Abraham Lincoln: Second Inaugural Address

( 1865 ) Commentary by Christine Dee, Fitchburg State College

Questions for Further Study

1. According to Lincoln, who or what was to blame for the Civil War?
2. Did Lincoln strike a conciliatory tone? If so, how do you explain this?
3. What was the responsibility of the nation, according to Lincoln? What course was to be pursued upon achieving peace?
4. Compare Lincoln's First Inaugural Address and his Second Inaugural Address. What are the differences in the content, context, and tone of each speech? What accounts for these differences?

Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address (National Archives and Records Administration)

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