Both John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln’s addresses were very similar. They both address issues between people in the U.S. and around the world. The issues are the same but under different circumstances. Abraham Lincoln talks about how this great country was founded long ago and this Civil War is a test to see whether the nation could endure. John F. Kennedy talks about how almost a century later, we know what the problems are, we know how to fix them, but they just keep escalating. He said that the weapons of war are always ahead of the weapons of peace. They both think the United States has problems when it comes to equality. They both know that all people are equal and not all people are treated equally. Today, most of these problems are still yet to be solved. There has been progress, and a lot of things have changed for the better. However, a lot of things have changed for the worst or stayed the same. A big part of it is there’s a person in power who is foolish and oblivious to most of the problems. He’s a big reason there hasn’t been much progress toward fixing them recently. Things can get better. But only after there is someone in power that is aware of the issues of this country and of the world.

It is quite honorable and admirable that both presidents, Lincoln and Kennedy, stood on the grounds of freedom and racial equality in their speeches. These men have made us to believe that the great nation of America upholds the principles of such because it ought to be the only way forward so as to strengthen the bonds of the people. Forging the path to seeing each other as equals and to be afforded the same great quality of life, as is our right, for this has been the cause being fought for in centuries past.

As according to Abraham Lincoln when he spoke at the Gettysburg Address, he said, “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honoured dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead have not died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” In comparison, John F. Kennedy made mention of freedom in his inaugural address saying, “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge – and more.” Strong, solid words from both presidents, but it also brings forth the contrast in their speeches and thickens the plot for America’s historical storyline.

In Lincoln’s speech he spoke of the great civil war fought in order to attain freedom for the enslaved and oppressed, whereas in Kennedy’s spoken word he made references to the still raging war of racial inequality, oppression, lack of human rights, and the continued fight against such. This nation has come quite a long way in trying to establish statutes of liberty, justice, peace, and equality, ensuring opportunity for all, but has it truly lived up to its true potential of what all those things really mean? Yes, there is no dispute that this country has made progress in identifying and attempting to resolve racial injustices and inequalities but it yet still has a rather long journey ahead in order to totally eradicate these problems. People of this nation, labeled as ‘minorities’, are still faced with the pressures of systemic oppression, not always given a fair chance as their counterparts due to one’s skin color and ethnicity. It can be argued that America has a lot more bases to cover before we can all truly say we are living in a complete liberal utopia.

After reading ‘’The Gettysburg Address’’ by Abraham Lincoln and ‘’Inaugural Address’’ By John F. Kennedy. I recognized that both former President Abraham Lincoln and John F Kennedy shared major effects in history. President Abraham Lincoln was the sixteen president the one who led the Union to victory in the American Civil war. While John F. Kennedy was best known for concerning relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba and taking the  U.S. economy out of recession through his reforms. However, both formal presidents held a major beneficial impact in American history for various different reasons, both also shared similar ideas. Both formal presidents believed in having equality within the people. In “The Gettysburg Address” president Abraham Lincoln emphasizes the importance of everyone gathering up together to show respect for those who fought on the battlefield. He states how “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain” meaning it was the right thing to do to come together to show respect for those who lost their lives and so it won’t go unnoticed upon the living. John F. Kennedy as well believed equality within the people because ‘’he supported policies promoting racial equality, aid to the poor and to education, and increased availability of medical care;” as well emphasizing in his speech that “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” meaning he will do anything so everyone can free within society from oppressive restrictions. 

After pointing out Lincoln and John F. Kennedy’s similar ideas for equality, the United States has yet to solve these problems. We continue to fight against racial injustice and many more issues that divided us and take away our freedom and liberty. We are part of a movement called Black Lives Matter because of racial injustices within the political system.

