Although many remember him as the President who ended slavery and preserved the Union, Abraham Lincoln was also a very gifted political prose writer. Lincoln wrote many powerful and memorable speeches, but arguably his most famous speech is the 272-word “Gettysburg Address,” which he delivered at a dedication ceremony for the first national cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Throughout the entire speech, Lincoln masterfully utilizes several rhetorical techniques, especially the use of repetition. He repeats two separate patterns of grammar in his address. For example, to start his third paragraph Lincoln writes, “But in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground,” and to finish that same paragraph,…
Why do you think that Lincoln refers to the year 1776 at the start of his speech? The year 1776 refers to the year the Declaration of Independence was signed, establishing the U.S. as one united and equal nation. Lincoln brings attention to the date in his speech to connect the principles of the Declaration of Independence to the desired outcomes of the Civil War. Civil war was being fought to maintain equality and liberty for all in the U.S., which were key ideals presented in the Declaration. The ending of slavery was also a reason the civil war was fought, and although the Declaration itself did not mention slavery, Lincoln referring to it in his speech reflects his personal beliefs of ending slavery during the war.…
Throughout "The Gettysburg Adress", Abraham Lincoln utilizes multiple elements of rhetoric and style within his speech to achieve his purpose and communicate with the audience.…
During Lincoln’s second address, people were shocked about how short and concise his speech was. Instead of addressing slavery, states’ rights, and politics, he offered his view on the future of the nation. In his address, Lincoln used rhetorical strategies such as syntax, diction, and pathos to inform his citizens that he has a better vision for the future of the nation.…
In December 1856, Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech, foreshadowing the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, examining the constitutional implications of the Dred Scott Case.…
At the time President Lincoln received and invitation to speak at Gettysburg, he saw a tremendous opportunity to make a clear statement to the people of America the massive significance of the war. It is not important because of how long it took him, considering it took 2 minutes for this famous speech, it was more about how he said the things…
With many of the slave states no longer part of the U.S., Lincoln encouraged states with very few slaves to abandon slavery. He passed a law providing monetary compensation to any state willing to emancipate its slaves. During the war, Lincoln issued the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which instilled fear in the Confederate states by stating that he would emancipate all slaves in the Confederacy, if they did not surrender by the end of the year. His attempt was futile, and the Confederacy did not let up.…
The reason for President Lincoln writing and delivering the speech at Gettysburg, on November 19, 1863, is to commemorate the victims life that were taken during the battle at Gettysburg. “Lincoln was preceded on the podium by the famed orator Edward Everett, who spoke to the crowd for two hours.” (Gettysburg Address, Library of Congress) I was unaware that this event was more than the president giving a speech about a battle. This event was with President Lincoln speaking second after Edward Everett.…
Coming up this month, we commemorate the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address given on November 19th, 1863. This speech is known and considered as one of the most famous speeches in American history. How could a two minute speech be so highly regarded and enough to be one of the most famous? Abraham Lincoln utilized rhetorical techniques to turn just 10 sentences into one of the most famous and most quoted speeches of all time. “The Gettysburg Address,” was given by President Abraham Lincoln at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on the afternoon of Thursday, Nov. 19, 1863, during the American Civil War, four and a half months after the Union armies defeated the Confederacy at the Battle…
On March 4, 1865, Lincoln presented himself to the public to deliver his speech; days before the Civil War came to the end. Lincoln’s anguish is displayed as he summarized the events that led to the Civil War. Trust was destroyed between the North and South and Lincoln was left with a nation in turmoil fighting over slavery. He reminded the people that they were one nation, not two independent nations warring against each other. He did not want to throw accusations to one side and chose to show the common qualities each side had in each time period. In doing this, he forced the people to widen their mind and consider the other side’s perspective. He did not want the sides to continue fighting and wanted to create a common ground and impacted…
The first and second inaugural addresses compare and contrast in many ways to show the different views of national identity that Abraham Lincoln shows throughout the speeches. They compare because of issues to end the war or defuse the possibility of war. They contrast in many ways also, in the first address Lincoln believes that the issue of a war will pass over the country and not be much of an issue. He also gives chances to the people that have started this conversation to end what they started. Whereas in the second inaugural address lincoln takes a more religious approach. Lastly, the issue of slavery is very different during the two inaugural addresses.…
The Advent of emancipation added the number of free Americans by a great deal. This transformation of status weakened the south, strengthening the North. The slaves in the south were a possible force in aiding the Confederates against the North, which would have been a grand blow to the Union government. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was a genius step of weakening south, economically, socially and force wise. The European colonists and slave masters who completely depended on slave labor and slave trade would never join hands with the Union government and so were a possible force together with the Confederates. Gradual emancipation and the abolishing of the slave trade and forced labor was a stealth weapon of weakening the possible force and the South. Many freed slaves began running to Union lines, and this provided the Union with more soldiers (Howell, 2006).…
In the "Second Inaugural Address" (1865), Abraham Lincoln contemplates that they, as a United Nation, should reflect on the effects of the Civil War and move towards a better future for this nation. He addresses God and the issue of slavery in order to encourage the Northern and Southern states towards reconciliation. Lincoln tries to reveal his intention by utilizing figurative diction, parallel syntax, and a shifting tone.…
The Gettysburg Address was the most famous speech given by President Lincoln. It was given after the Civil War almost as a way to restore the nation and honor the fallen soldiers. In the speech Abraham starts off by saying “ Four score and seven years ago” which is significant because that was when the Declaration of Independence was signed and when the colonies gained their freedom from Great Britain. He then goes on to say that the founding fathers built the nation on liberty and equality for all men, but years later they are fighting to see if it's…
Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation is still, to date, one of the most debated, revolutionary acts of the any of the Presidents of the United States. Through this document Lincoln took responsibility upon himself for the freedom of four million slaves throughout the divided country he presided over and forever changed the scene of what could be a very different American culture than that of which we live in presently today. After reading Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America, written by Allen C. Guelzo, I am fully convinced that Lincoln’s accomplishment through that document is very under credited not only by African Americans today, but also by their white counterparts in regards to the lasting impact it made for the future of the races in this country.…