LAD #19: Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address

Lincoln giving his Second Inaugural Address

Lincoln starts this address by saying that, unlike his 1st, there was no need for an extended speech this time. He talks briefly about the Civil War at the time 4 years ago, saying how then everyone sought to avoid it although it eventually happened anyway to determine how the Union would be afterwards- that some people would prefer war over keeping the country in one piece, though nobody expected it to go on for that long. He affirms his beliefs that the Federal Government had no power to stop slavery, only the power to stop its expansion, and that's ultimately what the war became about. He also expresses his wish that the war would quickly come to a close, and that everyone should try to fix the wounds in the nation and make an effort to keep the country united through times of war.