LAD 15- Lincoln's Second Inaugural

Lincoln's Second Inaugural

Lincoln's second inaugural address is one of the most notable addresses of all time. To start it was Lincoln's favorite address and included the issues of the war and slavery. These positions took a sad and sinful tone more than a triuphant tone. At this time slavery had been successfully ended and the war almost been won. However it was clear that a vengeful attack on the South was imminent and it would take the form of reconstruction. Lincoln made sure to warn against the wrongs in approaching the situation that way. He made it clear that the best way to help the country was to help the South and in this way the overall status of the country would improve. He also stressed the impact of slaves on the war and how it did not make sense to fight over something so morally wrong. It was also acknowledge exactly how disastorus the war was. By this he meant the far-reaching effects on both halves of the ocuntry and the utter devastation which occured in the South. It was here where Lincoln begin saying that it was important to help rebuild the South and therefore rebuild that nation. For a by making half of the union stronger you make the union stronger.