Rhetorical Analysis Of The Gettysburg Address

The Civil War – the bloodiest American war – was fought over the course of five years. What made the war even worse was that these were men fighting their fellow countrymen. Across that five year span, over six hundred thousand Americans were killed (American Civil War). One of the deadliest and most memorable battles of the war was the Battle of Gettysburg and yet it lasted a mere three days. After the battle, then president, Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech that has become as memorable as the battle itself. Addressing his fellow American people, Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address call for them to keep pushing forward as the end may not be in sight, but it was up to them to get there. And just like the battle, Lincoln’s speech was brief

The entirety of the paragraph, that being “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” (Lincoln 1), reminds the audience of the creation of their nation. America was “conceived in Liberty” (Lincoln 1) according to Lincoln. This metaphor compares America to a baby being born. This draws an important emotion from the audience. America isn’t just a landmass, it is as if it is living and breathing and at the responsibility of those within it. American citizens need to continue to be active and support their country as it is still young. And just like an actual child, it will hit some tough patches that needed to be overcome. Abraham Lincoln then reassures the audience that this country has and will continue to be “dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” (Lincoln 1). The use of the word “created” draws back to the comparison to birth. It is a fundamental part of the United States and to go against that would be to go against the ideas and freedoms of the country as a whole. This sets the tone of familiarity and togetherness perfectly which is continued in the next