Question

read the excerpt from abraham lincolns first inaugural address.

this country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it.

which detail signals lincolns appeal to ethos?

his call to arms encouraging war
his explanation of the amendment process
his visual description of weary citizens
his reference to every citizens rights

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpt and the question

The excerpt from Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address states: "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their CONSTITUTIONAL right of amending it, or their REVOLUTIONARY right to dismember or overthrow it." The question asks which detail signals Lincoln's appeal to ethos.

Evaluate the options based on rhetorical appeals

Ethos is an appeal to credibility, authority, shared values, or established legal and moral systems. By referencing the "CONSTITUTIONAL right of amending it," Lincoln appeals to the supreme legal authority of the nation and the established, legitimate system of laws that governs the country, thereby establishing credibility and a shared respect for the rule of law.

Determine the correct choice

• "his call to arms encouraging war" is incorrect; Lincoln is not calling for war here.
• "his explanation of the amendment process" is correct because referencing the constitutional right to amend appeals to the established legal authority (ethos).
• "his visual description of weary citizens" is incorrect; "grow weary" is a state of mind, not a visual description, and would lean toward pathos.
• "his reference to every citizen's rights" is too broad compared to the specific legal authority of the constitutional amendment process.

Answer:

• his call to arms encouraging war
• his explanation of the amendment process (Correct answer)
• his visual description of weary citizens
• his reference to every citizen's rights