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Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Rhetorical Devices

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The Civil War was one of the most impactful events in United States history; Abraham Lincoln was the man who helped lead our country through that strenuous time. In his Second Inaugural Address Lincoln uses a variety of strong and effective rhetorical strategies to inspire his fellow Americans to accept the imminent closing of the Civil War with hopeful attitude and begin to heal a broken nation. Many people had made predictions for the end of the Civil War. However, President Lincoln does not definitively give either side the title of victor: “With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.” Using direct and declarative sentences, Lincoln is able to make his audience question their motives for making so many predictions. Rather than focus on who is in the right, Lincoln urges for a focus on the possibilities for a brighter future. The phrase “high hope for the future”, reassures the audience that America will recover from this conflict- no matter who wins or loses Lincoln continues to instill a hopeful attitude in his audience by using several biblical allusions throughout his speech. No matter the actions of the enemy Lincoln reminds America “let us judge not, that we …show more content…

He knows how many Americans are wishing for a speedy reconciliation: “Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away.” Through the use of internal rhyme, this simple statement takes on the essence of a child’s prayer- a prayer of desperate desire for peace. Also, by using the word “we” Lincoln connects with his audience through the appeal of pathos. Here is the mighty President of the United States begging for peace alongside everyone else. The audience is now more willing to acknowledge his own pleas for attitudes of hope and dignity at the end of the Civil

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President Abraham Lincoln, in his inaugural address, addresses the topic of the civil war and its effects on the nation and argues that America could be unified once more. He supports his claim by using massive amounts of parallel structure and strong word choice. Lincoln ‘s purpose is to contemplate the effects of the civil war in order to unite the broken America once again. He adopts a very hopeful tone for his audience, the readers of the inaugural address and others interested in the topic of American history and the civil war.

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In a state of turmoil, unification is essential for a country to successfully move forward under one power. In his Second Inaugural Address, United States President Abraham Lincoln mentions the destruction created after the Civil War but also the peace that will come for the future of the country. Abraham Lincoln attempts to unite the American people after the Civil War through the use of confidently hopeful tone, the appeal to emotions, and the use of Biblical references. Throughout the Inaugural Address, Lincoln maintains a confidently hopeful tone towards the United States citizens to ensure there would ultimately be unity.

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President Abraham Lincoln asserts his concerns about war and the future of America in his “Second Inaugural Address” speech, delivered in eighteen sixty-five to the American people. In his speech, Lincoln admits the unforeseen duration of the Civil War and optimistically states his desires for it to cease. His tone throughout the speech is concerned and straightforward to show that American citizens should have a concern in the matter and make efforts to end the war. Abraham Lincoln’s use of rhetoric is what made this famous speech effective. Lincoln sets his straightforward tone right in the beginning of his speech.

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