Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, given on March 4, 1865, is considered by many to be one of the greatest speeches in American history. In this address, Lincoln reflects on the causes and consequences of the Civil War, addresses the issue of slavery, and calls for reconciliation and unity among the American people. Through his use of rhetorical devices and powerful language, Lincoln effectively communicates his message and leaves a lasting impact on his audience.
One of the most striking aspects of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address is the way in which he addresses the issue of slavery. Rather than denying the role that slavery played in the Civil War, Lincoln acknowledges that both sides were to blame for the conflict. He says, "One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war."
By acknowledging the role of slavery in the Civil War, Lincoln is able to appeal to the conscience of his audience and to call for reconciliation and unity. He says, "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 have 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."
In addition to his appeal to conscience, Lincoln also uses rhetorical devices such as repetition and parallelism to emphasize his message. For example, he repeats the phrase "with malice toward none, with charity for all" three times in the speech, and each time he pairs it with a parallel phrase, such as "with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right" and "to bind up the nation's wounds." This repetition and parallelism helps to drive home the point that Lincoln is trying to make, and it adds a sense of urgency and importance to his message.
Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address is also notable for its use of biblical language and imagery. Throughout the speech, Lincoln makes references to God and to the Bible, using these references to lend authority and moral weight to his message. For example, he says, "It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged." In this passage, Lincoln appeals to the biblical principle of loving one's neighbor and to the idea that all people are equal in the eyes of God.
Overall, Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address is a powerful and eloquent call for reconciliation and unity in the aftermath of the Civil War. Through his use of rhetorical devices, powerful language, and biblical imagery, Lincoln effectively communicates his message and leaves a lasting impact on his audience.