The American Values in the Inaugural Speeches of Lincoln

Introduction

As one of the most powerful leaders in the current world,America has exerted an overwhelming influence on global economy,politics and culture.The model effect of the United States around the world is enormously great.Studies on core american values will give us a more comprehensive and profound recognition of its national spirit and American characteristics.Michael J.Korai,who wrote The President and the Public:inaugural Addresses in American History,once commented on American inaugural that“they are reflective,to a significant degree,of American political culture”.Existing researches on American values concentrate mostly on literary works,movies and televisions.This paper,on the other hand,aiming at American president Abraham Lincoln’ inaugural speeches,explores the American values in them.Exploring American values on these two inaugurals will be feasible and fruitful.It will lead us to understanding important American documents such as the Constitution and The Declaration of Independence,giving us an overall view of American core spirit that they have long admired and fought for.In addition,analyzing these values can be very meaningful and enlightening because we can learn from these core values and make practical use of them.

1.1 Equality

Among the core American values,equality,as the nation’s unshakable foundation,has enjoyed wide admiration and advocating among the American people.The unparalleled importance of equality is best demonstrated in The Declaration of Independence,which states clearly that all men are born equal.When President lincoln delivered his first inaugural,facing the secession of the Federal Union,Lincoln repetitiously emphasized the doctrine of equality.In order to maintain the unity of the country,the speech aimed at winning the support of the North without further alienating the South.Basically speaking,this doctrine was mainly reflected in the equality before the law.The legal equality is,in fact,an equal protection given to people without discrimination,privilege and bias regardless of their races,religion and gender.He stressed that“all the protection which,consistently with the Constitution and the laws,can be given will be cheerfully given to all the States when lawfully demanded,for whatever cause――as cheerfully to one section as to another.”According to Herbert Stein,detailed elaboration on the power of the Constitution is very necessary and nothing to say about the Constitution is an obvious lack of perspective.Lincoln did conform to this tradition in his first speech.He expressed his intention by bringing up Constitution from time to time.

1.2 Freedom

Lincoln,as a representative member of the Republican Party,which condemned the slavery trade and denied the territorial legislature to legalize slavery in the territories,has become a towering figure in American history.He fought for the freedom of the slaves and brought a final end to the slavery during his presidency.After his reelection,he delivered a surprisingly brief but remarkable and profound inaugural with only 701 words.Yet it has become,as Merrill.D.Peterson put it,a“national hymn”.The universality of freedom was stated in his second inaugural,just as George W.Bush said about Lincoln in 2009,that“there is a God and a gift of that Almighty to every man,woman,and child is freedom”.The second inaugural address poignantly reflected on the meaning of the Civil War that speculated on the purpose of God to help unite the nation.The treasure of freedom was epitomized in his speech by stating that the deprivation of freedom was wrong and could get punishment from the Almighty God.He interpreted the war as the divine judgment on both side of the war.“This terrible war,as the woe due to those by whom the offence came”was a direct instance of Divine justice meted out to both North and South.

1.3 Democracy

Democracy has already become the pillar stone of America since the founding of the nation.The American people have an equal say in determining their life,ranging from the election of national head to community chore.It is not an exaggeration to say that the land of America is made of democracy and liberty.This is highly epitomized in Lincoln’s first inaugural.First of all,there existed in his speech frequent repetition and restatement of the American Constitution.Lincoln dwelt on the government’s unshakable resolution to maintain the rights of each state.The majority,according to Lincoln,was the“only true sovereign of a free people”.What’s more,it was stated clearly that the authority of the government,the executive branches and the institutions came from the people and were for people.

Conclusion

Throughout the American history,this value system,though changed slightly over time,protects the fabric of the civilized society and has made great contributions to the country,ranging from the successful acquisition of its independence,to the leading of the current world.Studies on these core values may help reveal the critical factor behind the great achievements of America.Lincoln is universally agreed to be a literary and political genius.Lincoln took office in the disruption of the federal union and later the Civil War broke out.Thus,at that moment,uniting the nation was the main task of the whole nation.To meet the demand of that critical moment,he elaborated on the conventional values,like freedom and equality,and focused his attention on his obligations to the public.After such a long time,his speech can still excite and inspire us.We can see that these American values have played a very important role in promoting economic and social development.Our country has fundamentally distinct social value systems from the United States,but American values unquestionably have a current significance of reference and enlightenment for our society.