Abraham Lincoln: The Power of the Gettysburg Address

Running head: ABRAHAM LINCOLN
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Abraham Lincoln
Introduction:
Born in a one-room log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky on February 12, 1809
Abraham Lincoln was one of the president of America. He was an American statesman and
lawyer who served the state as the 16th president from 1861 till the assassination in April 1865
(Randall). He is remembered as one of the most powerful personality that led the nation through
the civil war and other bloodiest war that went through a political crisis. In one of the bloodiest
battle of the civil war, Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg address speech which is one of the most
excellent speeches in the world. The paper aims to discuss the reasons that make President
Abraham Lincoln’s speech powerful as well as important, unlike any other speech. The paper
also discusses the ways he uses his speech rhetorically and the reason that makes him a great
president.
Why speech is important?
Although the speech is seen as a significant historical moment, the reaction of Lincoln
was slightly different when it was delivered. Before the Gettysburg speech was delivered, then
the features speaker gave an orientation counting more than two hours (Murti 15). Following the
two hours speech, the two-minute Gettysburg address was astonishingly brief. Returning on the

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seat, Lincoln was utterly disappointed feeling his speech as ‘a flat failure’. According to the
Chicago Times, the president was ‘silly, flat and dishwatery utterance’ (Carlyon 84) . However,
as per the historical record, it neither appeared silly nor flat. The weaknesses of the speech were
strengths.
The Gettysburg Address is one of the most impactful speech and very important which is
the reason that makes it Abraham Lincoln’s defining moment (Doyle). Four months earlier to
speech 46,000 soldiers belonging from both the sides were either wounded or killed in the battle
of Gettysburg, in Pennsylvania. On November 19, 1863, Lincoln delivered 273 words at the
official dedication ceremony for the purpose of the national cemetery at the site. The 273 words
are called as the declaration of the Interdependence as well as the implementation of ‘a
government of the people, by the people, for the people’, a union’s ideal government. The speech
has a legacy and lasting impact since then that can be noted throughout the years. While
subsequent presidents are often found using the speech as a map for governance in the United
States, even among American schoolchildren recite the historical paraphrasing.
Why the speech is powerful?
The speech is powerful and impactful for it is short, brief and simple with ideas that are
powerful and inevitable. It consisted of truths that were echoing in the nation for the past four
months. In his short two minute speech, he was able to express the civil war’s purpose that
harkens back the founding fathers, the pursuit of human equality and declaration of
independence (Johnson). The speech is seen as conciseness consisting of nearly ten lines with
founding principles of the nation, the only cause for that specific gathering at Gettysburg. He
remembered the union soldiers that died in that place in order to protect liberty.