Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Study Guide

What is one of the purposes of Lincoln's speech?

• To emphasize the South’s role in causing the war 

  
  

• To caution against ending the war too soon

  
  

• To reflect on the causes and effects of the war

• To outline the key historical events of the war

  
  

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Read this phrase from paragraph 4.

"but let us judge not, that we be not judged"

The author most likely included this phrase to-

• suggest that both sides should be blamed for slavery

• convince his audience to consider the other side’s humanity

• provide a warning for his audience about the evils of slavery

  
  

• argue against a popular idea that each side holds too dear

  
  

In paragraph 4, the parallelism of sentences beginning with the words Neither, Each, and
Both functions as a way of —

• emphasizing that the war has gone on longer than expected

• making a comparison between those who wanted war and those who did not

  
  

• showing the similarities between the two sides fighting in the war

• implying that the two sides were not prepared for the realities of war

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

The author most likely uses a Biblical quotation near the beginning and at the end of paragraph 5 to —

• make an appeal to emotion to believe in God

• make an appeal to authority that the war is just

• make an appeal to authority that slavery is wrong 

  
  

• make an appeal to emotion that the suffering must end

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

Read this sentence about the selection.

In his speech, Lincoln addressed the true cause of the war, which he pointed out
was slavery.

How can this best be revised to make it a balanced sentence?

• Lincoln named the true cause of the war—slavery.

  
  

• The true cause of the war, said Lincoln in his speech, was slavery.

  
  

• Lincoln pointed out that the true cause of the war was slavery.

  
  

• Lincoln identified the true cause of the war—he named it slavery.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

How does paragraph 6 contribute to the author’s premise?

• It tries to persuade the audience that both sides want the war to end.

• It calls on the audience to work toward a peaceful unification after the war.

  
  

• It encourages the audience to provide medical care for wounded soldiers.

• It attempts to convince the audience that they must rely on their faith.

  
  

What two words best describe the author’s tone in this selection?

• Angry

  
  

• Celebratory

• Hopeful

• Regretful

• Somber

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Which two excerpts from the selection support the claim that Lincoln is working toward the reconciliation of the North and South?

• While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war. . . (paragraph 2)

  
  

• . . . but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. (paragraph 2)

• Neither party expected. . . . Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself. . . . (paragraph 4)

  
  

• Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less . . . astounding. (paragraph 4)

• . . . to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations. (paragraph 6)

  
  

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Mark the box that matches each excerpt from the selection with the claim it best supports.

Groups:

(a) Slavery caused the war

,

(b) Slavery is immoral

• strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the

• until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword (par

• he gives to both North and South this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offence

• slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest (paragraph 3)

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Who is the primary audience for the author’s message?

• Abolitionists

  
  

• All Americans

• Northerners

  
  

• Southerners

  
  

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.6

CCSS.RI.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.6