Blog #15: Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Lincoln starts his address by acknowledging the growing concerns of the south and how they feel their freedoms are at risk under a Republican administration. Lincoln says he has no intention of dealing with the issue of slavery and emphasizes how the balance of power in the country must be kept in balance. Continuing, Lincoln also talks a lot about the importance of not just balance in slavery but in other places such as state's rights and how the unity of the country will determine its success. Lincoln also cites passages from the constitution regarding slavery and states rights and says how they must adhere to the constitution. Lincoln says that he was undertaken to weight in which to preserve the fine cracks that are appearing in America and how his administration will combat the rising tensions that plague the country so that people can thrive under a beautiful diverse nation instead of shut each other out. Lincoln also points out that as a nation, America has suffered and gone through countless tests of will and that although the slavery issue is extremely dominate he will not let the country fall at this moment when it has so much history of perseverance. Lincoln's final words of his address we are not enemies, but friends, we must no be enemies. The overall message of Lincoln's address is one of unity and fixing the tensions that have been growing in the country. 

This theme of unity is similar to Jefferson's address when he spoke that we are all federalists, we are all Republicans