Rhetorical Analysis On Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln is regarded as one of the greatest presidents due to his ability to be a powerful speaker. Through reading Abraham Lincoln’s multiple speeches, it was clear that through the years, his position on slavery had changed - or at least it seemed to.
Originally, Lincoln seemed neutral on the topic on slavery; he did not push for abolition, nor did he support the growth of slavery. In his “A House Divided” speech, delivered during the Lincoln-Douglas debates in Illinois, Lincoln stated “It will be come all one thing, or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction, or its advocates will

push it forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the states, old as well as new, North as well as South” (A House Divided). In this speech, Lincoln does not say what he wants to happen with slavery. Instead, he states that the house must no longer be divided. Adding on, he reveals that unity in the nation is of utmost importance, even if that means allowing slavery to exist in all the states. Despite his statements, Lincoln may have already disliked slavery. However, due to his position as a politician, he did not want to state his true viewpoints or else he would not be voted for. In other words, if just stated that he disliked slavery, he would not be voted for, since a major portion of Illinois supported slavery. As a result, Lincoln attempted to seem neutral.
In his next major speech, the “First Inaugural Address,” Lincoln states that he is fine with slavery existing in the areas that it already exists.

He states that he has “...no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists” (First Inaugural Address). Although Lincoln does not directly say that he is against slavery, he makes it clear that he is. By stating that he will not interfere with the institution of slavery where it exists, he also makes it clear, subtly, that he will not let slavery expand into new territories. Lincoln knew that if slavery was not able to spread, it would soon die. In this speech, Lincoln’s position on slavery has changed. He did not want it to infect the entire nation. Now that he was president, he could be more honest about his

opinions.
In the “Emancipation Proclamation,” Lincoln decided to free the slaves in the South to help the war effort. He orders that “...all persons held as slaves within said designated [Confederate] States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free” (Emancipation Proclamation). Lincoln releases this proclamation for two main reasons. First off, the Emancipation Proclamation was the first step to make the Civil War about slavery. Once the Civil War was about slavery, European superpowers like England and France that were the main sources of abolition sentiment would no longer help the Confederacy. Also, stating that the slaves were free would encourage the slaves to escape from their plantation and ruin the South’s supply lines. The Emancipation Proclamation did not state the moral reasons for freeing slaves, however. Lincoln did not release this proclamation to give the war a moral reason; he only did to help the war effort. This is evident in his reluctance to free the slaves in the border states, where he actually had power. This proclamation does not state any moral reasons, nor does it state Lincoln’s actual viewpoint on slavery. As a result, it did not reveal much about his position on slavery.
After the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln gave his famous “Gettysburg Address.” In this speech, Lincoln adds to the war’s purpose from preserving the Union by adding the goal of ending slavery. Lincoln states, “Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” (Gettysburg Address). By quoting this statement from the Declaration of Independence, Lincoln indirectly refers to the unfortunate minority that have not been treated equally, the slaves. In this speech, Lincoln truly reveals his hatred toward slavery. He was no more direct. Lincoln’s position has “changed” from when he first gave his “A House Divided Speech.” Again, due to his position president, he was not more able to reveal his opinions more openly.
Finally, in Lincoln’s “Second Inaugural Address,” Lincoln goes even further about his hatred toward slavery.

He says, “If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through his appointed time, he now wills to remove, and that he gives to both North and South this terrible war...until every drop of blood drawn with the has shall be paid by another drawn with the sword” (Second Inaugural Address). In other words, Lincoln claims that the institution of slavery has offended God; as such, he has punished the nation with the Civil War, and that every drop of blood that has been shed with the whip will be repaid with the same amount of blood, but instead drawn with the sword. Lincoln proves that he really does hate slavery. With this line, Lincoln has completely evolved on his position on

slavery.
In conclusion, Lincoln’s position on slavery seemed to change, which was evident throughout his speeches. It may be possible that his position on slavery was the same the entire time, and that he had to fake his position on slavery to hide his true intents in order to get elected to the Senate and presidency. However, there is no doubt that Lincoln’s delivery of his position on slavery was very different throughout the years.