Project Gutenberg 1979-12-01 Public domain in the USA. 836 Lincoln, Abraham 1809 1865 United States President (1861-1865) Lincoln, Abe Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address "Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address" by Abraham Lincoln is a historical document delivered as a speech on March 4, 1861. This address takes place during a tumultuous period in American history, specifically the lead-up to the Civil War. In this speech, Lincoln aims to reassure a divided nation, emphasizing the importance of the Union and the continuity of the Constitution while addressing the contentious issues surrounding slavery. In his address, Lincoln acknowledges the fears of Southern states regarding the protection of their rights and property, particularly concerning slavery. He firmly asserts that he has no intention to interfere with the institution of slavery where it already exists and advocates for the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Lincoln discusses the nature of the Union, arguing that it is perpetual and cannot be dissolved by individual states. By appealing to unity, he calls for patience and a commitment to dialogue while reminding listeners that civil war would only arise from aggression. The address ends on a hopeful note, urging Americans to recognize their shared bonds and to seek reconciliation rather than division, famously invoking "the better angels of our nature." (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 52.8 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. en United States -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865 Presidents -- United States -- Inaugural addresses E456 Text US Civil War Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches Category: History - American Category: Politics 47491 2025-09-01T03:31:01.354018 text/html 23301 2025-09-06T13:23:14 text/html 98534 2025-09-01T03:31:06.387009 application/epub+zip 97335 2025-09-01T03:31:04.291020 application/epub+zip 82473 2025-09-01T03:31:03.216007 application/epub+zip 248486 2025-09-01T03:31:07.827013 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 242256 2025-09-01T03:31:05.710015 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 210549 2022-09-01T03:31:00.949495 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 41524 2025-09-01T03:31:01.056088 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 21370 2025-09-06T13:17:52 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 16773 2025-09-01T03:31:07.947990 application/rdf+xml 18948 2025-09-01T03:31:03.716030 image/jpeg 4141 2025-09-01T03:31:03.470012 image/jpeg 98224 2025-09-01T03:31:01.359027 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia