Second, Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln, March 1865

 

 

1.     What is the author arguing?

March 1865 President Abraham Lincoln was sworn into his second term in office. The second address is much shorter than his speech during his first address; Lincoln spoke about the long and deadly war and looked forward for peace in America. He planned for reconstruction and his main focuses was on shortening the war and ending slavery once and for all. In his speech Lincoln stated this “Let us strive onto finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace. It’s hard to say that the author is making an argument when it comes to historical speeches because they are just that a speech and not a debate. The Inaugural address or President Lincoln is a stepping stone in history not just something read out of our history books.

2.     How does the author appeal to Logos, Pathos, and Ethos?

President Lincoln was careful when speaking at his second address he spoke about God and the Bible in the speech but stated that this was from the same Bible and pray to the same God which each invokes his aid against the other. That’s a strong statement from Lincoln and had to be difficult due to the fact that the two parties believed in the same God but were unable to use the teaching of God in the same way’s which would have maybe made things work more smoothly with the two political parties. Lincoln wanted nothing more than to heal the wounds of America and more forward with peace for not only the white Americans but for also the African Americans as well.

3.  What is the historical significance of this document?

President Lincolns second Inaugural Address was significant in history because this was his speech into his second term during a major war time which began during his first term and America still voted for him for office a second time which I am sure America still held their faith in Lincoln at that time even though the war was still going on which most Americans thought President Lincoln should wrap up the war and bring the men home.

4.      Do you find the author’s argument convincing? Why or why not?

Lincoln’s speech is nothing but convincing he spoke to America with emotion and showed them that he cared about finding peace for every American. Lincoln wasn’t just there to serve as a President he was there to serve for America which he did. President Lincoln addressed both of the parties that were involved and did not blame one over the other but spoke to them as one whole political party. His main goal in the speech was to find peace and to end the war and bring the American men home safely to their families.

The Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln

1.     What is the author arguing?

     President Lincoln is not arguing in this document he is making a speech and stating the facts. The speech is about the abolition of the slavery.  Lincoln detested human bondage but being the President he felt that he had to act in the interest of the union. Lincoln was ready to act for justice to free all the slaves. Which the United States government would back Lincoln on this.

2.     How does the author appeal to Logos, Pathos, and Ethos?

Since Lincoln had a strong background as a lawyer the law was written very well almost like a law would be written today. Lincoln stated nothing but the facts when making this law. Knowing he was going to cause major issues with some people who believed strongly in slavery and these people acted on their feelings saying in the London Times paper that “ Where he has no power Mr. Lincoln will set the negroes free, where he retains power he will consider the as slaves.” But little did they know that he did not have power to free any slave in a loyal state. The emancipation ended up taking away the valuable slave laborers form the Confederacy and in the end saves many lives. The democrats party was against the emancipation and said that the white house is turning this into a nigger war stating that the new law was a high crime against the constitution but on New year’s day 1863 the final emancipation was passed into law freeing all slaves in the rebel states and was backed by the American government.

3.     What is the historical significance of this document?  

This document played a huge role in the history of America it changed slavery forever and the African Americans had the Union on their side for once. They were able to fight in the war which many would ask themselves why they would want to fight for a country that treated them so unfairly but this opportunity gave the blacks a way to show the whites that they were equal and cared about America just as much as they did. It also opened the doors for the rights of all African American’s not just white people though this happened years after the emancipation.

4.     Do you find the author’s argument convincing? Why or why not?

Of course this is convincing it was a huge change in American history and without the strength of President Lincoln who knows how long it would have taken for the freedom on the slaves. He didn’t care what people had to say about him he was doing what was right for the African American people and in the end what was right for America. Lincoln was a very wise man and I find him very interesting and enjoy learn about him.

CDL: The Telegraph: "Wonder Working Wire"

Many scientist where involved with the invention of the Telegraph Samuel Morse was beyond dedicated to the invention. Samuel Morse was a professor of design and art at a New York University in 1835 when Morse could prove that signals could be transmitted through a wire. Samuel used pulses of current to deflect an electromagnet which moved a marker to produce written codes on a strip of paper this is also known as the Morse Code On June 20,1840 Samuel Morse patented his idea for the Telegraph. The machine was modified to emboss the paper with dots and dashes. Samuel gave a public demonstration in 1838 but it took five years to get congress to fund $30,000 to the construction of an experimental telegraph line that was from Washington to Baltimore which was a distance of 40 miles. It took six years before the congress could witness the sending and receiving of messages over part of the telegraph line. The telegraph changed the way Americans could communicate they no longer had to receive messages via horseback or ships. People did not have to be rich to have the use of the telegraph it wasn’t a luxury item for the rich it was a necessity for both the American people but also the government.  During the year of 1866 the underwater transatlantic cable was put into place which linked Europe to America. The invention of the Telegraph made Samuel Morse the riches man of his time but in the end he was also a hard worker and was devoted to the invention of the telegraphy which ended up actually working and changed the way all Americans communicated.

Question
1. How long do you think it would have taken for America to be able to
communicate without the help of horseback and ship? Do you think someone else
would have invented something different?

Question
2. Why do you think that some of the other scientist such as Andre' Ampe're and
Alessandro Volta were unable to complete the invention of the Telegraph?