Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

This book features the inaugural address given by Abraham Lincoln on March 4, 1861, as he was sworn in as the sixteenth President of the United States. In the midst of secession by seven states in the South, Lincoln delivered a conciliatory speech addressed to the people of the region, outlining his intended policies towards them. He made a commitment to maintain government property and stated that the Union would not interfere with slavery where it existed. At the same time, he warned that any use of arms against the United States would be met with force. Lincoln ended with a plea for unity, reminding Americans of their common bonds and the need to avoid passion and division. This address was delivered just before the start of the American Civil War, which began with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter on April 12.