President Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

Civil War President Abraham Lincoln once said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” More than a century later Lincoln’s speeches, addresses, and letters—still remembered and studied—are useful examples of how to write. But why (20)? Perhaps one of the most renowned writers, Lincoln uses multiple stylistic techniques to deliver his messages. Through his use of contrasting parallel structures, repetition, and balanced sentences in his Second Inaugural Address, Lincoln conveys his hope of healing the country before, after, and during the Civil War.

President Lincoln issued the proclamation on Jan 1st, 1863 when the nation entered its 3rd year in the civil war. The reasoning for signing and enacting the proclamation was to change American life. Pres. Lincoln knew that once the proclamation was signed that everything would change, that African Americans would be considered as part of the American Life versus property of slave owners. President Lincoln was labeled a the great emancipator and he wanted to live up to that name, when he signed the proclamation he had hoped it would elevate the effort and show the people of the nation that he was a great wartime commander in chief.

At the time of Lincoln's inauguration in 1861, seven states had seceded from the Union. Lincoln’s anti-slavery platform made him extremely unpopular with Southerners. He won the presidential election without the support of a single Southern state. Lincoln felt it was his sacred duty as President to preserve the Union. His first inaugural address was an appeal to the rebellious states to rejoin the nation.

During a time in history when the United States was as divided as it had ever been, Abraham Lincoln delivered his Second Inaugural Address. The Civil War had been raging for four years, and victory was in sight for the Union. Many northern politicians wanted Lincoln to harshly punish and humiliate the South for all of the violence that its succession had caused. However, part of the wisdom that turned Lincoln into an iconic president was his intent to end the war “with malice towards none, with charity for all” and “ to bind up the nation's wounds, [and] to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan” (Second Inaugural Address).

It’s March 4th of 1865, when Abraham delivered his second Inaugural Address. Standing in the crowd listening to this, I don’t believe a word. Standing with fellow confederate sympathizers I wanted to make a difference for them. Lincoln is wrong and someone needs to change. “I had a splendid chance… to kill the president where I stood” (American Experience: TV's Most-watched History Series).

On September 2nd, 1862, Abraham Lincoln famously signed the Emancipation Proclamation. After that, there’s been much debate on whether Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation truly played a role in freeing the slaves with many arguments opposing or favoring this issue. In Vincent Harding’s essay, The Blood-red Ironies of God, Harding argues in his thesis that Lincoln did not help to emancipate the slaves but that rather the slaves “self-emancipated” themselves through the war. On the opposition, Allen C Guelzo ’s essay, Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America, argues in favor of the Emancipation Proclamation and Guelzo acknowledges Lincoln for the abolishment of slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation.

President Abraham Lincoln uses a variety of rhetorical strategies in his Second Inaugural Address to pose an argument to the American people regarding the division in the country between the northern states and the southern states. Lincoln gives this address during the American Civil War, when politics were highly debated and there was a lot of disagreement. Lincoln calls for the people of America to overcome their differences to reunite as one whole nation once more. Lincoln begins his Second Inaugural Address by discussing the American Civil War and its ramifications.

In President Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address,” he effectively uses juxtaposition to make an emotional appeal so that his audience would feel a sense of remorse. In the second paragraph, Lincoln contrasts the deaths of the soldiers to a nation that might live. For example, he states that the field was “... a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live.” Lincoln is saying that the soldiers fought a war so that the nation would have a chance of unifying. By using juxtaposition, Lincoln wants to evoke a sense of guilt in the audience because the soldiers gallantly fought a war just so the rest of the nation can experience the freedom and equality that they had hoped for.

I agree with him because a lot of people that were in a high social also political standing such as Lincoln were supposed to speak long speeches using grammar and complex words. After all Lincoln spoke in common language so the people could understand it better also gave a short speech stating the importance and gravity of the situation

Abraham Lincoln. Gettysburg Address, 1863 By Patricia Moreno Centro Asociado: Alzira-Valencia The Gettysburg Address is a 272-word political speech delivered by President Abraham Lincoln on the 19th of November 1863 at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. America was suffering de consequences of one of the bloodiest and most decisive battles of the civil war and after four months of fight, the President travelled to the battlefield to encourage American soldiers so that they could manage to end the war successfully.

Lincoln essay In president Lincoln’s inaugural address, he uses many rhetorical strategies and devices to convey his message regarding his “high hope for the future.” specifically he explains that the civil war was detrimental, but we must “pray that this might scourge of war may speedily pass away.” Furthermore he is ready to start anew and is very optimistic about what the future holds. Lincoln mentions, “both read the same bible and pray to the same God,” meaning that they should not ask a just God’s assistance in anything.

Rhetoric is the art of public speaking so that it flows smoothly, lively and convincing. It expresses the expressive power expressed through the beauty of language, thereby attracting and persuading listeners. A talented leader needs to master the skills of public speaking, which sometimes helps the leader to cover up his or her other shortcomings. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) - The 16th president of the United States is one of the most famous leaders in rhetoric.

It’s no joke that the Civil War is America’s bloodiest war. And throughout these tumultuous times, tensions were high among all Americans. On the last legs of the Civil War, there was considerable doubt about the future of America. Would America ever recover from its harsh divide? Abraham Lincoln certainly thought so.

Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis The purpose of this speech is detailed in the time period. This speech was written/spoken at the end of the American Civil war. It is President Lincoln’s way of putting a tentative end to the war and a start to the recovery period. He is still oppressing the south in his diction when he states “Both parties deprecated war: but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish.