PROMPT: In chapter 14 of your Give Me Liberty (5th ed) textbook, you were given a primary source - Abraham Lincoln's "Address at Sanitary Fair, Baltimore (April 18, 1864)." Using the P.A.P.E.R. system...

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Abraham Lincoln’s speech in 1864 highlighted the different definitions of the term ‘liberty’, as envisaged by Americans. In his speech, he gives two explanations of the term liberty. According to him, the American people presuppose that liberty means doing what pleases oneself because of his or her labour. The second definition is that some people presuppose that they have the authority to do what they please with others. This definition of liberty, according to Lincoln, is wrong. HE states that these actions are wrong and incompatible because they lead to tyranny amongst human beings. These ideas differ from the current era because people know that liberty allows them to be treated equally, have access to jobs, security and make the right decisions. Lincoln’s speech as such, was an eye-opener especially when issues of discrimination, unfair justice and unequal distribution of resources existed. As a result, there was a need to clearly define what liberty means.
On the other hand, Farber (2018) expounds that liberty should be taken as a factor that allows a government, the law and its people to function amicably. It is wrong to empower a few people in society or make them have more rights compared to others. In relation to Lincoln’s Speech, Farber further states that presidents are at times given more power by the constitution yet they do not use the power correctly to stop corruption, illegal detention or manipulation of the economy. A better understanding of Lincoln’s speech uncovers the need to be equal...