President Lincoln and President Kennedy both gave their speeches to motivate the American people to work for the better. President Lincoln believed the United States should no longer live in a division as of the North and South. After the Emancipation of slaves across the country, Lincoln urged citizens to move forward and honor the lives lost during the Battle at Gettysburg and Civil War in general. He said to avoid the lives lost being done in vain, we should work to continue what had been started; which I assume to be the equality of all people. On the other hand, President Kennedy’s inaugural address goes into mentioning his plans for world peace. Instead of targeting one group, as Lincoln had, he addresses that all people and cultures alike work to maintain liberty. He goes into detail of the United States working to restart relationships with countries who may consider them an adversary. He also states that if we cannot help those who are poor by sustaining liberty, we would at least protect those who are rich. Both Presidents spoke at very sensitive points in the US’ history. In a way, we had never completely solved these issues involving both racial equality or world peace. As of world peace, we continue to be in a battle with other countries or regions which thirst for world power. In doing so, people are killed and taken away from their families. This is a negative outcome on both ends. There is also the fact of different beliefs that cause people and regions to be at war. When it comes to racial equality, there also never seemed to be a time of completion. Beyond Lincolns’ speech came the introduction of Jim Crow laws to modern-day racial inequality in the workplace. Despite such instances, people of different races had slowly but gradually acquired their place in society. Especially in today’s climate, people are now being more exposed to the hardships of non-white racial groups. Although each group faces their hardships, they each also face their conflicts under the foot of society. As society moves forward with more movements such as “Black Lives Matter” erupting, there is the possibility of better points of history showing progression.

While reading “The Gettysburg Address” written by Abraham Lincoln and the “Inaugural Address” from John F Kennedy, we see how even though the subject of their speeches were different, they still had the same concept. Both president Lincoln and President Kennedy wanted the American people to see each other as one. To have freedom and equality for all. The problem that Lincoln thought the United States should solve was to work together and not let the people that fought for us die in vain. In “The Gettysburg Address,” he states, “we here highly resolve that those dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.” This was the start of something new, the start to give every American person the freedom that she/he deserved. Kennedy wanted to solve the issues of tyranny, diseases, poverty, and war. He stated, “Now the trumpet summons us-again not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need- not as a call to battle, though embattled we are- but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation”- a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.” President Kennedy wanted to fix the issues America had. He wanted to make it a better place. 

Sadly the United States is still dealing with the issues both presidents wanted to put a stop to. There’s still racism, inequality, poverty, and diseases, but we have been taking some steps to make it better and put an end to it once and for all. 

  The remarks of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and John F Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, are quite similar thematically. While the speeches differer in circumstance, they are both similar in their intent to bring together an intensely divided nation. During Lincoln’s address he states “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth”. This shows that Lincoln’s purpose for delivering his address was in order to bring unity to people who were in need of an implementation of freedoms that some had fought and lost their lives for. Lincoln establishes that there will be a long road ahead, but he asks for togetherness throughout the rough times so that the people who have given their lives to the cause didn’t do so in vain. In Kennedy’s address he says, “We observe today not a victory of a party but a celebration of freedom-symbolizing an end as well as a beginning- signifying renewal as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago”. With these words, Kennedy makes reference to the same thing that was fought for so long ago, freedom. Freedom and change were the exact things that Lincoln, long before Kennedy, addressed in his speech. Kennedy also mentions that his victory is not “of a party”, showing that much like Lincoln, he faced the challenge of bringing a divided nation together as one. Thematically, both speeches are similar as they both served to usher in a new era of change and liberty, while bridging the gaps between a nation consisting of separate ideals. The two addresses differ in the circumstance they were presented in. Lincoln addressed a post civil war crowd who were in mourning over the deaths of many Union soldiers that gave their lives in order to protect everything the United States stood for. Kennedy on the other hand, was presenting to a crowd awaiting the address of their new president, some happy, others disappointed.

In both cases it’s evident that the two presidents believe that the freedoms of their people have been severely limited. Specifically, the freedoms of minorities were not equal to the freedoms of white Americans. Progress has certainly been made since the time of Lincoln and Kennedy, but not enough progress. Racial inequality still permeates every aspect of America like smoke lingering after a fire. In fact, looking at our current presidential administration it appears that since Kennedy we have gotten worse in how our president addresses these issues. However, the public has gotten better with addressing these issues, with the rise of social media people are able to publicly express themselves as they please and as seen recently, an increasing amount of people are using their platforms to speak up. Now that at a grassroots level people can make public statements denouncing racism you could say we’ve improved upon these issues, however, looking at the people we’re supposed to be able to turn to in unjust times it also seems like we’ve taken several steps backwards.

