Lincoln's Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis

Lincoln used rhetorical devices such as allusion and the rhetorical appeals pathos and ethos to convey his message in a way so his audience would respond to his message the way he wanted. He expresses the theme that both the North and South are responsible for the horrible devastation of the Civil War, and that both sides must strive for peace and unity.
By using the rhetorical appeal of pathos he appeals to the emotions of his audience, he does this by using the allusion of God and by repeating the thought over and over. By using God as an example, he is bringing in the people's beliefs and doing that could affect their consciouses, which could cause them to side with him. He states: "The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."