"The Gettysburg Address" by Abraham Lincoln

Question

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” April 16, 1963. The Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr.

What is one difference between the two passages?

King’s tone is formal while Lincoln’s is more conversational.

King believes some tension is necessary, while Lincoln calls for unity.

Lincoln responds to his critics, while King lists the concerns he has for unifying the country.

Lincoln believes some tension is necessary, while King calls for unity.

Answer 1

The correct difference between the two passages is:

King believes some tension is necessary, while Lincoln calls for unity.

In "The Gettysburg Address," Lincoln emphasizes the importance of national unity and healing after the Civil War, calling for a "new birth of freedom." In contrast, in "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," King argues that tension and peaceful protest are necessary to bring about social change and justice, as he believes that nonviolent conflict is essential in the struggle against injustice.