Running head: Lincoln & King 1

Lincoln & King

Madison Alba

Brandman University
Lincoln & King 2

Lincoln & King

Abraham Lincoln led the nation through the American Civil War and Martin Luther King

Jr. is the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement. These two men

contain a great deal of similarities and fought for the same cause. Both men are eloquent and

skilled speech makers. You can clearly see that continuously through Abraham Lincoln's second

inaugural speech and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham jail. Even though they

are dated at different times and places, one in a jail cell facing a loss and the other at a podium

accepting a win. There is no denying that these two brave and headstrong men knew what

needed to be done and knew it needed to be said.

One connection that is clear within the two, is their determination and fight for what is

right. Even though coming off a win Abraham Lincoln, does not take this chance to stand back

and celebrate. No, he took it as an opportunity to let everyone know it is not over. This reelection

was continuing in the right direction but is nowhere near the end. In the same essence although

just being in a fight himself, sitting in a jail cell, Martin Luther King Jr. still has the resilience

and indefatigable sense of purpose to write this heartfelt letter to his fellow men. Clearly stating

that more needs to be done to stop this inhumane repression of African Americans. Of course,

committed to keeping it nonviolent.

Another link in the two writings was their reference to God and religion. Which has a

great impact because at that time many were deeply religious and led by their faith. Lincoln who

is known for not being a big believer in faith, references god and quotes from the bible. The

purpose is to tap into people's deepest beliefs and most people believed heavily into their faith

especially Christianity back then. He used it more as a question of faith the people had and if it

were what their god would want from them. For instance, when he states “Both read the same
Lincoln & King 3

Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other.”(Lincoln, 2020) He

seen the war as an unfathomable barbarous that had already lasted way too long, he believed “it

was nothing short of God’s own punishment for the sins of human slavery.”(Lincoln, 2020) King

on the other hand, references God frequently in his letter. King was a Baptist minister, so he

relied heavily on his faith and utilized that to get his message across. He quoted the bible

numerous times and believed Jesus was guiding him to the promised land of freedom. "Letter

from Birmingham Jail" was written to a group of clergymen as well as a country strong in their

religious beliefs, so he knew exactly which biblical words to use and how to use them for people

to grasp the significance of what was occurring at that time.

The biggest similarity and the intended purpose of both of their writings was the change

of inequality. This is the most important link is their conquest to have all American citizens be

given the right of freedom. Lincoln has always stood headfast on no person is worthless or worth

more than another. No one should be the slave of another. Everyone should be able to walk free.

Lincoln began the fight and during his inauguration he wanted men not to be judged by the color

of their skin. That is the exact reason that prompted King to Birmingham in the first place. “King

went to communicate for direct actions for freedom of the African Americans from segregation

and white oppression. Police brutality had risen, attacks to their homes, and a surge of church

fires had occurred.” (Momodu, 2016) King could not and would not stand by and do nothing.

Which is King's reason for going to Birmingham in the first place. It is the reason he was sitting

in that jailhouse writing that letter to those “eight clergymen that asked the Rev. Martin Luther

King Jr. to delay civil rights demonstrations in Birmingham” (Garrison, 2013). They both utterly

understood that separation is not the way to go for a united nation and tried to express it through

their writings.
Lincoln & King 4

One thing that separates Lincoln and King is the way they proceed to fix the problems

they feel so strongly about. Lincoln used a persuasive language calling upon the American

people to put an end to segregation. He thought the people should have the choice and make the

honorable and righteous decision. He believed his speech could provoke a wanting of change and

did not want to do anything rash, there had been enough lives lost. King was a strong advocate of

direct action. He believed in inciting the public into holding boycotts and sit-ins. King was in jail

for leading people into direct but peaceful actions. Not only did he talk the talk, but he walked

the walk. He did this for the much needed push for dialogue pertaining to the harsh injustice

happening in those times. Unlike Lincoln who found the deaths necessary to open eyes, King

was insistent on not having any blood shed for this indecency. Although he knew if it was not

resolved it might turn bad quickly. As he wrote to the clergymen “If his repressed emotions are

not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence; this is not a threat

but a fact of history” the civil war being a great example.

