Forms of appeal

In his Cornerstone speech, Alexander Stephens uses a mix of all three forms of appeal. Appeals to pathos and logos aim to inspire the audience to have faith in the Confederacy. Ethos is briefly used to inspire confidence in Stephens as a speaker.

Table of contents

Logos
Pathos
Ethos

Logos

Stephens appeals to logos when he discusses how the Confederacy compares to other countries. For example, he compares the territory held by the Confederate States with that of European nations:

In extent of territory we embrace five hundred and sixty-four thousand square miles and upward. (…) It is an area of country more than double the territory of France or the Austrian Empire. (…) Ours is greater than both combined. It is greater than all France, Spain, Portugal, and Great Britain, including England, Ireland, and Scotland, together.

This appeal to logos helps to support Stephens’ argument that the Confederacy is a powerful entity that has the means to thrive as an independent nation. Stephens also compares the population, wealth, and ...