Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

President Lincoln read this speech on the battlefield at Gettysburg on November 19,
1863. Initially the crowd gathered there for a dedicatory service of the battle ground. Lincoln
started the speech with reminding everyone that the forefathers of this country, when writing the
Declaration of Independence, declared "all men created equal" as a foundation for this country.
Lincoln then went to the issue at hand. The civil war. He stated that the ground was final
resting places of those who gave up their lives so that their nation would survive. he says that a
civil war, even for a country whose people are so dedicated can take its toll.
He goes on the say that, the ground had already been consecrated and hallowed by the
men that died fighting there. That there was no need for them to do it again, but rather it is every
citizens civic duty to remember what happened on that field, remember the men who died, and
work to create a nation of freedom with a government of the people, by the people, for the
people.
Rhetorical Analysis
President Lincoln took a humble approach to let the citizens of the United States know
that he does not support a divided country, our founding fathers did not support a divided
country, and we need to come together as a country so that we may be the free, equal, unified
country we worked so hard to become.
The Gettysburg Addressed was presented four months after the gruesome battle of
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle started on July 1, 1863. It lasted three days with the retreat
of the confederate army back to Virginia. This battle is often described as the turning point in the
war as well as having the most casualties of all the battles during the Civil War. Some
background information on President Lincoln, a republican, was a supporter of the Union Army.

A month after Lincolns inaugural the Civil War started. Lincoln was able to use his republican
party to create and pass the Emancipation Proclamation, abolishing slavery. This won his second
election against Democrat George McClellan, who was in favor to restore the southern seceded
states to their rights of 1860. One year later Lincoln was assassinated by Southern sympathizer
John Wilkes Booth in April 1865.
When the address was given in Gettysburg, before his assassination, people were invited
to attend a cemetery dedication for those soldiers who died there. Lincoln knew beforehand that
this was going to be a somber, almost reverent occasion. He knew that his audience would be
listening and peaceful. A perfect opportunity to speak and have people listen. He also knew that
everyone had been affected by the war and loss of so many lives, their hearts would be tender
and reachable. President Lincoln needed the American people to listen to him. He needed them
on his side. Lincoln recognized the disadvantages of a divided nation and knew for this country
to survive we needed to unite.
In his speech, Lincoln was not condescending or degrading. He could have been harsh
commenting on the embarrassing retreat of the south and the strong victory of the union army.
Instead Lincoln, pointed out that now the battle was over, the cause for this country to be united
was even stronger. He knew that both sides had lost a great number of men and if he was too
harsh towards to losing side, that could prove to upset them more. He took the opportunity to be
commanding and leading the people of the United States towards an end goal of equality for all
men.
Lincoln gathered listeners attention by first talking about the founding fathers, not of
himself. He then went on call the civil war a great war, not being condescending towards it. For
either side it was a great war, whether they were pro-slavery or against. He uses the respect of the

fallen soldiers to urge people toward a resolution. He uses sincerity by not talking about himself,
but about others.
This is a call for action, but is not aggressive, much like president Lincoln. He knew that
there were many people who disagreed with him. So rather than mentioning himself as president,
he takes an opposite turn saying that what he says will probably not be remembered, people will
remember the actions of the soldiers. Because of his humble approach, people remembered the
solemn speech made by a politician. He didnt say that he would make this a great country, but
that it was up to the people of this country to make it a great country for each other. He gave
people a responsibility.
President Lincoln took this heartfelt opportunity to call attention to the American people,
that a country divided was not what the founding fathers wanted for this country. He did this in a
passive sincere manner. He didnt boast or brag, instead he used general terms that could applied
to both sides of the war. He knew that his audience would be somber and open hearted at this sad
place of meeting and he used that to support his cause.