacked first (a hint to the North?). All in all, Mr. Lincoln seemed very honorable, yet firm. It would be nice to have a president like him sometime in our lifetime.

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  5. I believe that your text analysis is fairly accurate to my own conclusion. President Lincoln had the burden of trying to hold together the union under the strain of the past 50 years of fighting and bickering between the North and South. President Lincoln opened up his Inaugural by trying to assure the South that he wasn't going to try to pursue or govern changes on slavery for them. Instead Lincoln focused on the security of the union. He warned that any succession from the union would bring war. I believe that Lincoln didn't want to go to war and didn't see any good coming from the war but knew it was going to happen. He wanted to give a message that was strait forward and clear in the hopes that he could stop the union from falling apart.

    Shane Small

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  6. Lincolns first inaugural address set the tone of what was to come in the future, to prepare the States that change was a definite possibility and to reassure them that the constitution would be upheld. Lincoln wanted to be clear from the start of his presidency, his intentions and hopes for the future United States.

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  7. You mentioned that Lincoln spoke very "eloquently" and I was reminded of how difficult it was for me to read some of his speech last night. He used such large words and his sentences were very strongly worded and almost sounded like a contract. Abraham Lincoln was a former lawyer so he was very educated but what about the people? Did they all understand his speech or were they just common people who spoke regularly and couldnt undrestand half his words? Not all people were educated like Lincoln so I was just wondering about this detail but that's beside the point.

    I agree with your thought that Lincoln spent a lot of his speech talking directly towards the South. He mentions the Fugitive Slave law and how secession from the Union is a violation and so on. He really tries hard to get the South to see that there problems could be fixed if they just let go of the thought of civil war and do the right thing, peacefully. But he also says a few things to the North, reminding them of their responsibilities as citizens as well. He reinforces the slave law and if a fugitive is found a runaway he must be "delivered up" to where he belongs or where he is working. This means that the Northeners need to follow through with this law and not go against the South. And Lincon also says that there will be no fighting between states and no invasion of each other unless the government says to do so. These little warnings to the North remind them not to do unlawful duties just because they hate the South. Lincoln spoke very well to both sides with a firm tone, warning the country that they are not going to fight but to follow the Constitution like they've been doing for years now.

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