In Abraham Lincoln’s first speech to the nation upon taking office, he addresses the crisis over southern states’ secession. Immediately after Lincoln’s election, South Carolina initiated proceedings to secede, and six more states soon followed suit. In the weeks leading up to his inauguration, Lincoln took a long tour through the states as president-elect, during which trip his life was threatened at several points by assassination attempts. He had to travel in disguise for much of the journey. In this tense atmosphere, Lincoln delivered this address to invite the Southern states to reconcile while warning that he would take steps to protect the Union if they took any aggressive action. Lincoln argues that secession is unwise and undemocratic, calling it “the essence of anarchy.” The speech ends with an appeal to act with calm deliberation and heed “the better angels of our nature.”