"Lynch Law in America" was written in the 1900s in a time of crisis. Lynchings were extrajudicial executions that were prominent at the time the article was published. According to Killingsworth's theory of the appeals to time, the rhetoric of crisis is used to see a particular moment in time as a crisis point and decisive action is required. This article was written with this concept in mind.
Ida B. Wells-Barnett clearly wished to call for action to stop lynching as they were unjust and had cost the lives of many innocent men, women, and children at the hands of mobs. These executions were also fueled by racism towards the black community.
The author provided examples for the many different ways people were tortured and executed to allow the readers to realize that what they had been doing were wrong. By making a claim that goes against the common beliefs (people support the executions because they simply believed the executioners' lies and fake charges against the victim), the author brought attention towards her article which talked about the present crisis.
Towards the end of the article, a quote from the French press regarding the lynching incidents in America calls for action and encourages the white community in their homeland to ponder upon the implications of their actions.
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