Gettysburg Address

Summary

Being an historic moment in the history of the United States, the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln was brief and eloquent. It is among the most renowned and recognized speeches of all time. The speech was powerful and well-planned, having the ideal words needed to give hope to a nation divided by war. The Gettysburg address is as important today as it was at the time it was made. This is because it addresses the central and most serious issue that America faced at that time as a nation - dearth of national unity. And this issue is faced by the American society even today. President Lincoln's strong emphasis on liberty and freedom and the provision of equal rights to the minorities applies even today when instances of racial discrimination and communal riots are common in America. The modern American society is polarized and divided by differences of race and ethnicity. However, being a visionary, Lincoln was convinced that a well-defined process of social integration was imperative for the long-term wellbeing and survival of America. He also knew that the dream of his forefathers of a free and liberated American nation could only be fulfilled if the American people could be made to realize the strength of unity and solidarity as a nation. In the modern American society, the rift between communities continues to grow gradually. Taking a glimpse of the manifold actions taken by the American communities in recent years, it comes as no surprise that the American political and legal framework needs a catalytic force that is able to trigger that change. Therefore, Lincoln's speech is highly relevant and appropriate considering the current situation of the American societies and communities.

Gettysburg Address

Introduction

The Gettysburg Address that was given by President Abraham Lincoln is to date, one of the most renowned and recognized speeches of all time. The terse yet powerful speech was delivered as part of a ceremony dedicating the Gettysburg battlefield as Soldier's National Cemetery to honor the fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives. The Gettysburg Battle which lasted from July 1 to July 3, 1863, was crucial as it decided the fate of the war against the South and cost the lives of nearly 8,000 American soldiers on each side while wounding a staggering 26,000. It ended when General Lee's Army retreated from Pennsylvania across the Sach's Bridge on the 4th of July, 1863. Even today, the Gettysburg address is important to the America for three main reasons; it asserts the American ideals of freedom and liberty, values social integration and equality, and it emphasizes on the development of a sound democratic governing system.

Discussion

In order to understand the importance of President Lincoln's address and to determine how it affects us in the current age, it is essential that the key points of the speech are first highlighted. In the opening statement of the speech, President Lincoln says, “our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty…”. This clearly suggests that President Lincoln holds ...