Rhetorical Devices In Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln gave his second Inaugural Address to the people of the United States. Americans were surprised with his thoughts and his view on the Civil War. By the time Lincoln had delivered this speech the Civil War was almost over and American citizens were exhausted. He used rhetorical devices such as religion, biblical references, and pathos to explain high hopes for the future of their country and express to his thoughts. The Civil War was the most vicious war the United States had to go through. The war made friends turn against each other and tore the country apart. The issues of slavery had divided the north and south. That is how Lincoln incorporated the rhetorical strategy of pathos. The North did not want to continue slavery because they believed in mortality. They believed that slavery was against human rights even if it made major money. The South wanted to keep slavery because they didn’t have to pay for workers or farmers to work on their land. They could make them work on their plantation or on good terms they could work in the house that the owners lived in. The Civil War
He explains that both sides of the nation “pray to God, read the same bible” and asks for God to help them win. He tells the North and South if both sides of the nation are asking God to help them win then the prayers of both sides will not be answered. Lincoln’s reasoning for that is that God has his own purpose and reasoning for things. Lincoln hopes for “ a war of speedily pass away” meaning that he hopes God will give them a short and diminutive war but if that is not what God wishes then that isn’t what will happen. God has a plan and if “God wills” for the Civil war to continue, then it shall continue. Lincoln believed in the good will God has done and will continue to do for their nation. He has put his trust in God and suggests to the Americans to do the