The Gettysburg Address – One of The Major Documents in American History

The primary document that interested me was Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, which could be perceived as a major turning point in American history. The historic document redefined some of the core principles the American population held close to their heart in that time period. These beliefs were rooted within the Declaration of Independence and were re-invoked by Lincoln. These beliefs were those of liberty and freedom that were meant for every man, including slaves. We are able to witness a sense of exigency that Lincoln demanded from the people of America as he seeked to honor those who had sacrificed their lives whilst partaking in total war. A phrase that was the most compelling was when Lincoln says: “these dead shall not have died in vain, that 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.” Acknowledging the gruesome reality behind the civil war, Lincoln believed it was about time to ensure such acts weren’t committed again and to let it be known how unacceptable total war is. Lincoln builds his argument on the basis of secession as being unlawful and shows his stance by attempting to preserve the Union. President Lincoln's determination to preserve the Union caused him to overlook his urgency to free the slaves. In a broader sense Lincoln seeked to maintain the democracy that America was meant to represent, however neglected the struggles faced by slaves. His purpose was solely to bring the country together as it had been divided by differing views on the Civil War. Northern and Southern states were separated mainly over whether the institution of slavery should be allowed or removed. Lincoln began getting concerned if the nation created under the Declaration of all men being equal would continue to keep those roots alive, or alternatively, would democracy be discredited as the legitimacy of succession began to be questioned.

During this time Lincoln claims what happened in Gettysburg “a new birth of freedom.” Many sacrifices were made during the war and Lincoln feared a higher rate of death. The Battle of Gettysburg had become the bloodiest battle ever fought in America. Therefore, the biggest hope surrounding the Gettysburg Address was envisioning a new fate for the people of America. No longer was violence the answer, rather many began to put an end to it. The North strived for unification, whilst the South strived to obtain independence. To achieve the desired reunification the Union needed to occupy Confederate territory and defeat the Confederate army. The Union grew very frustrated with the Confederacy as they continuously collided with one another which is why the Battle of Gettysburg initially took place. During this time, the expansion of slavery and the increase of slave states was one of the primary concerns. The ideology of self-governance was being challenged as Americans worried about the nation’s political climate. Many began to see this address as an opportunity to fix the wrong-doings that our nation had been through. It was seen as a chance to stand for the beliefs that our Founding Fathers as well as countless soldiers had fought for. Referring to the word “nation” five times in his speech, Lincoln aims to grab everyone’s attention at how vital it is to preserve the nation's core values. He does so by highlighting the casualties that were involved and their purpose being to keep the nation intact, not divided. Lincoln provided a justification for the soldiers' deaths by claiming the battle was a necessary war measure for ensuring that slaves achieved the freedom they righteously deserved. Americans strived to maintain the nationalist culture that America had fostered seen the beginning of time, but feared that the country had become too separated to ever happily unite.

In his speech, Lincoln uses the words “now', “here”, and “should”. He begins reflecting on the past, then discusses the present state. Later, Lincoln transitions into speaking in the future tense as a means to create a verbal relationship with his audience. His focus is centrally concerned with the future of the nation, when instead he should be mourning the lives that had been lost. Edward Everett, a popular orator of the time, spoke at the dedication of Gettysburg's for two-hours. On the other hand, Lincoln’s speech lasted less than two minutes. This gave many individuals the impression that Lincoln wasn’t very concerned for the plight of the people at the time. Although he sought after unification, many critics began saying that Lincoln had insulted the fallen soldiers rather than providing them the honor they deserve. The press either hated the speech or was in favor of the Gettysburg Address depending on which political party they stood for. Republican newspapers believed the speech to be brief yet profound, but Democrats were against it. The document could have offered a more compelling account of the historical period if it was extended and provided a more specific call to action. When Lincoln delivered his speech, we were aware of the violent circumstances at the time and how divided the nation was. However, Lincoln never once mentioned a soldier by name. Instead, he placed them under a general term stating: “brave men.” Furthermore, he discussed the “nation” and plight of the country in many tenses but avoided specifying a definite area. It was evident that Lincoln sought for “freedom” but never brought up slavery which was the core reason the war initially arose. 

The Gettysburg Address is still remembered by all today, however, by undermining many of the critical reasons the war sprung to begin with caused Lincoln’s message to fade and remain veiled under his own personal agenda.

Bibliography

Avalon Project – Gettysburg Address. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/gettyb.asp.