The Lasting Effect of the Gettysburg Address
“The Gettysburg Address” is arguably the most important speech in American history. It was delivered by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863 to an audience of 15,000. The speech was used to recognize the sacrifice of Union soldiers at the Battle of Gettysburg as well as to unite and motivate the soldiers to win the American Civil War. In his speech, he refers often to the principles at the country’s foundation and the struggle of its forefathers as a way to convey nationalism and pride. The address inspired his audience to carry through the war and solidify the Union. It marked a major turning point in the course of the war , while also honoring and recognizing the soldiers who sacrificed there.
The Address recognized the sight of a major shift in the progression of the war. General George Meade’s Union soldiers halted General Robert E. Lee’s Confederate army’s advancement into the North, forcing them to retreat, from which they never recovered. “My dead and wounded were nearly as great in number as those still on duty” (Oates). Oates, a colonel in the Confederate army whose regiment took one of the highest casualty counts in the battle, portrayed it’s magnitude , the effect it had on his troops, and their ability to carry on to the end of the war. The great
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After the battle there was unrest and disorder in how to handle the death and destruction of war. But Lincoln was able to take the spotlight and give closure and hope to millions of people through his powerful message of only 272 words and dedication of the Arlington National Cemetery. “A house divided against itself cannot stand” - Abraham Lincoln. He not only emphasized the importance of keeping the Union's objective unified, but put his notion into action by carrying the burden of keeping the soldiers efforts alive, and using their sacrifice to motivate and regroup the rest of the