Abraham Lincoln is sworn in for a second term
- When
- 1865
- Where
- East Portico of the United States Capitol; United States Capitol
- Episodes
- 3
Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration occurred on March 4, 1865, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. This event marked the start of his final term and Andrew Johnson's vice presidency. The ceremony featured the first African American participants in an inaugural parade. Lincoln delivered a brief address, while Johnson's performance was widely criticized as a failure.
Episodes
- Second Inauguration Ceremony
Lincoln was sworn in for his second term on March 4, 1865, at the U.S. Capitol, marking the start of his final term.
- Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
Lincoln delivered a brief address reflecting on the war and the Union, noting less need for an extended speech than before.
- Johnson's Vice-Presidential Incident
Andrew Johnson's vice-presidential oath and speech were widely criticized as a disaster and a mortifying fiasco.
Background and detail
Background. The second inauguration took place on Saturday, March 4, 1865, at the East Portico of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. It was the 20th inauguration, commencing Lincoln's second and final term and Andrew Johnson's only term as vice president. This event was notable for being the first to feature African Americans in the inaugural parade.
Inaugural Address. Lincoln delivered a concise address, noting that less occasion existed for an extended speech than during his first term. He reflected on the conflict, mentioning that while the address was devoted to saving the Union, insurgent agents had previously sought to dissolve it. Historians have analyzed themes of collective guilt and prudence in this speech.
Vice-Presidential Incident. Andrew Johnson's vice-presidential oath and speech were considered a disaster by historians. Johnson was ridiculed in the press as a "drunken clown," and his performance is remembered as a mortifying fiasco. This incident served as an unfortunate prelude to Lincoln's memorable second inaugural address.
People involved
- Abraham Lincoln · President
- Andrew Johnson · Vice President
- John Wilkes Booth · Attendee
Sources
- Second inauguration of Abraham Lincoln Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-01
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.