Response To Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address

Abraham Lincoln gave his second Inaugural Address on March 4, 1865, as President of the United States. Lincoln touched the hearts and minds of the nation, filled with slaves and people whose family members or spouses were in the war. He not only related his speech to politics as he did in his first inaugural address but also used emotional language and rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, and logos, to support his argument that the war could have been avoided, and that the war started because of the issue of slavery. He succeeded at letting the American people know that there was hope for the nation after the devastating war.
Lincoln begins his address to the American people by confirming his credibility by using ethos. He states “at this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first” (Lincoln, paragraph 1). Which persuades the American people to believe that this inaugural address is more immaculate and detailed than the first. This outpouring of passion from Lincoln provides the nation enough assurance that Lincoln was someone who they could consider honest.
Adding to Lincoln's ethos appeal,
He persuaded the American people to understand that there was still hope for the nation after the war and the war started because of slavery, by using strong rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, and logos. These devices worked together by creating credibility, powerful evidence and sympathy, which was enough evidence to know that Lincoln was genuine in this second Inaugural Address. Although this speech was very well addressed, Lincoln could have took the time to speak of happiness, instead of dwelling on the fact that there was a war going on. Adding happiness to this Address would have gave the American people more hope to cope with the