LAD/Blog #15: Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Lincoln opens his First Inaugural Address by assuring the southern states that their "peace and personal security" will not be infringed upon, as he promises leave slavery alone where it already exists. Lincoln expresses his strong belief that the States have a right written in the Constitution to control their own institutions, and says that he will honor that power. Next, he asserts the dominance of federal law over state law in order to keep the country unified under the Constitution and declares secession from the Union an act of revolution. Lincoln concludes his address by stating that the government belongs entirely to the people it serves and that the people have a right to amend it. In other words, he pushes for nationalism, unity, and cooperation in hopes that the country will become more united and productive as it once was. Lincoln's final words of this great speech re-emphasize his dedication to reunification. He says "We are not enemies, but friends," reiterating a need to dissolve bitterness and preserve the Union.





Lincoln's First Inaugural Address is similar to the Join or Die cartoon created by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 because both emphasized a need for Unity in America.