Rhetorical Analysis Of Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

As a person who was known for his ability to speak publicly, and communicate comprehensible meanings while inspiring the people of his nation, President John F. Kennedy (JFK) gave his inaugural address on January 20th, 1961 in Washington D.C.. JFK was widely distinguished for his ability to use rhetoric in front of the masses, and in mass media. Like many authors and penman, President Kennedy implemented huge doses of rhetorical strategies in his speech, focusing on the appeals of Aristotle: ethos, logos and pathos. Ethos is used to convince the audience of the author’s credibility, logos is an appeal through the use of logic and reasoning, while pathos is an emotional appeal (Gayle et al). JFK applied all these rhetorical appeals

Weeks of wet weather had occurred before Saturday March 4th, 1865, making Pennsylvania Avenue a thick, muddy place; however, the pounding rain did not stop the spectators from listening to Lincoln give his Second Inaugural Address, given one month before the end of the Civil War. The Civil War was the result of a long standing controversy over slavery. The North and the South did not agree with each other. Slavery in the North had died out to the point where almost all blacks were free. The South on the other hand very few blacks were free. Causing a long lastly disagreement between both sides. When Lincoln gave his speech spectators were expecting a speech on slavery when Lincoln gave a dark gloomy speech that no one saw coming. The Civil War had lasted through his passed presidency and ended five days before his death. United States President Abraham Lincoln surprised his massive audience with a very short speech in which he talked about the effects of the Civil War, and expressed his feelings toward the future of the United States. Lincoln wanted to restore faith in the nation, talking about how the war would end soon, and that the nation was going to reunite. In this short speech Lincoln asserts that the audience knows and is knowledgeable about the war, which shows that the Americans know the war was just by using juxtaposition. Lincoln addresses his opinion towards the war, and makes it clear by utilizing biblical allusion, creating a basis of mutual agreement between the North and the South.

On Saturday March 4th, 1865 president Abraham Lincoln, one month before the end of the Civil War, contemplates the effects of the Civil War and his vision for the future of the nation, through a series of rhetorical analysis rooting in logic. This being President Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Speech, the audience was expecting a lengthy speech on slavery, politics, and state rights. In return, they got a speech rooted in logic. War was “dreaded by all” and both parties “deprecated war.” The south wanted to “make war” instead of letting the “nation survive,” as the North wanted to “accept war” rather than “perish” it.

The Civil War was a period of racial injustice and a time of great loss for the people of America. During Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, he creates a moral framework for peace and reconciliation with the use of many rhetorical strategies. With a sincere but reflective tone, Abraham Lincoln highlights the reality of the troubled nation and the solution to all of the problems, which is unity. Lincoln repeats strong phrases to enhance the theme, references to a holy figure, and creates simple, yet structured ideas to achieve his purpose of reuniting the broken nation.

In the Second Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln addresses the division of the nation and his positive anticipations for the future using pathos as the main rhetorical strategy. In Abraham’s speech, his purpose is to deprive both the North and the South’s appalling issues with one another. The two sides of the nation are distraught, which leads Lincoln to obtain the mind set of mending the broken nation and forming an optimistic future.

On March 4, 1865, Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech to discuss the possible effects of the Civil War and to give advice for the future of America. His tone is neutral because he just wants to inform his audience (of American women, children, slaves, free African-Americans and some men who were not fighting in wars) about the possible outcomes this war will bestow upon them.

An inauguration is a ceremony that marks the commencement of a new term. At this inauguration the President recite his/her inaugural address. Abraham Lincoln during his second Inaugural Address stated his hopes and dreams for America in the upcoming years. To promote the effectiveness of his speech, Lincoln used rhetorical strategies such as formal diction, syntax and Tropes and effects.

In Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address, he mentions that “the better angels of our nature” will soon become prominent again within the Union. The better angels of our nature can be better understood by describing the “angels” as the morals and redeeming qualities that make people human. These “angels” include empathy, compassion, hope, joy, love, and the desire to strive for more. In Christianity, these “angels” could also be related the fruits of the spirit; the characteristics that come from the idea that humans are made in God’s image. These “angels” are what Lincoln hoped for in 1861, and what America today can use to find hope in a sin infested world. The election of 2016 of President-Elect Donald Trump has stirred up emotions on all spectrums of the political scale. People are overjoyed and depressed over the results, and the reasons very from foreign policy to reproductive rights. Some would argue that the results have led them to believe that there is no hope left in this country, while others would argue that President-Elect Trump will bring about the new hope the country has been searching for over the past 8 years. No matter how right or left people may lean politically, there are some signs in the United States of America that hope is still alive and well; there might just have to be some sifting through limitations to be able to see this hope.

As president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, in his second inauguration speech, surprises his audience by not giving a large oration attacking the southernors; instead, he gives a brief address to the American people on how the U.S. as a whole need to unite with freedom and equality to all, but he also gives a subtle hint that if they don’t, the north will not stop fighting for this freedom. In order to get this point across, Lincoln uses juxtaposition throughout, shifts in both tone and claim, and many forms of pathos and ethos.

Imagine working on a cotton farm day in, day out. You have no way of knowing when this constant brutal work will stop. The next day you wake up to the sound of gunshots and cannons. Startled as you gather your little possessions, you look outside and see all your owners shot dead outside the plantation mansion. You see a group of men, one of them calls out to you, “You're free now, but I suggest you come to the North with us if you would like to live. You can also get a job with us and fight for the Union in this Civil war.” Why were the northerners allowed to free slaves from plantations to the south? Lincoln fought all his presidency to pass the 13th amendment. It did not take a few weeks and many people died in the process, but the emancipation

Despite the abruptness of Lincoln’s speech, he quickly and effectively evokes the feeling of a need for unity among the citizens. Through the use of rhetorical devices such as antithesis, anaphora, allusion, and polysyndeton, Lincoln stirs up a feeling of hunger for harmony. As President Lincoln sprouts his speech, he consistently reinforces the subconscious mind of the listeners in order to instil the idea of a single nation.

All these events would cumulate with Lincoln in his second inaugural speech. Lincoln originally came into power to stop the secession of the South. He would later change the goal of the war to end slavery, turning it into a battle of morality. He was a man who was thought to be non-religious, now a man full of spirit in his words. This progression of religiosity is shown in his speech as he talks about God and the country. Declaring that God has given them war due to the offense of slavery and how God has given them the ability to right. When compared to his first inaugural speech it becomes apparent how much more faith Lincoln has put into religion, using it so openly and strongly to deliver his message to the people.

Abraham Lincoln’s speech has brought out some good points on what this country is built on. As stated by Abraham Lincoln this is a country that was founded by our forefathers and it is conceived in liberty. In the speech he mentions the reason to why we as the people should honor what the dead has given us. It is the reason for the people living in this nation would do anything for it. As stated by Lincoln “Our father’s brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedication to the proposition that all men are created equal.

One month prior to the end of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln gave his Second Inaugural Address. He gave a short speech that focused on the the effects of the Civil War and his vision of future for the United States. Lincoln is hoping to bring the nation back together after years of hateful divide. He intends to inspire reunification amongst the northern and southern states. Throughout his speech, Lincoln uses numerous rhetoric devices to persuade the American people. His diction and appeal to Christian values further supports his goal.

Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural addresses as president of the United States in 1861 and 1865 come in the time of a nation that had seen sectionalist thoughts divide the people from the region over the issue of slavery. Abraham Lincoln stated thoughts that remained constant between his two addresses to the nation and a few inconsistent points on the national identity of the United States, the issue of slavery, and the future of a reunified Union. Abraham Lincoln stated multiple time throughout both speeches that the people must continue to preserve the Union and that they “must not be enemies, but friends. “ Lincoln did not just repeat the same speech twice as he has to address the imminent civil war indirectly in one speech and portray the Union