Abraham Lincoln – Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865 and The Gettysburg Address

"One eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the Southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was, somehow, the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union, even by war; while the government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude, or the duration, which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has his own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" If we shall suppose that American Slavery is one of those offences which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope--fervently do we pray--that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether"" (Lincoln: Second Inaugural Address).

That main excerpt is taken from Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address and deals greatly with the writing style of realism. Lincoln is telling of the different experiences that occurred during the Civil War and the different emotions, thoughts, and feelings that were going on and how they might have upset God. Also, Lincoln talks greatly of how God must have been reacting to everything that was going on, and how can a nation be torn apart like this. Therefore, it was quite an interesting speech to read as it made me stop and think about everything that Lincoln was trying to say.

The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the most violent, and also well known battles during the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln gave a very moving, touching, and sentimental speech for the many men that had lost their lives on the battlefield during the Battle of Gettysburg. Although it was short, the Address was still very well written and used realism once again.

"But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth" (Lincoln: Gettysburg Address).

Lincoln is telling the people gathered there that the men who fought and died on the battlefield did not and should not have died in vain. Instead, they fought so that the nation would become stronger and be a better place for everyone to live in. Once again, Lincoln is using real life events to make people realize that what they have done is not really beneficial or for the better. But in the end, regardless of the many lives lost, people should mourn and not forget those who lost their lives fighting.


Works Cited:

Lincoln, Abraham. "The Gettysburg Address." Abraham Lincoln Online. Web. 6 Feb. 2011. http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm.

Lincoln, Abraham. "Second Inaugural Address." Abraham Lincoln Online. Web. 6 Feb. 2011. .