In Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, Lincoln addresses a divided nation. Near the end of the horrific Civil War, both the North and the South are still angry with each other. His speech speaks to both sides of the split nation to put aside their issues that divides them in order to heal their broken nation. Lincoln uses several rhetorical strategies in his speech. His diction, speech, and syntax help to achieve his purpose of bringing the country back together.
Lincoln’s positive diction creates a feeling of cooperation and forgiveness. He uses the words “bind up” and “peace” to show the direction in which he would like the nation to go. A path of healing is what he wants for the country. “Bind up” shows the emotion of healing and the wounds of the American people.
Lincoln’s confident tone motivates all the Americans, from the south and the north, to finish the Civil War and progress as a nation. He calls to the American people to action with phrases like, “let us strive on to finish the work we are in” and “to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace.” which he hopes will come for his nation. He wishes to end the war along with slavery. His tone also is shown in the sentence, asking the people to “let us strive”. He calls upon the people of America as a whole to come together and unify the country.
His syntax brings out the idea of a balance country with several long and short sentences like, “While the Inaugural address