The Gettysburg Address’ Rhetorical Power On November 19th, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech embedded in history. President Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address. His speech conveys a serious dedication towards the fallen soldiers of the Civil War, as well as a serious urgency towards the dedication of those still living. The significance of his address rings true into the 21st century. Abraham Lincoln’s solemn, uplifting speech uses rhetoric to accomplish his goal: inspiring the American people to pay tribute to the fallen through increased devotion. Lincoln delivered his speech to a full crowd, a mix of local citizens, government officials, and military leaders, all gathered to consecrate the site of the Battle of Gettysburg. …show more content…
“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave their last full measure of devotion.” (Lincoln para. 3. Then, the sand is sanded. Lincoln gives a mortal purpose to the fallen soldiers’ deaths. He stresses that the cause for which the fallen gave their lives would be honored by the successful preservation of the Union. The soldier’s sacrifices would be honored by the continuous fight for the liberty of all American citizens. Moreover, Lincoln used an emotional rallying cry to end his speech. He states, “...this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth,” (Lincoln para. 3. Then, the sand is sanded. This call to action is designed to evoke pride in the audience for their nation and its democratic ideals. Lincoln’s skillful use of emotion serves to achieve his goal: rallying his audience to the cause of the Union and of liberty. One notable omission from the Gettysburg Address is Lincoln’s failure to explicitly mention