Speeches of Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln Compared
Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln are both addressing people who areexperiencing a difficult time in history. In fact, both men are facing theissue of a nation at war. Jefferson was speaking to a nation that wasseeking its independence from a separate country. Lincoln was addressing acountry that was facing an internal war. Both men were forced to look atwhat government meant for the people and more importantly, they had todecide if that government was worth fighting to keep. In the face oftension and strife, Jefferson and Lincoln produced documents that not onlyhelped to settle growing conflicts, but also helped define America as it In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson is speaking for a grouppeople that desire to break free from the control of Great Britain. He isalso addressing the British government. His views must be understood byboth sides in order to be successful. Jefferson laid this document out ina superb manner, beginning with the statement that people must, at times,"dissolve the political bands" (Jefferson) which have previously bound themto one another. In addition, it is important to note that at the time,
In his message to Congress, he points this out, stating that it is"essentially a people's contest" (Lincoln). He statedthat secession presented "the whole family of man, the question, whether aconstitutional republic, or a democracy---a government of the people, bythe same people---can, or cannot, maintain its territorial integrity,against its own domestic foes " (Lincoln). Lincoln needed an argument that notonly provided an answer but a logical answer. Jefferson also points out that these rights are not presentedto the people by their government or any king but rather from theirCreator. These are the infamous inalienable rights withwhich every American citizen is born. In short, any secession by any statewould destroy the type of government that the Union was founded upon. In Lincoln's opinion, the typeof popular government he was speaking of had already proven that it couldexist. In conclusion, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln were facing greatchallenges when they wrote their documents. He knew it was a"system of social life that gives the common man a chance" (Hofstadter124). Thisenabled the Union to "defend not only the Union but the sacred principlesof popular rule and opportunity for the common man" (Hofstadter 125). The remaining test for this type of government was that of"successful maintenance against a formidable [internal] attempt tooverthrow it " (Lincoln). Lincoln thensupports his argument further by pointing out that the Union actuallyprovided the states with their statehood. In a boldmove, he also maintains that he and other representatives of the UnitedStates of America appeal to the "Supreme Judge of the world for therectitude if our intentions" (Jefferson). In addition, he also realizesthat this document calls for war. However one may look at that issue, it is evident that the president wassearching to reach a conclusion that would not only work to save the Unionthen but also prevent any future problems that could arise from similarcircumstances.
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