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The Gettysburg Address

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As the U.S. Civil War was at its peak in the 1860’s, President Abraham Lincoln went to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to honor the soldiers who died in battle and to rally the America when we were a nation that appeared to be coming apart at the seams. It was his most important speech at a time when Union Soldiers had suffered tremendous losses, and he needed them to fight on. Lincoln’s goal was to highlight the freedom, liberty, and equality that Americans were fighting and dying for, and to recognize that the sacrifice of tremendous human loss was worth the fight. The Gettysburg Address, as it became known, was spoken to an audience of soldiers and their families, and the families of those who died fighting. First, Lincoln started the beginning of his speech with an allusion when he says “Four score and seven years ago” (Lincoln). He is referring to the year the United States declared Independence from England. Also, in such a short speech, he still manages to use the same words that have an important meaning plenty of times. He uses repetitive phrasing, such as, “we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, and we cannot hallow this ground.” For President Lincoln to succeed, he needed to use pathos, to rouse people who were tired of war, and urge them to fight on, despite the human losses. The President stated, “Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can longer endure.” (Lincoln). Abraham Lincoln

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