Making Connections

1. What themes and rhetorical features are shared by the four primary texts by Abraham Lincoln? How are they different? Which one is your favorite? Why?

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   Making Connections: - What themes and rhetorical features are shared by the four primary texts by Abraham Lincoln? How are they different? Which one is your favorite? Why?
2. Imagine that you are doing a presentation for your class (or for a middle-school class) about the Emancipation Proclamation and that you may include one visual as a slide. Which would you choose, the engraving by Henry W. Herrick (p. 697) or the sculpture by Thomas Ball (p. 698)? Compare and contrast the two and explain why you would choose one over the other.

   Question

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   Making Connections: - Imagine that you are doing a presentation for your class (or for a middle-school class) about the Emancipation Proclamation and that you may include one visual as a slide. Which would you choose, the engraving by Henry W. Herrick (p. 697) or the sculpture by Thomas Ball (p. 698)? Compare and contrast the two and explain why you would choose one over the other.
3. This conversation includes two personal essays on Lincoln that were written more than a century apart, one by Frederick Douglass (p. 699), a former slave, and the other by Mario M. Cuomo (p. 703), then governor of New York State. Compare and contrast their views of Lincoln. Do they seem to be discussing the same man? Why or why not?

   Question

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   Making Connections: - This conversation includes two personal essays on Lincoln that were written more than a century apart, one by Frederick Douglass (p. 699), a former slave, and the other by Mario M. Cuomo (p. 703), then governor of New York State. Compare and contrast their views of Lincoln. Do they seem to be discussing the same man? Why or why not?
4. In his letter to Albert G. Hodges (p. 693), President Lincoln discusses his reasons for postponing emancipation. Ira Berlin (p. 715) discusses Lincoln’s reasoning and criticizes his delay saying, “Where others led on emancipation, Lincoln followed” (par. 20). Considering what Lincoln himself says in his letter, evaluate Berlin’s position.

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   Making Connections: - In his letter to Albert G. Hodges (p. 693), President Lincoln discusses his reasons for postponing emancipation. Ira Berlin (p. 715) discusses Lincoln’s reasoning and criticizes his delay saying, “Where others led on emancipation, Lincoln followed” (par. 20). Considering what Lincoln himself says in his letter, evaluate Berlin’s position.
5. Cuomo begins a number of his statements with words. Select two of those statements that appeal to you, and apply them to the texts that you have read by Lincoln. How does each of them serve as an illustration of Lincoln’s words? Be specific as you explain.

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   Making Connections: - Cuomo begins a number of his statements with words. Select two of those statements that appeal to you, and apply them to the texts that you have read by Lincoln. How does each of them serve as an illustration of Lincoln’s words? Be specific as you explain.
6. Analyze and evaluate Berlin’s argument in response to James McPherson’s (p. 706). How might McPherson respond to Berlin if the exchange were to continue?

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   Making Connections: - Analyze and evaluate Berlin’s argument in response to James McPherson’s (p. 706). How might McPherson respond to Berlin if the exchange were to continue?
7. Imagine that Douglass, Cuomo, McPherson, Berlin, and Lincoln were sitting in an auditorium watching Peter Norvig’s PowerPoint presentation. What would their responses be?

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   Making Connections: - Imagine that Douglass, Cuomo, McPherson, Berlin, and Lincoln were sitting in an auditorium watching Peter Norvig’s PowerPoint presentation. What would their responses be?
8. In his 1992 book, Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America, historian Garry Wills says of Lincoln’s second inaugural address that it “complements and completes the Gettysburg Address” (which Wills regards as Lincoln’s finest). He contends that the second inaugural “is the only speech worthy to stand with it.” Historian Ronald C. White Jr., in his 2002 book, Lincoln’s Greatest Speech, the Second Inaugural, claims that Lincoln himself considered the latter speech his best and writes, “For too long the Second Inaugural Address has lived within the shadow of the Gettysburg Address.” Who is right? Do you agree with Wills or with White? Defend the position of one of these historians, using the texts of both speeches and your knowledge of American history.

   Question

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   Making Connections: - In his 1992 book, Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America, historian Garry Wills says of Lincoln’s second inaugural address that it “complements and completes the Gettysburg Address” (which Wills regards as Lincoln’s finest). He contends that the second inaugural “is the only speech worthy to stand with it.” Historian Ronald C. White Jr., in his 2002 book, Lincoln’s Greatest Speech, the Second Inaugural, claims that Lincoln himself considered the latter speech his best and writes, “For too long the Second Inaugural Address has lived within the shadow of the Gettysburg Address.” Who is right? Do you agree with Wills or with White? Defend the position of one of these historians, using the texts of both speeches and your knowledge of American history.