Abraham Lincoln's Leadership During the Civil War

Overview

• Focus on how Lincoln's leadership affected American ideals during the Civil War.

• This video serves as a continuation of previous discussions about the Civil War.

Emancipation Proclamation

• Text freed enslaved people in the Confederacy.

• Considered a military tactic rather than a purely moral stance.

• Did not apply to border states that remained in the Union.

• Key impacts:

  • Cut off hope of European support for the Confederacy, particularly Britain due to their history of abolishing slavery in 1833.

  • Enabled the escape of many enslaved individuals to Union camps, with some joining the Union army.

Gettysburg Address

• Delivered on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Gettysburg cemetery.

• Portrayed the Civil War as a struggle to fulfill America's founding ideals of equality and democracy.

• Context of the speech:

  • Lincoln followed a lengthy speech by Edward Everett, who was the main speaker.

  • The brevity of Lincoln's address (four minutes) contrasted with Everett's two-hour speech.

Key Quotes from the Gettysburg Address

• "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

• Asserts the war is a test of whether a nation dedicated to these ideals can endure.

• Reframes the purpose of the gathering from dedicating ground to honoring the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom.

• Emphasizes that the living must continue the work begun by those who died in the struggle for freedom and equality.

• Concludes with a call for a "new birth of freedom" so that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish.

Conclusion

• The Gettysburg Address is viewed as one of the greatest speeches, encapsulating the redefinition of the war.

• Lincoln's ability to articulate these ideals profoundly impacted American views on equality and democracy.

• Encourages viewers to appreciate Lincoln’s words and their significance for understanding American history.

• Final encouragement for success in studies and on the exam.