Abraham Lincoln

1
Abraham Lincoln

• The Gettysburg Address

Cecilia H. C. Liu American Literature I 10/1/2004
2
Outline

• Introduction to Abraham Lincoln
• The Importance of the Battle
• Ideas in the Speech
• References

3
Abraham Lincoln

• Born on February 12th, 1809
• Became a legislator in 1834.
• Got married in 1842.
• 1858, had a famous debate with Stephen A. Douglas.

4
Abraham Lincoln

• Became the president of US in 1860.
• Pulled down slavery with the Emancipation
  Proclamation in 1863.
• Assassinated on 15th of April,
• 1865.

5
The Address Delivered at Gettysburg

• For the opening of Dedication of the Cemetery, at
  Gettysburg
• Date November 19, 1863

6
The Importance of the Battle of Gettysburg

• The Battle of Gettysburg, a critical turning
  point in the American Civil War, was a conflict
  that determined the fate of the U.S.
• More Information

7
The Importance of the Battle of Gettysburg

• The speech is short, but persuasive.
• 1. Made a formal political connection between
  the principles of the Declaration of Independence
  and the U.S. Constitution.
• 2. At Gettysburg the Declaration became the
  foremost source of American moral principles,
• giving priority to the equality of mankind.
• Therefore, Lincoln has thus given Americans a
  mission.

8
The Importance of the Battle of Gettysburg

• Give the mission for all Americans
• "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 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.

9
Ideas of Democracy in This Speech

• Four score and seven years ago, our fathers
  brought forth upon this continent a new nation
  . . . all men are created equal.
• . . . 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.

10
Lincolns Character

• The inaugural speech he gave was filled with
  eloquence and persuasiveness.
• Modest
• But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate. .
  .we cannot consecrate . . . , far above our
  poor power to add or detract.
• Gratitude
• It is for us the living, rather, to be
• dedicated here . . . to be here
  dedicated to the great task remaining before us.
  .

11
Background of the Speech

• In 1864, Lincoln was elected as the American
  president again. At that time, America still
  suffered from the Civil War and the society was
  unstable. No one could predict the result of
  Civil War.
• However, Lincolns victory of the election became
  the inspiration for the Northerners in America.
  They decided to strongly fight for winning the
  war.

12
Background of the Speech

• On March 4th, 1865, when Lincoln addressed the
  second inaugural, the situation showed that the
  North was to win the war and that the Civil War
  was going to end.
• But, unfortunately, he hadnt had chance to put
  his ideas into practice. He was assassinated
  shortly on of April, 1865.

13
Clearly Separated 2 Different Positions

• Strong and clear contrast, and persuasive
• While the inaugural sic address . . .
  devoted altogether to saving the Union without
  war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking
  to destroy it without war.
• Both parties deprecated war but one of
• them would make war rather than let the
• nation survive and the other would
• accept war rather than let it perish, which
  was why the war was declared.

14
The Connection was Made Between the 2 Parties
Through God

• Both read the same Bible, and pray to
• the same God . . . but let us judge not
  that we be not judged.
• "Woe unto the world because of offences! . . .
  He now wills to remove, and that He gives to
  both North and South, this terrible war, as the
  woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall
  we discern therein any departure from those
  divine attributes which the believers in a Living
  God always ascribe to Him?

15
The Connection was Made Between the 2 Parties
Through God

• Yet, if God wills that it continue, . . .
  "the judgments of the Lord, are true and
  righteous altogether"
• Declare Gods will that the punishment should be
  ended.
• If North and South still fight against each
  other, the common wealth of Nation will be gone
  altogether.
• Slavery has already paid enough and Americans
  had also gained enough of it as well
• However, the passage also suggests metaphorically
  that Americans can decide for their future.

16
Major Topics in the Second Inaugural Address

• Discusses the major objectives for Americans
  after the Civil War
• to bind up the nation's wounds to care
  for him who shall have borne the battle,
  and for his widow, and his orphan--to do
  all which may achieve and cherish a just
  and lasting peace, among ourselves, and
  with all nations.
• Hope to avoid judging the offense and punishment
• .but let us judge not that we be not judged.
• With malice toward none . . . let us strive
  on to finish the work we are in

17
References

• History Overview.
• lthttp//www.u-s-history.com/index.htmlgt.
• lthttp//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery_
  in_the_United_Statesgt.
• Civil War. lthttp//memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/tl
  1861.htmgt. lthttp//www.watson.org/lisa/blackhisto
  ry/post-civilwargt.