Gettysburb Essay, Research Paper

While giving the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863 there were three major factors that helped Abraham Lincoln to convey his message that all men are created equal and should be so treated. Those three major factors were the audience, his attitude while giving the address, and the techniques that he used while giving the address at Gettysburg.

One of the reasons why Abraham Lincoln’s Address was so effective was in part due to the audience to whom he spoke. He was speaking in front of mostly white males from the North, who had either the same or similar beliefs as President Lincoln had, which pertained to slavery. This audience helped Mr. Lincoln address not only the audience before him, but also the entire nation.

The audience also contributed to his attitude by making him more comfortable. Abraham Lincoln’s attitude while giving his Gettysburg Address was calm, but dedicated, and he was trying to convince the audience that all men are created equal. All men. His attitude captured the audience. They believed in what Abraham Lincoln was saying. He spoke to them, in a way, which almost demanded that they keep fighting to end slavery. His attitude was made stronger by the techniques that he used while addressing Gettysburg.

The techniques Abraham Lincoln used while giving the Gettysburg Address included the usage of strong, powerful words. It also included alliteration, and even metaphors. He used words like “consecrate,” “nobly,” and “vain.” The usage of alliteration also helped to convey his message, especially when he said, “that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that 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.” He used “the battlefield” as a way of speaking about the injustice of slavery. So by using strong powerful words, using alliteration, and by using metaphors, Abraham Lincoln was able to convey his message, that all men are created equal. Thus by having the right audience, the “right” attitude, and the techniques that he used, Abraham Lincoln was able to convey his message that all men are created equal.