Overview
This lecture examines Abraham Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War, focusing on how his actions and speeches, especially the Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Address, reshaped American ideals.
Lincoln’s Leadership During the Civil War
- Lincoln used his presidential powers to influence the course and meaning of the Civil War.
- His leadership redefined the war's purpose from preserving the Union to also ending slavery.
The Emancipation Proclamation
- The Emancipation Proclamation declared all enslaved people in Confederate states free.
- It did not free enslaved people in border states that remained in the Union.
- The proclamation was a military strategy to weaken the Confederacy and prevent European support for the South.
- It encouraged enslaved individuals in the South to escape to Union lines and enlist in the Union army.
The Gettysburg Address
- Delivered by Lincoln on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Gettysburg cemetery.
- Reframed the Civil War as a fight to fulfill the founding ideals of liberty and equality.
- Emphasized national unity and the unfinished work of ensuring a “new birth of freedom.”
- Popularized the idea of “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Impact on American Ideals
- Lincoln’s actions and words shifted the Civil War’s purpose to include the abolition of slavery.
- The war became a test of whether a nation “dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” could survive.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Emancipation Proclamation — 1863 order by Lincoln freeing enslaved people in Confederate states.
- Border States — Slave states that remained in the Union during the Civil War.
- Gettysburg Address — Lincoln’s 1863 speech linking the war to American ideals of liberty and equality.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the text and meaning of the Gettysburg Address.
- Study how the Emancipation Proclamation affected the course of the Civil War.
- Prepare examples of how Lincoln’s actions influenced American ideals for exams.