Civic Literacy Reading List, Grades 9–12: Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address (1865)

Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address was delivered on March 4th, 1865 during the fourth year of the Civil War. The overall tone shows weariness with the ongoing conflict, while also reaffirming a faith in God's will. The address ends with the hope that reconciliation and reconstruction will soon heal the nation's wounds. Read the full text here.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. engross
    consume all of one's attention or time
    Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention, and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented.
  2. impending
    close in time; about to occur
    On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil-war.
  3. avert
    prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
    All dreaded it—all sought to avert it.
  4. deprecate
    express strong disapproval of; deplore
    Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish.
  5. constitute
    compose or represent
    These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest.
  6. perpetuate
    cause to continue or prevail
    To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union, even by war
  7. duration
    the period of time during which something continues
    Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude, or the duration, which it has already attained.
  8. cease
    end
    Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease.
  9. astounding
    bewildering or striking dumb with wonder
    Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding.
  10. invoke
    request earnestly; ask for aid or protection
    Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other.
  11. wring
    obtain by coercion or intimidation
    It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not that we be not judged.
  12. offense
    an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
    "Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!"
  13. providence
    a manifestation of God's foresightful care for his creatures
    If we shall suppose that American Slavery is one of those offences which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove...
  14. discern
    perceive, recognize, or detect
    and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him?
  15. fervent
    characterized by intense emotion
    Fondly do we hope—fervently do we pray—that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away.
  16. unrequited
    not returned in kind
    Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword...
  17. righteous
    morally justified
    as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said, "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."
  18. malice
    the desire to see others suffer
    With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right...
  19. strive
    exert much effort or energy
    let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan...
  20. cherish
    be fond of
    to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.
Created on Mon Mar 17 12:32:49 EDT 2014 (updated Mon Jul 16 13:54:46 EDT 2018)

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