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November 19, 1863 - 10 sentences and 272 words that redefined the American Identity
Context: America was in the midst of a bloody civil war. Union troops had only four months earlier defeated Confederate troops at the Battle of Gettysburg, widely recognized as the turning point in the war. The stated purpose of Lincoln’s speech was to dedicate a plot of land that would become Soldier’s National Cemetery to honor the fallen. However, the Civil War still raged and Lincoln realized that he also had to inspire the people to continue the fight.
[7] The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
This sentence is full of solemn respect for those who fought. It is an eloquent way of saying that their actions speak louder than Lincoln’s words.
[8] The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
[9] It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.
The final two sentence of the address sound a call to action, a resolve to complete “the unfinished work”. They are full of inspirational words such as “dedicated”, “nobly”, “great”, “honored”, “devotion”, “highly resolve”, “God”, “birth” and “freedom”
[10] It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—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 finishes with a powerful triple that has become famous throughout the world: “of the people, by the people, for the people”.
“I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes.”
Notable Presidential pronouncements that wrestled with important issues at critical times....
President Woodrow Wilson’s speech setting forth the Fourteen Points that would serve as the blueprint for the postwar period after World War I.
Four Freedoms address by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that set forth the major objectives of World War II.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, warning of the dangerous threat of the military-industrial complex to the freedom achieved by World War II.
He uses contrast effectively. By stating “those who heregave their livesthat this nation mightlive” Lincoln makes what is perhaps the ultimate contrast: life vs death. Contrast is compelling. As Nancy Duarte says in her book, Resonate, “People are naturally attracted to opposites, so presentations should draw from this attraction to create interest. Communicating an idea juxtaposed with its polar opposite creates energy. Moving back and forth between the contradictory poles encourages full engagement from the audience.”
The final two sentence of the address sound a call to action, a resolve to complete “the unfinished work”.
The final two sentence of the address sound a call to action, a resolve to complete “the unfinished work”.
There are a couple of contrasts here: “the living” with “the honored dead”; and “these dead shall not have died in vain” with “this nation … shall have a new birth of freedom”.
”.
There are a couple of contrasts here: “the living” with “the honored dead”; and “these dead shall not have died in vain” with “this nation … shall have a new birth of
[7] The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
This sentence is full of solemn respect for those who fought. It is an eloquent way of saying that their actions speak louder than Lincoln’s words.
[8] The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
[9] It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.
The final two sentence of the address sound a call to action, a resolve to complete “the unfinished work”. They are full of inspirational words such as “dedicated”, “nobly”, “great”, “honored”, “devotion”, “highly resolve”, “God”, “birth” and “freedom”
[10] It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—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 finishes with a powerful triple that has become famous throughout the world: “of the people, by the people, for the people”.
Eight times in 250 words — two minutes — Lincoln invokes the place — the hallowed ground of Gettysburg — by repeating the word ‘here’. As a result, he weaves some kind of spell on listeners, then and afterward, that is not consciously noticed, but unconsciously seems to have a powerful effect.
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