Journal for Lincoln

Gregory Alcala
English 48A
Journal for Lincoln
September 29th, 2009

Quote:
“On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dread it-all sought to avert it.” -Abraham Lincoln in his second inaugural address, March 4th, 1865 quoted from The Norton Anthology: American Literature 7th Edition Vol. B

“’In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.’ Beneath these words, the 16th President of the United States-the Great Emancipator and preserver of the nation during the Civil War—sits immortalized in marble. As an enduring symbol of freedom, the Lincoln Memorial attracts anyone who seeks inspiration and hope.” -quoted from the US Department of the Interior, National Park Service website for the Lincoln Memorial(http://www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm)

Summary:
The first quote is by Lincoln himself when speaking to the crowd after he was voted into office for the second time. I think Lincoln is showing his true colors by talking about the North and South states as part of the whole. He didn’t talk poorly about the South or cheer the North for bringing the South to their knees. He spoke honestly about the war and the loses on both sides.
The second quote is talking about how American History will talk about the 16th president. As a president who came into office about the face the greatest threat to the Union any president before him had faced, a civil war. Lincoln didn’t falter and stayed head of the Union to see the North win the war over the South and keep the States United.

Response:
After being the leader of a Nation that was threatening to rip in half had a powerful effect on Lincoln. Even in pictures, Lincoln is showed to have greatly aged during the civil war years, probably due to a great deal of stress. He spoke about how both sides, Northern and Southern, wanted to avert the war. The beginning of the war was still in living memory so lying about how easy it would have been to win against the South might have been to great of a lie. Throughout the speech Lincoln keeps a somber tone. He doesn’t get too excited about the end of the war in the favor of the North or his victory over overwhelming odds.