Description
On March 9, 1861, The Burlington Weekly Hawk-eye printed in full President Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address in which the new president stressed the Union between the North and South and his constitutional duty to maintain and defend it. Although the federal government had no intention to act as an aggressor towards the South, Lincoln made it clear that the North would also not condone or allow secession. A considerable part of the address dealt with the issue of slavery, where Lincoln attempted to alleviate the concerns of the South by emphasizing his intention to uphold the U.S. Constitution's provisions in relation to it and not to interfere with the institution in the states where it already existed.
Full Transcript of President Abraham Lincoln's Inaugural Address
Transcribed Excerpts from President Abraham Lincoln's Inaugural Address
Printable Excerpt of President Abraham Lincoln's Inaugural Address
Source-Dependent Questions
- According to President Abraham Lincoln, what did the South fear with the inauguration of a president from the Republican Party? Did Lincoln believe this fear was justified? Provide three passages from the speech that best support your answer.
- Paraphrase the Fugitive Slave Clause of the Constitution. It begins with, "No person held to service…"
- Why was Lincoln so confident that the Fugitive Slave Clause of the U.S. Constitution would be adhered to by the federal government?
- Based on the final two paragraphs of the speech, what seemed to be Lincoln’s main priority as the newly inaugurated president?
Citation Information
Lincoln, Abraham, "Inaugural," The Burlington Weekly Hawk-eye, 9 March 1861. Courtesy of Library of Congress