What stood out most in Lincoln's speech was who he was addressing. He was not just

addressing his supporters of the ones who voted for him. He was speaking to everyone. He made

certain not to put the full blame on just the south. His speech was neither in rejoice or relishing in

his victory. Rather, it allowed Lincoln to express his feelings and explain the reasons why the

war took place. “The "scourge of war," he explained, was best understood as divine punishment

for the sin of slavery, a sin in which all Americans, North as well as South, were complicit”

(Gilder Lehrman, 2020). In King's letter it is not really what he says but in the manner he does so

that stands out. He greatly understood the power of speech. He knew how to speak to his

audience, how to make a meaningful impact. He uses his words to paint a picture of a better

future, by explaining what needs to be done.

Lincoln & King 5

After reading Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s speech Declaration of Sentiments and

Resolutions, there seems to be a similar tone and message to both Lincoln and Kings writings.

Elizabeth Stanton had similar views to both Lincoln and king. She did not only fight for

women’s rights but also for segregation and inequality. No matter their skin color, no matter

their sex, no matter who they love. The whole purpose of this country was to be free, to be

whomever we were, as equals. All three of these brave individuals stuck to their morals and

fought the fight for equality for all. Although “The Declaration of Independence states "all men

are created equal” (National Archives, 2020) it soon was justifiably interpreted to mean all

humans, male and female. So, people like Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., as well as

Elizabeth Cady Stanton deployed those words to demand equality for all, man, woman, and child

of any color. Standing by those words till their dying days.

Lincoln's second inaugural address laid out his plan with the hope of remedying and

mending this once broken nation. From the Birmingham jail, King wrote a letter in which he

spelled out his philosophy of nonviolence to unite all people. Lincoln and King were two

remarkably similar orators who wanted to achieve almost identical goals. Both Lincoln and King

believed in egalitarian society and wanted to end segregation. It is sad to think that after all the

years of struggle Lincoln went through, and the even worse turmoil and unrest King had to deal

with, we are almost back to the beginning. All their hard work flushed away. Our country is in a

deep state of chaos. We should all reiterate the teaching of King and the beliefs of Lincoln to

fight for everyone’s rights in which they deserve to have. They fought hard for equality, now it is

our turn to continue that fight for justice.

Lincoln & King 6

References

Momodu, S. (2016, AUGUST 31). The Birmingham Campaign (1963). Black Past.

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/birmingham-campaign-1963/

Garrison, G. (2013, April 12). Fifty years ago, eight clergy asked the Rev. Martin Luther King

Jr. to delay demonstrations. AL.com. https://www.al.com/living/2013/04/post_108.html

Gilder Lehrman. (2020, May). President Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, 1865. Gilder

Lehrman Institute of American History. https://ap.gilderlehrman.org/resources/president-

incoln%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%84%A2s-second-inaugural-address-

1865#:~:text=Rather%2C%20it%20offered%20Lincoln's%20most,well%20as%20South

%2C%20were%20complicit.&text=Lincoln%2C%E2%80%9D%20Douglass

%20answered%2C%2

King, Martin Luther, Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” The Norton Reader: An Anthology of

Nonfiction, edited by Melissa A. Goldwaite et al., 15th ed., W. W. Norton, 2020, pp. 739-

51.

Lincoln, Abraham. “Second Inaugural Address.” The Norton Reader: An Anthology of

Nonfiction, edited by Melissa A. Goldwaite et al., 15th ed., W. W. Norton, 2020, pp. 734-

35

National Archives. (2020, July 24). Declaration of Independence: A Transcription. National

Archives.

https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-

transcript#:~:text=We%20hold%20these%20truths%20to,and%20the%20pursuit%20of%

20Happiness.
Lincoln & King 7

Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions.” The Norton Reader: An

Anthology of Nonfiction, edited by Melissa A. Goldwaite et al., 15th ed., W. W. Norton,

2020, pp. 708-10.