Rhetorical Analysis Of Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

In his Second Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln provided one of the most memorable speeches in history that affected the way American citizens saw the war. The March 4th speech in 1865 gave more people hope for the country and allowed them to trust that God will help them through the Civil War. The people trusted Lincoln to help them through the situation because he had already served his first term as president, and the people knew he was trustworthy, so they re-elected him. Lincoln professionally used rhetorical appeals such as ethos pathos and logos to press his audience to agree, as well as tone to show his audience how importantly they should be taking the subject. Abraham’s Second Inaugural Address was an introduction to his plan for the United States for the next years he would be president, and much of it was a discussion about the Civil War and how they would bring it to an end.

Four and a half months after the Union defeated the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. He gave the Union soldiers a new perspective on the war and something to fight for. Before the address, the Civil War was based solely on states’ rights. Lincoln’s speech has the essence of America and the ideals that were put into the Declaration of Independence by the founders. The sixteenth president of the United States was capable of using his speech to turn a war on states rights to a war on slavery and upholding the principles that America was founded upon. By turning the Civil War into a war that was about slavery he was able to ensure that no foreign

“Neither anticipated” the “conflict” it would cause. Lincoln is contemplating the results that this war will have, at this point he looks at is as now we must put war into the hands of the “almighty.” If “American slavery” is a “providence of God” then we must cease to accept it. Lincoln expresses that God gave both “North and South this terrible war.” Then goes on to logically explaining that the country is a “bondsman” and has an abundance of debt that must be “paid.” The war will not be over until every drop of “blood” has been “drawn” with the “lash” that shall be “paid.” God will not grant this war to be over until a price has been paid. Lincoln explains that the judgements of the “Lord are true” and “righteous” altogether. Lincoln conveys that the outcome of war is now in God’s hands.

A war in which bloodshed took place between brothers, friends, and neighbors had luckily come to an end in 1865. Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address occurred on May 4, 1865. In his speech, he talks about how the effects of the war will eventually fade away along with the issue of slavery. Lincoln’s speech uses rhetorical devices such as tone, diction, and imagery to create and emphasize his purpose to unite the divided country. The use of these rhetorical devices allows Lincoln to achieve the purpose of his speech, which is to reunite the nation - one nation under God.

We will be concerned with whether Abraham Lincoln succeeded in remaining indifferent and nonpartisan towards the South in his 2nd Inaugural Address. In what is considered one of the most distinguished Presidential commencement speeches on record, as well as the shortest in length at approximately 700 words, the "Great Emancipator" understood the Herculean task ahead of him in unifying the bisected country. By illustrating how slavery was the predominant cause of hostility that halved a nation, Lincoln expresses his eagerness for tranquility while heavily referencing the role of God in the Union's endeavor to create a more perfect republic. In seeking to ensure that the Confederate States would be welcomed back to the Union amiably, I will

Lincoln tried in several ways to reassure the Southerners about his intentions in his inaugural address. Since some of the Southern states were stirring away from the Union, Lincoln knew he had to do something to try and change the Southerners minds. Also, Lincoln needed to be sure that the Southern states that were in the union, stayed. In order to make sure that the Southern states that were in the union stayed, Lincoln said that there would be no bloodshed or fighting, and that he was not going to attack them. Lincoln also reassured the South by saying that if there was ever a war, it wouldn’t have been his fault and that someone else would have to have started it. Lastly, Lincoln promised the South that if they didn’t leave the union,

The United States, often referred to as a “melting pot,” is known for its extensive cultures. This paramount aspect of the Unites States makes it so unique yet it also happens to be the center of its many conflicts. America, although seemingly doubtful due to the vast amount of cultures and people, has been able to withstand conflicts and adversities because Americans have been able to learn from the country’s past and find a way to use their differences to come together.

In President Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, he speaks to the crowds gathered before him to discuss his view on the standing of the nation during final months the Civil War. With his speech, Lincoln intends to fully explain his view of the future. More specifically, a future that consists of the Union and the Confederacy existing as a united front after the war’s end. Through his speech he intends to have both Northerners and Southerners buy into his dream of the unified future. Understanding that each group would respond to different appeals, Lincoln knew that he would have to use a number of approaches to convince each group in his audience to agree with his message. To enrapture the hearts and minds of each in totality, Lincoln made sure that his words appealed to the public’s emotional and logical senses in full.

Abraham Lincoln was perhaps one of the most courageous President in the United States to put in a great effort to binding the North and the South together as a whole. The issue of slavery has been ongoing since the beginning of time, and it came into effect in 1865 when the nation was split into two due to opposing opinions on slavery. As the United States is buried deep in the hot mess of the Civil War, on March 4, 1865, Lincoln delivers his powerful Second Inaugural Address which ultimately had the nation on its toes. Instead of giving a speech on politics, slavery, and states’ rights, he explains the effects of the Civil War and presents his vision for the future of the nation. By utilizing his persona as a veteran President, he appeals

In “Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address,” President Abraham Lincoln communicates to the citizens of America and members of Congress to share his vision for the nation’s future after the Civil War. People were searching for a leader to reassure them from the mass destruction and separation they were experiencing. Lincoln won his audience over by establishing his credibility, certifying a commonplace, and providing strong diction throughout his speech.

Four and a half months after the Union defeated the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. He gave the Union soldiers a new perspective on the war and a reason to fight in the Civil War. Before the address, the Civil War was based on states’ rights. Lincoln’s speech has the essence of America and the ideals that were instilled in the Declaration of Independence by the Founders. The sixteenth president of the United States was capable of using his speech to turn a war on states’ rights to a war on slavery and upholding the principles that America was founded upon. By turning the Civil War into a war about slavery he effortlessly ensured that no foreign country would

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.

He states how both, the North and South, “read the same Bible and pray to the same God,” and neither the North nor South expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it attained. Lincoln also maintains an optimistic tone throughout the speech and invokes unity with his parallel structured sentences.

Delivered on March 4, 1861, Abraham Lincoln restated his promise not to interfere with the institution of slavery in the United States and confirmed the rights of the states to order and determine their own institutions, while doing otherwise would breach the U.S. Constitution. Slave owners of the south were becoming restless with the possibility of the north demolishing the institution of slavery, therefore threatening to secede from the Union. Lincoln’s purpose is to obviously stay neutral between the two extremes of the north and southerners by voicing to them their rights and leaving the decision of civil war entirely in their hands. Throughout his speech Lincoln utilized multiple rhetorical strategies, a couple of those being allusion

“Four score and seven years ago…” the first six words of the famous speech given by Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863. Considering the brevity and simplicity of the speech, this powerful masterpiece has impacted citizens of the United States for generations. By further analysis, I have found a few tricks that give this piece its’ powerful punch. I propose the wise use of timing, emotion and rhetorical devices used in his speech all contributed to creating this legendary dialogue. First, the speeches effectiveness was due to the poignant timing he chose to deliver his plea to the people. Second, the words he chose to elicit emotion in the nation and to act upon those emotions. Finally, the rhetorical devices he chose within in his speech to ignite the nation to continue to fight for freedom and equality.