Lincoln, Abraham. "The Gettysburg Address." Battle of Gettysburg: Gettysburg, VA. 19 Nov. 1863.
In the Gettysburg Address given on November 19th, 1863 Abraham Lincoln delivers a two minute speech discussing the ways people fought for different causes during the Civil War. And those same causes changed over the course of the war for these people. Lincoln knows that his speech will not be long remembered but we as the people must be devoted to finish the work all of these men have died for. Those remaining must work harder as a way to dedicate them after sacrificing their lives for this war effort. And then at last the country would have a new birth of freedom as a Union once again.
Lincoln, Abraham. "Second Inaugural Address." White House, Washington DC. 1865. Address.
In Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, he recalls the major causes of the war and vows that he will fight for the restoration of peace and unity. He brings up that the Northern states wished to prohibit slavery in certain places where there were chances of a new state developing while Southern states were dedicated to expand slavery and greatly feared that the prohibition would threaten slavery where it already existed. Despite the facts that the Union began to inch closer to victory, Lincoln wanted to urge the people to care for one another and work for a lasting, just peace.
Both of these addresses, brings up incredibly important facts about what Lincoln wished for during the Civil War and what he envisioned for the country afterwards. In the Gettysburg Address it was clear that Lincoln would fight until the very end, he was dedicated to become victorious not only for those deceased but also for creating a new freedom for the country. While his Second Inaugural Address speaks to what he hopes for: a country with no slavery and a country in peace, for good. The addresses extend each other, they both contrast what Lincoln wanted either in the middle of the war and near the end of the war. Its obvious that Lincoln would fight to the very end (Gettysburg Address) until the country would finally be at peace not only as a whole but between its citizens as well (Second Inaugural Address). But the addresses also extend his First Inaugural Address where he clearly spoke about keeping the country at peace without the expansion of slavery and tensions between the citizens.
The two excerpts are helpful in our study of the Civil War based on how it gives evidence to say that Lincoln himself ended slavery and to help explain why Lincoln wanted to fight in the war. But the addresses are limited because there are several other speeches and primary sources Lincoln created to display what exactly his stance was during the Civil War. And in order to fully develop a claim about Lincoln's belief and stance in the Civil War, we need a variety of sources (speeches, excerpts, primary sources, addresses) as a way to avoid any loop holes inside of one's claim.
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