The relationship between literature and freedom that the narrative suggests is that they both go hand in hand, It served as a form of escapism to Malcolm from his current situation. While incarcerated he decided to take it upon himself to learn how to read, with all his free time available Malcolm’s curiosity blossomed. He started by learning words individually through the dictionary, he began writing the words down and constantly repeating back to himself until he grasped the meaning completely. Slowly, Malcolm was making progress and once he realized the tool that literature could give him he felt a sense of awakening from all he’s ever known. As Malcolm claims “I knew there in prison that reading had changed my forever the course of my life” as he began to absorb knowledge it was almost as he had been liberated from his years of ignorance as what he learned everyday could be applied to his own life and even guide him as a black man through the obstacles set in place for a black person. Malcolm describes it as “ with every additional book that I read, a little more sensitivity to the deafness…that was affecting the black race in America.” That’s why despite the irony of being locked up in a cell with no connection to the outside world his only glimpse of the real world was literature. It had offered Malcolm all those years of education he had missed out on becoming  a sponge of knowledge because of it, something that couldn’t be taken away from him despite losing his freedom.

Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy Addresses are both similar. In Lincoln’s address, he mentions how we should come together and honor the Union Soldiers for sacrificing their lives in the Civil War. The Gettysburg Address, states, “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.”. Lincoln wants people to improve the nation and fight for what is right. In Kennedy’s address, he talks about how people need to come together to help others and become a peaceful and powerful nation. For example, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country”. We can see that Kennedy believes that for us to become an exceeding nation, we as people need to help others and fight for our rights. We can see how Lincoln and Kennedy both believe that The United States’ major issue is, the nation isn’t strong enough. They express that to become a powerful nation and honor those who fought for this country, we need to come together and help one another.

In my opinion, the United States has still not solved these issues. Many people continue to experience discrimination and racism towards there skin color. Instead of the Country becoming united, we are divided and fighting each other. John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln wanted people to help one another. For our nation to unite, we need to educate ourselves. We need to learn how we can help others and make them feel included. How we can all come together and make our country powerful and peaceful.

After reading Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” and John F. Kennedy’s “Inaugural Address” We can see that the two presidents are talking about the United States in their respective times and facing different problems but with only one goal, which is to make all people are treated equal. President Lincoln makes it clear in his speech that people must put aside their differences and focus on coming together so that the lives of those who died on the battlefield are not lost in vain. Lincoln says: “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Here we can see how Lincoln exercises his role as president of the nation but putting himself in a secondary role as a leader who works with and for the nation.

On the other hand, John F. Kennedy uses this opportunity to send a message and make it clear that he will do whatever it takes to ensure the success of the nation in the future and guarantee the freedom of citizens. Kennedy says: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” He also expresses his dissatisfaction with the poverty that exists in the country and sends a message of the union to the Republicans so that they can work together for a better nation.

Comparing the speeches it is clearly seen that the two presidents express their dissatisfaction with the current situation of the country and speak about a union between the opposing parties for the progress of the country and especially where the two agree is that they will do whatever it takes to maintain and ensure the freedom of all citizens of the nation. I currently believe that the United States has not solved these problems. After a long time, the country continues to have differences between them. the black lives matters movement is just one of the many problems the country has to face. Although the United States has changed a lot from 1863 to today, there are some problems that continue to recur and should have been solved long ago.

Upon reading both Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” and John F. Kennedy’s “inaugural Address” you cannot help it but to see the similarities and differences in both of them. In Abraham Lincoln’s address he spoke about their engagement and preparation in a civil war ” Now we are engaged in a great civil war , testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and dedicated, can long endure”. He also spoke about how those who lost their lives to fight for the nation will always be remembered and may rest in peace ” We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that the nation might live”. This was for all the struggles they all went through in order to win that battle which many brave men lost their lives in the process due to their dedication and love for the nation. Whereby John Kennedy spoke about poverty “For human holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. Even though their speech is different it stills shows the different incidence that took place in their time of live. For Lincoln he gave this address after the civil war that took place in Gettysburg while Kennedy spoke during his inauguration which was during the times of their hard living. Although they gave their all to fight in the solving of the nations problems I still believe that it has not been completely solved since there is still a high rate in poverty where people even sleep on the streets, train stations and a whole lot of unkept places, there is still a war going on in the nation although it might not be between nations but its between blacks and whites since there is still a whole lot of racial abuse in the nation. All these problems need to be solved in order to continue the legacies or Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy for the whole nation to be at peace.