Rhetorical Analysis of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Speech Essay example

The Narrative of The Life of Frederick Douglass and Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address are different, as Douglass uses irony, a strong appeal to pathos, and a generalization of his experience, while Lincoln uses religious allusions to unify, non accusatory diction, as to not assign blame for the war, and a generally optimistic tone to unify the country and look towards the future. They are similar as they both appeal to ethos to establish their own credibility, and pathos appeal to certain emotions.

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.

Lincoln’s optimistic tone attempts to persuade the audience into forgiving the South and making peace. For instance, Lincoln says, “to bind up the nation’s wounds,”, a bright and encouraging quote for the country’s future. By referring to the Union and Confederacy as a one entity, it depicts them as a single united country. What Lincoln also suggests is that the Civil War is not fatal and that the

Also a key point in increasing his integrity, are the Biblical allusions found throughout his speech. One major example is when he says “... to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle for his widow and his orphan…” (73-75) and by saying “Yet if God wills that it continue…” (63). This allusion to the Bible allows Lincoln to establish to the audience that he and the audience are alike in the important ways and that everything is done by God’s will. Another example of the Biblical Allusions are when Lincoln reminds the audience “The Almighty has His own purposes” (49-50). This shows that the audience and Lincoln are both under the same “Almighty” and are just following his given path. The Bible was seen as an important guideline to the way of life. By bringing in the Biblical allusions, Lincoln is trying to make the audience aware that he is following the rules. This makes the audience trust him more and develops the image of a leader in the audience’s eyes.

In Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, he addresses the nation. At the end of the Civil War, both the North and South still had issues with each other. Lincoln’s speech calls both the North and South to put their problems aside that’s preventing them from getting along. In this speech, Lincoln uses tone, diction, and syntax to help reach the purpose of the speech. Lincoln’s tone encourages the Americans to finish the Civil War and the progress as becoming a nation.

Lincoln’s optimistic tone encourages all Americans to put behind them the Civil War and progress forward as a united nation once more. President Lincoln calls to action all the peoples of America with sentences such as, “let us strive on to finish the work we are in” and

Lincoln’s optimistic tone attempts to persuade the audience into forgiving the South and making peace. For instance, Lincoln says, “to bind up the nation’s wounds,”, a bright and encouraging quote for the country’s future. By referring to the Union and Confederacy as a one entity, it depicts them as a single united country. What Lincoln also suggests is that the Civil

In his speech, Lincoln used a passionate and inclusive tone to give the impression that they were all equal and were at risk of losing the same things. This could inspire a feeling of unity between Lincoln and the audience. “…devoted altogether to saving the Union…” (paragraph 2). In this statement, Lincoln used both diction and sentence structure to impact his audience. He used emotionally charged words such as “devoted” and “saving” to express a sense of passion. He also used long sentences that would reiterate similar ideas to help get his point across. “…to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan…” (paragraph 4). In this part of his address, Lincoln uses imagery, facts, and

On March 4, 1865, the newly re-elected President, Abraham Lincoln, delivered his Second Inaugural Speech to the American people, just days before the end of the American Civil War. In a somewhat somber but also optimistic tone, Lincoln explained the impending end of the war and the quest for unity that will take place afterward. Throughout his brief speech, Lincoln uses a variety of rhetorical strategies to effectively support his purpose of mending the fractured country.

In Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, He talks about the Civil War America was facing at the time. In his speech, his exaggerative diction, allusions to the Bible, and appeals to emotion helped strengthen and portray his point of view.

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.

President Abraham Lincoln orated a powerful persuasive speech in his Second Inaugural Address, just one month before the end of the Civil War. This speech shed light to his contemplation of the effects of the Civil War and provided his vision for the future of the nation. Lincoln’s address was written through a logical theme that focused on the unity of the country. He used religion, specific diction, and flat-out logical thinking to convey his message. The speech was given as the Civil War was ending, and President Lincoln wanted to provide a bit of light in a very dark time. He could have given the lengthy speech that the audience expected; but instead, he gave a short message of unity that fueled the United States for years to come.

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 his second inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln spoke to the American audience with an intent of uniting the broken country in the near future due to the nearing end of the Civil War. Lincoln achieves this by employing allusions to christianity, parallel structure and powerful diction, with an emphasis on bolstering his standing in terms of leadership. Lincoln uses quotes, allusions and references to god in a way to increase the emotional strength of his argument. For instance, he uses a quote “‘Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh,’” a direct quote from the bible.