Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address A Rhetorical Situation

ABOUT the address…   The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War. General Lee was turned back from his northern invasion into Pennsylvania by the Union army, led by General George Meade. This was the last time General Lee tried to bring the Army of Northern Virginia into the North. After three days of fighting (July 1-3, 1863), nearly 40,000 soldiers were killed and many more were wounded. Residents of Gettysburg raised the idea of creating a national cemetery on the site. Pennsylvania Governor Curtin responded quickly and by mid-July a plan was put into operation. Edward Everett, NOT President .Lincoln, was the primary speaker that day Everitt spoke for just more than two hours – Lincoln spoke for just over two minutes. We do not know what Everitt’s address contained without research. The Harrisburg Patriot and Union newspaper made fun of his short speech printing, “We pass over the silly remarks of the President; for the credit of the nation we are willing that the veil of oblivion shall be dropped over them and that they shall no more be repeated or thought of.” How WRONG They were!

Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address Delivered 19 November 1863 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. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.   But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. 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. 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. Click the speaker at the right to hear the speech executed by Country Singing Legend, Johnny Cash If clip will not work, click here http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/gettysburgaddress.htm

Selected Text and Analysis The second paragraph was selected and rephrased to address the Twin towers Location after the horror of ‘9-11’ Fourscore and seven years ago (SOUNDS SO FORMAL OPPOSED TO 87 YEARS – ALLUDES TO THE PROPERNESS OF THE BRITISH SETTLERS) our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. (PREPOSITION ‘ON’ WHY NOT IN OR TO?) Now we are engaged in a great ( HUGE – MASSIVE – IMPORTANT) civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. USES THE USE OF QUESTION TO DETERMINE IF ALL AGREE THAT THE FOREFATHERS HAD THE RIGHT IDEA AND CAN MANKIND ENDURE TOGETHER IN ONE ACCORD. We (WE WHO?) are met on a great battlefield of that war (NOT THE CIVIL WAR- BUT THE WAR TO SEE IF A NEW NATION CAN MAKE IT) . We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live (WE MUST HONOR THOSE THAT BELIEVED THAT YES T0 THIS NEW NATION WOULD ENDURE AND THEY DIES TO PROVE THEIR BELIEF IN THE SAME IDEA) . It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. (AS AN ACT OF RESPECT- WE MUST PROVIDE A BURIAL LOCATION FOR THEIR HONOR AND OUR APPRECIATION)   PRESENTED IN ENTIRELY 2ND PERSON TO INCLUDE HIMSELF AS A GRATEFUL PARTICIPANT AND COMMONER AS WELL. THE NEW NATION WAS CONCEIVED AND DEDICATED – LIKE A NEW BORN IS DEDICATED IN CHURCH TO GOD AFTER BIRTH THE EMPHASIS ON THE SECOND PERSON AND APPRECIATION FOR THE FALLEN SOLDIERS TO REST WHERE THEY DIED.. NOT BE MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION.. BUT TO STAY WITH THE BLOOD THEY DID SPILL FOR THEIR HONOR,

Revision Analysis Because the original speech was given to the troops and bystanders during the civil war, and on the field where soldiers died, the effect of the same would be ground zero in New York City. The audience for a current Gettysburg Address would be the same in that families, friends and those ultimately affected by the battle would be listening to the words given.  The idea that those who died would be buried there, as a reminder of the exact reason for their death, would be fitting, rather than transporting bodies to family grave plots or others areas to lay at their final rest. The rewrite focuses on previous battles that have been won and that have strengthened the country, as Lincoln focused on the intent of the declaration.

Final Rewrite  In the year One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy-six, our forefathers established our independence from the tyrannical reign of Great Britain. Since that day, we, as a country, have embraced our separation, risen to power in industry, trade, and military leadership. Our founders knew that there would be opposition to such power and during this great tragedy of ‘9-11’, we have be a victim of such opposition and envy. The goal of those who participated in the heinous act was not merely to take the lives of Americans, but to take the spirit of America as a whole. But, we have overcome such tyranny before. We overcame during the American Revolutionary War, we overcame strife among ourselves during the American Civil War, we overcame as an ally to fledgling nations during World War I and again against the terror presented toward us during World War II. Now, we stand together, not as a defeated nation, but as wounded brothers and sisters to uphold one-another as we wage yet another battle for our continued independence. But, these men and women that have already won the battle, these that have laid themselves to rest here at the twin towers, shall be remembered for their heroism and their sacrifice to us, their wounded brothers and sisters. It is fitting that we should memorialize each and every one of these heroes here, on this now sacred ground, so that we may not forget the sacrifice they made for each one of us that fretful day. A sacrifice not for fame or glory, but for the inherent integrity each one of us, as Americans, harbor within our very core.   REWRITE (Orig: 100 words / Rewrite 274 words)