The Civil War Essay

United States president, Abraham Lincoln, in his speech, “Second Inaugural Address” (March 4, 1865), addresses the conflict of the civil war. Lincoln believes that the war begun due to slavery and that it does not have to conquered by fighting fire with fire. He supports his claim by first addressing the opposing views of the war. He then states how both sides searched for a way around the conflict. Finally he speaks about what proposes shall be done during that time of war. His purpose is to address the conflict that risen and caused the civil war, how it will be dealt with and inform the citizens of the United States of his proposition. He adopts a solemn tone as he portrays his message throughout the majority of the passage and transitions into a more shocked tone as he speaks of how other are dealing with the ordeal as if to say, “Can you believe the way we’re behaving?”

Lincoln chooses to make certain religious allusions in his speech, in an attempt to unify the divided country around a common central concept: religion. Lincoln makes such references to religion to confirm others beliefs, and assure them that God stands with them, even in such a difficult time. To show sympathy towards African Americans, and to unify them with the others in the country, Lincoln states, “Both read the same bible, and both pray to the same God.”

To begin with ethos, president Lincoln starts his speech by referring to the Founding Fathers, which helps him gain the listeners’ attention and to establish his credibility. He then mentions the basic principles on which the American nation was founded, that is liberty and equality, which also adds to his credibility. The president knows that many of his listeners lost the loved ones in the battle and that the majority wants the war to end, so he clarifies his motive for ending the war and states: “the brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract”. Those men died fighting for the

The end of the battles of the Civil War introduced a period which was set to restore and reconstruct the United States of America. President Abraham Lincoln had plans to reconcile the nation in a peaceful manner. Lincoln’s goal was to reestablish the nation in a way that would not reproach either the north or south. In his second inaugural speech following the end of the Civil War, Lincoln’s statement “Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes his aid against the other” (Abraham Lincoln, Blackboard, p. 269) points out the shared

In addition, Lincoln appeals to the emotions of the audience when he says, “The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully” (48-49). He is presenting the realization that no one is technically getting what they truly desired in the first place. Also Lincoln indicates the surprising effects of War

By the time Lincoln delivered his 2nd Inaugural Address in 1865 he had come to the realization that perhaps God did have a stronger role in the Civil War. After the death of his son he had started to re-evaluate God’s role in the war and wanted to know what everybody was also asking which was What was God’s will in the crisis. Each side, the North and South, believed in the same God and read the same Bible, but yet were not on the same page when it came to slavery. Each believed that God was on their side and that slavery was right or that slavery was a sin. The emancipation was a religious moment because it was as if a “new heaven and a new Earth” was created, many saw it as a new beginning although it only freed slaves in the South and racism

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.

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.

When President Lincoln first called for troops to put down the confederate rebellion, he made no connection between this action and an attempt to end slavery. In fact, he explicitly stated "the utmost care will be observed to avoid any devastation, any destruction of, or interference with, property..." At this point, slavery was not yet integral to the struggle, it was much more important for the Union to air on the side of political prudence and avoid angering loyal boarder states. However, despite this lack of political dialogue, many abolitionists, slaves, and free blacks felt the war to preserve the union could also be a war to end slavery. In the end, they were right, as military need overwhelmed potential political dangers, slaves

In Lincoln’s “Second Inaugural Address”, he promotes his credibility as a way to cajole the audience. Beginning his address, he states “Fellow-Countrymen” (ln 1) invoking the feeling that he is also of their status; however, he contradicts himself by availing, “I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all” (ln 13), he exerts himself as a higher being by saying, “I trust” because if he, the President of the United States of America, believes that the country is making progress because of this war, then the audience will then too assume that the country is making progress with this war. In the second paragraph, he once again includes himself in the audience by addressing his conjectures on the war. “All dreaded it, all sought to avert it” (ln 18-19). By utilizing “all”, Lincoln enhances his point of view in which he makes the audience believe he has the same power as the general population and can do nothing more than what is currently being done. In the third paragraph, he applies biblical relations to improve his credibility in the eyes of the audience, “Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invoked His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any man should dare ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged.” (ln 42-48), he adds on by saying, “‘the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.’” (ln 68-69). This appeals to both sides of the audience. The South relies heavily on their beliefs, faith, and religion and the North

“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.

The Civil War was a trying time in American History; societies crumbled, lives were lost, and a nation was torn apart in order to be made whole. However, was this conflict inevitable? Were the North and the South destined to battle out their differences? Were the decisions made by President Abraham Lincoln to make war on the CSA justified? While there is much deliberation on this topic, the final answer is yes to each and every question. The North and the South, though they shared many similarities, were irreparably divided over the slavery issue, such that conflict could not be avoided. Lincoln’s deliberations on the situations of the day were the only acceptable response to the issues at hand. Disagreement caused by the slavery issue

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.

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.

Many wars begin due to religious conflicts, but ultimately conclude with peace. When slavery was becoming a big problem due to the extreme harsh conditions, they realized “it was one of those offenses…[God] now wills to remove, and that he gives to both North and South this terrible war” (Lincoln). In this instance, the two sides went to war because God forced them to, by creating the war. In order to abolish the monstrous act of slavery, God, and with that religion, became the reason for the war. The war would not have happened at this time if religion had not been the motive, for the slaves were too scared to revolt and fight for what they believed in: equality. Once the dreadful war was over, there was “malice toward none…and lasting peace, amount [themselves], and with all nations” (Lincoln).