Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address promised a vast national future only a month before his assassination and the end of the American Civil War. The following is a transcription of his original draft of his remarks--the edits reflect the changes made by Secretary of State William Seward. After the brief but remarkable speech, scroll down to learn more about what Lincoln's vision meant for the war, for the republic, and for emancipation.
The Athen's was the main governing body and they made the decisions including voting on laws, deciding whether to go to war, and determining foreign policy.
