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Gettysburg Address And Funeral Oration Essay

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The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln and the excerpt from the “Funeral Oration”by Pericles distinctly describe a democratic government. But which democracy is more “true”? The Athenian and American democracy have their many differences. The Gettysburg Address The Gettysburg Address was written by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the American Civil War. It states that eighty seven years ago, their fathers had created a new nation with a new government. Abraham Lincoln describes how we cannot let the brave civil war veterans and casualties die in vain. Abraham Lincoln therefore says to finish the work of our fathers-to maintain a stronger democracy as an outcome of civil war. The Funeral Oration On the other hand, the excerpt from the “Funeral Oration” by Pericles, as recorded by Thucydides in the Peloponnesian War. Pericles explains the Athenian government. In his thorough examination, officials are …show more content…

This represents the past democracy that the fathers had made eighty-seven years ago, not the one Lincoln desires as a president as stated in the last sentence. Lincoln wants to improve from the “all men are created equal” proposition to “all people are created equal.” On the other hand, the excerpt from the “Funeral Oration” seems, or is, biased. Throughout the passage, “he” and “his” were used. Also, in the beginning of the second paragraph, it says “...and lovers of wisdom without effeminacy.” Without effeminacy means without having qualities attributed to women including delicacy, weakness, and unmanliness. One may conclude that women were oppressed and were not part of the democracy, rather than the American democracy presented by Abraham Lincoln. The Life of

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