California 8th Grade Standards 8.10.4

8.10.4

Discuss Abraham Lincoln's presidency and his significant writings and speeches and their relationship to the Declaration of Independence, such as his "House Divided" speech (1858), Gettysburg Address (1863), Emancipation Proclamation (1863), and inaugural addresses (1861 and 1865).
             Abraham Lincoln, the nation’s sixteenth president, guided our country through the Civil War with his inspiring speeches and writings. Lincoln delivered the “House Divided” speech in 1858, admonishing us that slavery would ultimately divide the nation. Several years later, President Lincoln presented a war torn nation with the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, and this oratory was memorialized on the hollowed grounds where the Battle of Gettysburg was waged. In his speech, Lincoln forcefully argued his cause by championing freedom and equality for all. Edward Everett, the intended principle orator, gave a two-hour opening address. Lincoln however, touched the hearts of the soldiers and explained the purpose of the war as well as the deaths of the men in the cemetery. This occasion enabled Lincoln not only to honor the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the goal of freedom and equality, but also to express his concerns as President of the U. S. regarding the divisive conflict. The Battle of Gettysburg took place between July 1^st to July 3^rd in 1863 and was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The Union North and Confederate South lost more than 7,000 men during the three-day battle. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, which took effect on January 1, 1863. This document stated that all slaves who resided in states that were seceding from the Union were free; furthermore, the Union military would enforce such legalized freedom. Since the Southern, or Confederate, states did not recognize Lincoln's presidency; they refused to listen and did not free their slaves. This allowed Lincoln to change his speech. The war was mainly to preserve the Union, but now he could refer to the war as a fight to spread freedom. The Proclamation also invited black men to serve in the Union Army and Navy. By the end of the war, almost 200,000 black soldiers and sailors had fought for the Union. The proclamation paved the way for the passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery in the United States. In Lincoln’s first inaugural address, in 1861, he pleaded with his countrymen to avoid war. In Lincoln’s second inaugural address, on March 4, 1865, in the east portico of the Capitol. On the bottom of this page are sites that may help explain Abraham Lincoln’s presidency and his significant writings and speeches and their relationship to the Declaration of Independence, such as his “House Divided” speech, Gettysburg Address, Emancipation Proclamation, and inaugural addresses in a more detailed fashion.

More Information:

   1.    http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trt053.html
          This site helps explain about Lincoln’s second inaugural address.

   2.    http://bensguide.gpo.gov/support/search.html
          This site explains about the Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation. This site also includes information about the Civil War and has links to other sites on these topics.

   3.    http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres31.html
          This site tells you the exactly what Lincoln said in his first inaugural address.

   4.    http://dmoz.org/Society/History/By_Region/North_America/United_States/Presidents/Lincoln,_Abraham/
          This site is an open directory site, which gives you many links to other sites about Abraham Lincoln.

   5.    http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/speeches.htm
          This site gives some of the speeches, writings, and etc. from Lincoln.

   6.    http://www.gliah.uh.edu/ahd/
          This site gives information on Lincoln, the Civil War, and his “House Divided” speech.

   7.    http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/al16/index.htm
          This site gives a brief biography of Lincoln and a few selection of his speeches.

   8.    http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln.html
          This site shows you Abraham Lincoln books, speeches and writings, historic places, and events.

   9.    http://www.usdreams.com/Lincoln6.html

          This site gives a biography of Abraham Lincoln.

   10. http://www.dcs.hull.ac.uk/cgi-bin/gedlkup/n=presidents?presidents00327
          This site gives a summary about Lincoln’s presidency and accomplishments.

   11. http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/al16.html
          This site gives a biography, some quotes, and speeches of Abraham Lincoln.

   12. http://historyproject.ucdavis.edu/cts/standarddetail.php?StandardID=8.10
          This site gives a list of professors that you can email to get information on the 8.10 standard questions. It also gives a list of books which may help you on the 8.10 standards as well.

Recommended Books:

   1.    Frederick Douglass and the War Against Slavery
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   2.    The Slave Community
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   3.    The Civil War
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   4.    A Tellin of the Tales
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   5.    Freedom Crossing
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   6.    William Styron's Nat TurnerThe Red Badge of Courage
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   7.    Lincoln Reconsidered: Essays on the Civil War Era
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   8.    The Emancipation Proclamation
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   9.    Lincoln: A Photobiography
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   10. Thunder at Gettysburg
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   11. Abraham Lincoln and the Union
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   12. Lincoln: In His Own Words
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   13. Abraham Lincoln and the Road to Emancipation, 1861-1865
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   14. Following in Lincoln's Footsteps: A Complete Annotated Reference to Hundreds of Historical Sites Visited by Abraham Lincoln
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   15. Abraham Lincoln and Civil War America: A Biography
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   16. Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator, Childhood of Famous Americans Ser.
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   17. The Lincoln Forum: Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg & the Civil War
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   18. Abraham Lincoln: A Constitutional Biography
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   19. Abraham Lincoln
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   20. Abraham Lincoln and the Road to Emancipation, 1861-1865
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   21. Abraham Lincoln and Civil War America: A Biography
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   22. Abraham Lincoln: His Speeches and Writings
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   23. War of Words: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War Press
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   24. Speeches and Writings, 1859-1865
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   25. This Fiery Trial: The Speeches and Writings of Abraham Lincoln
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   26. Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865: Chronology, Documents, Bibliographical Aids, Presidential Chronology Ser.
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   27. Abraham Lincoln: A Biography
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   28. Abraham Lincoln: His Speeches and Writings, History of the United States Ser.
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