Gettysburg Address Ethos Pathos Logos

The United States of America was founded on hard-work, pride, devotion, and dedication. All which are important characteristics of the American spirit. Over time, the American spirit has been overshadowed by less meaningful traits. However, Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” and Sullivan Ballou’s “Letter to Sarah Ballou” both exemplify the important qualities of the American spirit, such as dedication to our country through war.

In “Gettysburg Address,” Lincoln concentrates on the importance of Americans devoting and dedicating their service in the war to better America. His speech brings out connections in all Americans, regardless of race, religion, or gender. The speaker, Abraham Lincoln, uses logical, ethical, and emotional appeals

Lincoln also refers to the Declaration of Independence in hopes of the audience remembering the importance of being free and what we gave up to make America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. He says that “it is for us the living,rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.” Lincoln uses an ethical appeal to convince the audience that we don’t need to dedicate, we need to be dedicated. We need to be committed to America. By him using an ethical appeal, it brings out a sense of debt we have to repay, for all the men who had fought and died for us. All of the men who died on American soil for us, who were challenged, and struggled need to have their memory upheld by the devotion of the living. With that said, Lincoln continues to use appeals to emphasize the significance of keeping the American spirit alive. According to Lincoln, “ these honored dead we take increased devotion

Similarly to Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address,” Ballou also uses ethical and emotional appeals. He opens the letter by using an ethical appeal to say to his wife that, “If it is necessary that I should fall on the battlefield for my country, I am ready.” Ballou is deeply invested in giving up his life for his country, he indicates the significance of being dedicated to his country through war. By him using an ethical appeal he is appealing to his wife’s morals. It also creates a sense of him as trustworthy, honorable, and creditable. Even though the focus of his letter is to explain to her as to why he is choosing to serve and die, Ballou also states how much he loves his wife. He is having an internal conflict with himself as to who and what he loves more. In his letter, he writes to his wife “ Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me to you with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence could break.” Ballou uses metaphors to overemphasize how much he loves his life, and how nothing could break his love for her except god’s love. However he continues to write “ and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield.” Once more Ballou uses a metaphor to exaggerate the amount of love he feels for his country, he has decided to devote his