Abraham Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Summary
Interpretative Analysis
Conclusion
Reference

Introduction

On the day of becoming the 16th President of the United States on March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln gave one of his most notable speeches. He discussed the significance of the traditional laws about slavery in his inaugural address, trying to dismantle the fears and concerns of the Southern states. Ultimately, the current essay presents a summary of the speech and provides an interpretative analysis of its major points.

Summary

The primary objective of the address was to find a compromise between the Northern and Southern states to protect the country’s integrity. Lincoln realized the threat of a civil war as the tension between two distinct political parties grew, and it was critical to relieve the fears of the South. To achieve this goal, he addressed two primary topics – justification of slavery (established traditions) and the absolute necessity of national unity (Lincoln, 1861). Lincoln was transparent in the message that he had no intention of abolishing slavery, since it would have directly endangered the rights and privacy of people in the South. Consequently, he mentioned the significance of the government’s role in national regulation. He openly declared, “Plainly, the central idea of secession, is the essence of anarchy,” stating that any aggression towards the government or official property seizure is absolutely unacceptable (Lincoln, 1861, para. 26). At the end of the address, Lincoln directly addressed the people of Southern states with a plea to prevent the civil war, promising to protect the country and national integrity.

Interpretative Analysis

The presented summary has demonstrated the primary points of the address; however, an interpretative analysis can provide more valuable insights. The most notable literary device in the speech is the appeal to credibility or ethos. As a president of the country, Lincoln tries to persuade people to unite under a common cause and prevent civil unrest. He uses personal pronouns such as ‘we’ to make the speech more inclusive and relate to regular people both in the North and the South. The end of the address, “I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies,” is an excellent example of the persuasive elements (Lincoln, 1861, para. 38). Ultimately, he tries to reassure people in the necessity of national integrity and unity.

Additionally, he primarily appealed to the Southern states due to realizing that the controversy around slavery was one of the significant potential factors that could lead to a civil war. As a result, Lincoln also appealed to emotions and emphasized the autonomy and accountability of regular people. He stated, “In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you” (Lincoln, 1861, para. 37). This shift of the focus attempted to invoke a sense of accountability in the Southern states, meaning that if the war were to occur, it would have been their fault.

Conclusion

Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address focused on the relevant political issues that could potentially lead to a civil war. He tried to reassure the Southern states of the necessity of national integrity to keep them in the Union and prevent any civil unrest. To achieve this goal, he used rhetorical techniques and promised not to interfere with the traditional way of life, including the institute of slavery. Nevertheless, Lincoln’s efforts in the speech were insufficient to prevent the Civil War, which started the following month after the first inaugural address.

Reference

Lincoln, A. (1861). First inaugural address. Abraham Lincoln Online. Web.

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Abraham Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address

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