Rhetorical Analysis Of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

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In 1865, near the end of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address to the American citizens. While Lincoln's tone begins as somber, it shifts to optimistic, allowing his overall purpose, unifying America through his use of biblical allusions and appeal to pathos, to be expressed. Lincoln establishes a somber tone with his use of diction in the beginning of his Second Inaugural Address, but it changes to inspirational and optimistic. For example, in his speech he discusses how "all thoughts were anxiously directed" to this new conflict which separated the nation. This idea of secession of the southern states was the basis for Lincoln's purpose, as he wanted to reconnect the nation. Later in the speech, he elaborates
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