Student Activity

Lincoln on the American Union: A Word Fitly Spoken

Photo caption

Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States.

Explore Lincoln's most famous speeches, and a little-known fragment on the Constitution and union to learn about the significance of Union to the future of American government. This resource accompanies the curriculum Abraham Lincoln on the American Union: "A Word Fitly Spoken."

Student Activity Details

Fragment of the Constitution and Union

Read the fragment mentioned in the interactive here.

How does Lincoln use metaphor to make his argument about the importance of "liberty to all"?
How does Lincoln connect the concepts of liberty and unity?
Why do you think this fragment is significant?

Explore this fragment in greater depth in this lesson plan.

Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

Read Lincoln's first inaugural address, delivered on March 4, 1861, here.

What position on slavery does Lincoln stake out in this address?
What was Lincoln's priority in this address?
How does Lincoln portray secession?
- What rhetorical strategies does Lincoln use to argue against secession?
What do you think were some of the responses to this speech? The Chronicling America database contains a wealth of editorials and opinion pieces commenting on the speech. As you read them, be sure to note the author (if available) and newspaper, and to look into the politics of both to contextualize the article.

Explore the first inaugural address in more depth in this lesson plan.

The Gettysburg Address

Read the Gettysburg Address (1863) here.

To whom was Lincoln speaking when he delivered the address?
How does Lincoln connect the principles of liberty and self-governance in the address?
How does Lincoln's position in this speech differ from that he took in his first inaugural?

Explore the Gettysburg Address in more depth in this lesson plan.

Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

Read the second inaugural address here.

What is the effect of Lincoln's abundant religious and Biblical references in the speech?
In both of his inaugural addresses, Lincoln is seeking reconciliation between North and South. How do these speeches compare?

Explore the second inaugural address in more depth with this lesson plan.