Diction In 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 hopeful, allowing his overall purpose, unifying America through his use of diction and appeal to pathos, to be expressed. In the beginning of Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, Lincoln establishes a somber tone with his use of diction. 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 from the southern states was the basis for Lincoln's purpose, as he wanted to reconnect the nation. Later in the speech, he elaborates on his purpose of unifying the country by describing
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