Rhetorical Analysis Of Abraham Lincoln's Second Moral Address

Alongside the religious allusions, Lincoln uses a non-accusatory tone towards both sides of the battle in an attempt to not assign blame, and to keep the audience engaged and open to what he was saying. He says, “Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish.” He is careful to not call out the North, or the South. He also refers to the members of the other

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.

In Thomas J. DiLorenzo’s book, The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War, he reveals the truth about Abraham Lincoln and attempts to get rid of the myths that many have told. He reveals the agenda of Lincoln and the real purpose behind the Civil War. One question that some have is why did it take a war to end slavery? In the book it is stated that, “dozens of countries… ended slavery peacefully during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries”(x). Many argue the fact that Lincoln was against slavery but in DiLorenzo’s book he argues that Lincoln was very much supportive of slavery (x). DiLorenzo explains the real agenda behind Abraham Lincoln and what he stood for.

Lincoln lead the nations out of the most terrible crisis. The Civil War was more bitter and protracted than anyone had predicted. The war costed more than 600,000 lives, and doubled the amount of widows, and orphans. In Lincoln’s second inaugural address, which was delivered just over a month before his death, he spoke about the war, as he had just come to understand it. Lincoln spoke about the reconstruction of the war, he then made a promise that is still promised

As one of the most pivotal moments in American history, Abraham Lincoln initiating the civil war has far reaching consequences. However, as important as these consequences are the reasons for fighting the war; and the persistence/heart to endure the war. I believe that Lincoln started the war with the intentions of preserving the union, but as the war went on a new reason came to be -- ending slavery.

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.

While he might have pointed a heavier finger towards the South, he reminded the audience that “all dreaded it, [and] all sought to avert it.” The country couldn’t be united if the population was constantly blaming each other. He emphasized that while the whole country might have been at fault, the cause was “localized in the southern part.” What started as a disagreement between two parts of a country turned into the bloodiest war fought in the young country’s history. “Neither party expected… the magnitude” of the war, and “neither anticipated that the cause” (which was slavery) would end “before the conflict… should cease.” Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation before the end of the Civil War, so the main cause of the war was essentially concluded before the war itself was concluded. So, in conclusion, he managed to unite the country even further by acknowledging that both the North and the South held part of the blame of the

Seminar 5.3 includes Lincoln’s point of view of the cause for the war, the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address which described the reasons war took place and letters from two generals and their varying point of views. Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, published an open letter to Lincoln about not mentioning the emancipation of slavery during the start of the war. Lincoln replies by saying that he is trying to unify the nation as quickly as possible under the constitution. Lincoln doesn’t agree with the people that thinks abolishing slavery as a whole isn’t necessary for saving the nation. Lincoln states that if he could, he would avoid abolishing slavery but he feels that it is utterly necessary in order to save the nation. He will always do what is best for the United States and will do less of whatever hurts the nation and do more of whatever helps the nation. In Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, he refers to how just eighty years ago our forefathers brought forth a new nation and declared that all men were created equal. Yet, eighty years later, the nation is divided into two and are engaged into a deep civil war. We shall never forget the brave men that has fought so bravely for the unification of our nation and that we are obliged to finish the “unfinished work” so that the brave men who died during the war will not have died in vain and this nation will have a “new birth of freedom” with a government “of the people, by the

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.

During the time in which Lincoln’s powerful speech was brought forth, on the day of Monday, March 4, 1861, the 16th president of the United States was under extreme duress to deliver an eloquent and potent speech that could amalgamate the pugnacious North and South who were on the abominable verge of war due in large part to slavery. In addition to this, Lincoln’s speech was given at one of the most controversial times in the history of the United States, in which the country was destined to break apart and secede in light of the vile aspects of slavery. The Southern states, which relied heavily on slavery, asserted that the abolishment of slavery would have a monumental impact on the economic welfare of the their economy and in turn would lead to unemployment and create havoc amongst

The freedom of America’s slaves has always been accredited to Abraham Lincoln, but he was not always the complete abolitionist as he is commonly portrayed. The “house divided”, as Lincoln depicts it in his famous ‘House Divided’ speech, of the United States during the Civil War, was not always lead towards the freedom of all mankind, and there is sufficient evidence to support this claim. The sixteenth president is most commonly remembered for inducing the courage and determination to end the Civil War, with the Emancipation Proclamation, although when it more closely studied he did not cross the great divide of enslavement vs. freedom with the submittal of that fabled document. When following the many famous quotes and speeches of Lincoln’s life, it appears that he was against all slavery and bondage. Although when they are more closely examined, the quotes and speeches actually leaned towards his lack of strong opinion on the outcome of slavery. Lincoln is perceived as the most famous revolutionary of American history, but he does not live up to his legacy of being the eradicator of forced servitude.

Abraham Lincoln had his first inaugural address on March 4, 1861. This was directed to a specific audience. He had an important message to send to this audience. Not only did have an important message but Lincoln had an interesting way of delivering this message. In doing so he did not choose an effective rhetorical strategy. There are many reasons to why it was not effective.

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United State. In Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural speech, civil rights was the main concept in which he reminded the United States about its Civil War as a bloodiest war and political crisis. As a result, he wanted to end the slavery, strengthened the federal government, and improving the economy. As the time Lincoln gave his speech, he expressed his anguish about the sacrifice and frustrations of slave. He stated that same as sin slavery also caused the war, and Northerners were also committed to this war so they also have to be

Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address was very different from his first one, making it the most profound political statement in American History. While 1865 was the last year of the Civil War, Lincoln still had to console the public how the reconstruction of a slave free nation would take place moving forward. But the war had been long and arduous, and the lives lost would not be forgotten easily by both sides. So the best way to address then was to keep the speech selfless and expressive in a few sentences.