The 1860s was a time when the United States was facing one of the bloodiest wars in history. One of the reasons for the Civil War was the election of Abraham Lincoln. During one of the most significant periods in American history, Abraham Lincoln was elected as the sixteenth president of the United States and the first Republican President on November 6th, 1860. However, South Carolina issued the “Declaration of the Causes of Secession,” because they believed Lincoln sided with anti-slavery supporters (Bartels). As the commander in chief of the Union Army, Lincoln needed to bring an end to the war and reunite the nation. His determination to do so led to one of Abraham Lincoln’s most inspirational wartime speeches at the Gettysburg National
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Lincoln starts off by saying, “Fourscore 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). In this single phrase, he reminds the audience of the basics on which this country was founded: independence and equality. These two basics are what our forefathers fought for and what each President should preserve. He also states Thomas Jefferson’s words, from the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal.” The interpretation of this rule is that every citizen has the right to live his or her life with the pursuit of happiness (The Declaration of Independence). By referring to Thomas Jefferson’s words, he reminds the citizens that all men and all colored men are equal. He is also questioning our rule of actually following the foundation our forefathers has established. Our founding fathers’ desire of a great country is being ruined by the Civil War. Lincoln uses his credibility as the President of the United States by building off of the founding fathers’ dreams.
By appealing to the audience 's emotions, Lincoln used pathos to captivate listeners. The Civil War was a time when brothers were fighting brothers. Both sides, the Confederate and the Union, had suffered many deaths, and there were a great number of people who wanted the war to end. Lincoln appeals to the audience’s emotions through the speech to tell them, yes, we all have lost someone, and it is okay to be emotional; however, it is even more important to look at the cause of their death. Lincoln
Lincoln starts off by saying, “Fourscore 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). In this single phrase, he reminds the audience of the basics on which this country was founded: independence and equality. These two basics are what our forefathers fought for and what each President should preserve. He also states Thomas Jefferson’s words, from the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal.” The interpretation of this rule is that every citizen has the right to live his or her life with the pursuit of happiness (The Declaration of Independence). By referring to Thomas Jefferson’s words, he reminds the citizens that all men and all colored men are equal. He is also questioning our rule of actually following the foundation our forefathers has established. Our founding fathers’ desire of a great country is being ruined by the Civil War. Lincoln uses his credibility as the President of the United States by building off of the founding fathers’ dreams.
By appealing to the audience 's emotions, Lincoln used pathos to captivate listeners. The Civil War was a time when brothers were fighting brothers. Both sides, the Confederate and the Union, had suffered many deaths, and there were a great number of people who wanted the war to end. Lincoln appeals to the audience’s emotions through the speech to tell them, yes, we all have lost someone, and it is okay to be emotional; however, it is even more important to look at the cause of their death. Lincoln