The famous Gettysburg Address delivered by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War is one of the most well known speeches in American history. It was moving and delivered perfectly in the time of outrage and chaos. One of the reasons why it was so touching and inspiring, I belive, is because it emphasizes the importance of dying for one's country. When so many people are dying, many people are left to reconsider why they are dying in the first place, and Lincoln addresses their concerns in the speech. Not only does this placate any anger or help soothe the sadness of those who have lost loved ones, but it emphasizes the role of those who are fighting the war and gives them credit for realizing the cause and acting on it. However, he also manages to include everyone in his speech, giving everyone a place in this war by using the royal "we." Several of his sentences include the word we, showing that this is a group effort and must be fought as a nation, which is what he is striving for. One of the most effective technique that Lincoln employs is appealing to the emotions of his audience. They are clearly distraught and overwhelmed by the concept and event of war, and he manages to show that he realizes this, as they must "dedicate" and "struggle." Also, he addresses God in this speech, an omnipotent force representing religion. Many people only had religion to believe in during this war, praying for the best outcome possible and here, Lincoln prays with them for the greater cause.
