Blog #15: Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Lincoln begins his First Inaugural Address by stating that he has no intent of interfering with the institution of slavery. In other words, he will not tell the States exactly what they can and cannot do regarding the issue of slavery. Instead, he wants people to consider a few points for themselves. The first point is that the Constitution says that someone who escapes from slavery to another state is not truly free unless their master (or whoever they work for) allows them to be. Lincoln explains that although the Constitution is important, the Union was established first and therefore comes first. In fact, one of the declared points for establishing the Constitution was "to form a more perfect Union." Lincoln also makes it clear that he will not use any type of defensive force against the South unless they threaten the government. He explains that the resolution to the slavery issue is ultimately up to the people, but that they cannot let it split the country. He stresses the importance of taking time with any decisions, and points out that God has not let the country down and will guide all decisions. He concludes by emphasizing that despite differences within the country, the American people are not each other's enemies. They are friends, and the Union must not fall.

Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Jefferson's First Inaugural Address can be compared to Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, because both Presidents gave their advice on handling separation within the United States. While Lincoln's Address touched on the issues of slavery (North vs. South), Jefferson's Address talked about issues between the Republicans and Federalists.