Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address Analysis

Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address soon became a speech that inspired the entire nation. Lincoln wrote this speech to help heal a divided nation after the Civil War. Lincoln used rhetorical strategies within his speech, some rhetorical strategies being biblical allusions, appeals, and repetition. Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address was brief but potent. Lincoln concisely stated his plan to heal the divided nation through rhetorical strategies.

To put more emphasis on what he was saying, Lincoln used repetition in his speech. Lincoln used repetition to help emphasize that neither the North nor the South wanted to fight in the Civil War. In lines 16-19 Lincoln said, “four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dread it, all sought to avert it.” Lincoln used repetition in the last sentence by starting each new phrase with “all.” Repeating the word “all” left a positive impact on Lincoln’s audience, the nation. The word “all” is grouping both, the North and South, together, showing that both sides felt the same, that neither wanted the war to take place. Abraham Lincoln also shows that the nation shares a common bond through biblical allusions.

Lincoln indicates that everyone in the nation has the same values. Lincoln used biblical allusions to connect the North and South together. Lincoln’s first reference to God was “Both read from the same Bible and pray to the same God” (42-43). This quote conveyed a sense of unity, expressing no matter what side one was on, both follow the same values. The Bible and God will help guide a broken nation together. Lincoln believes that to end this Civil War, which God has put upon them as a punishment, slavery must be abolished. The abolishment of slavery will then lead to the end of the war. Once the war is over the North and South will be able to live in peace with each other. Lincoln’s use of biblical references projected emotional appeals. 

Lincoln’s use of pathos within the second inaugural address left an emotional effect on his audience. The use of pathos helped Lincoln express a bigger meaning behind his words. An example of Lincoln using pathos is in his last paragraph. Lincoln states “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations” (70-76). With these last few sentences, Lincoln illustrates the pain caused by the Civil War. Showing the pain allowed Lincoln to express the negative effects of the Civil War. Since the effects are negative, it showed the North and South all the wrong they’ve created. The use of pathos will help both sides come to an understanding of what Lincoln is trying to express and soon they both will come together to put an end to the war. 

Abraham Lincoln’s use of rhetorical strategies was successful in making a positive impact on his audience, the nation. The famous inaugural address helped unite the North and South together.