Gettysburg Address Thesis

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The Gettysburg Address was written by President Abraham Lincoln in November 1863. It was written in both Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. With only 17 days prior notice, the President was invited to attend a “ribbon cutting” of sorts, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The speech was intended as a short address to the congregation of citizens attending the dedication of the National Cemetery which was memorialized on a portion of the Gettysburg Battlefield. Approximately 15, 000 persons including 6 Governors were in the audience. The speech, lasting a little less than 2 minutes, has become one of the most famous and most quoted speeches in history. It honors both the living and the dead. The brave men that fought for freedom and equality are immortalized…show more content…
Texas was considered a “slave state” at this time and was very dependent on the slave population to help maintain and cultivate the highly populated cotton fields and bustling plantations. The consideration of emancipating slaves and allowing their freedom was not something many Texans were in favor of and fought diligently against the concept. The Gettysburg Address is a manuscript requesting reform for a nation, for our nation. Its words strive for equality amongst its people, a union of all states to join together and be united towards one cause, a United States of America. Lincoln strategically uses words such as freedom, equality and liberty to establish his dedication to what he believes is the main focus of his fight towards a free nation, under God. President Lincoln took the perfect opportunity to deliver his speech. He had an audience of his constituents, on sacred ground, the final resting place for those who had lost their lives fighting for this cause. He took his thoughts and feelings and put on paper what it truly meant to perish for a…show more content…
The nation founded on impartiality was in the throws of a war to determine whether such a nation could continue to survive. He said that they were gathered to formally dedicate ground hallowed by the men, American citizens, who died there, but his speech turned the event into a recommitment of the living to the war effort to preserve a nation of freedom. Keynote Speaker Edward Everett gave a very long speech, Everett carried on his speech for 2 hours comparing the Civil War soldiers to Greek gods. Because Lincolns address was short, with precise wording as opposed to the other speaker, there was a hush from the audience afterward. Many said it was because they were not sure that he was finished, but others said that the crowd was in amazement and wonder due to his short eloquent words. His address was so brief, to the point, and poetic, making it easily understandable. That is why people really took his address to heart, what he said was neither condescending nor “over their heads.” It was specifically geared towards the people he was addressing. More than likely the men who were fighting in the war, as well as their loved ones and supporters weren’t very educated and didn’t understand what the other speaker, Everett, was trying to explain to them. Lincoln said what he had to say and got the job done successfully. Of course the Gettysburg address still has an impact on
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