LAD #19

Summary of Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address

His second address was fairly short and focused on the monumental issue of the time, the civil war. He had nothing new to say about the war that the citizens didn't already know. However, unlike his first address, where he stressed the importance of maintaining the union without a war, in his second he established the need for the war. He stated that one part of the country would go to war rather than have the nation be maintained as it is, and the other half would go to war to keep it as it is rather than have it fall apart. He stressed the issue of slavery once again and announced that God has his own plans in dealing with the issue of slavery. He closes by emphasizing the hope for a quick end to the painful war, a speedy recovery for the union, and that everyone will care for the soldiers and their families. He desires the nation to be at peace once again.