Political Speeches That Changed America

2903 Words12 Pages
Michal Adler Mrs. Klapper English IV February 27, 2011 Great Political Speeches that Changed America After the War of Independence, the United States of America was founded by the fathers of our nation; it was then preserved by Abraham Lincoln in the Civil war; and rescued from economic collapse by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who then led it to victory in the greatest war of all time. Presidents Lincoln and Roosevelt both had great responsibilities with respect to leading the American people during extremely tumultuous times. Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, to redirect the nation’s cause during the Civil war, and Roosevelt gave great encouragement to the nation with his “day that will live in infamy” speech, right after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Great political speeches by charismatic leaders during times of war can transform nations through their powerful words. Abraham Lincoln served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 to 1865. John Briggs observes that during his presidential tenure, Lincoln’s oratory skills received much acclaim. A close look at Lincoln’s speeches can give us insight to the circumstances of that time and a much greater appreciation for his leadership. Lincoln’s oratorical goal was to gather the nation and give them reason and guidance. Because his audiences had a wide range of political views, Lincoln calculated his words very carefully. Lincoln’s greatest tests of oratorical power took place at Gettysburg in July 1863, and at his Second Inaugural Address in March 1865 (1-3,308). Wynton Hall writes that when Lincoln was elected President in 1860, seven Southern states seceded from the United States. They formed the Confederate States of America. The other 25 states that supported the United States Federal government were mostly northern states. On April 12, 1861, southern Confederate forces

More about Political Speeches That Changed America

Open Document