People have said that Lincoln's Gettysburg Address gave the North the final push to defeat its enemies to the South. Lincoln gave this speech at the battle field of Gettysburg. It was marked as a memorial ground for the thousands and thousands of men who dies there.
In Lincoln's address, he used the two minutes (length of his speech) he had very wisely. In his two minute speech, Lincoln discussed topics of equality, freedom, and the importance of preserving the Union. To introduce his speech, he quoted the Declaration of Independence in order to connect to the inner "American" of each person. He later talked about how the equality of men is important and needs to be practiced. He tied this to the point that slavery was no longer a practice to be tolerated. In the last part of his speech, Lincoln mainly talks about the preservation of the Union. He makes the point that the Union will bring back equality and peace to the Country.
In class, we discussed some of the elementary effects of Lincoln's speech which included a call to action from the Union soldiers to fight and overcome their opponents. Going more in depth, Lincoln's speech was all about remembering the fallen soldiers and how the Union should come together to fight and get revenge for their families and slaves by putting an end to slavery. He wanted equality, freedom, and unity.
Excellent post about the Gettysburg Address that provided a good review of the topics discussed. Why do you suppose Lincoln's speech was so short when it came at such a critical time? Also, what role do you think the address played in the Restoration period?
ReplyDeleteFor more information about the Gettysburg Address: http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm
I like how you mention the rhetoric involved that made this two minute speech more memorable than the 2 hour speech given by Everett beforehand. Part of why his speech is so powerful is because of his use of rhetorical devices, and if anyone wants to read a good analysis of his address, here is the link: https://mannerofspeaking.org/2010/11/19/the-gettysburg-address-an-analysis/
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading about how you feel the Gettysburg Address united the American people behind a common goal. I think that your idea that it "connected to the inner 'American' of each person" explains why in just two minutes he was able to inspire the North towards the end of the war. When looking more into this topic, I found an article that adds to your message of how Lincoln brought about change in his speech, so if anyone is interested, http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-lincoln-changed-the-nation-in-272-words-2013-11-19.
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