Abraham Lincoln's Speeches and the American Experiment

Abraham Lincoln, more than anyone before or since, held and articulated a coherent, comprehensive understanding of the American experiment. Partly because he had the benefit of hindsight and partly because of his own genius,... [ view full abstract ]

Abraham Lincoln, more than anyone before or since, held and articulated a coherent, comprehensive understanding of the American experiment. Partly because he had the benefit of hindsight and partly because of his own genius, the sixteenth president -- the man who led America through its bloodiest struggle -- understood the meaning of the American founding better than perhaps even the founders did themselves. In this sense, Lincoln’s political philosophy was not new, but Lincoln made a novel contribution through his clear articulation of American principles. This articulation is located most clearly in Lincoln's speeches. These marvels of rhetoric and argumentation offer cogent display of the fundamental principles of the United States. This presentation will trace the trajectory of Lincoln's thought throughout his seminal speeches to expose its inner meaning.