One of the greatest speeches of all time, the Gettysburg Address was given by President Abraham Lincoln at the dedication of the Gettysburg cemetery on November 19, 1863. The cemetary commemorated the battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, in which 60,000 men surrendered their lives. The Civil War was occurring in America, and the Battle of Gettysburg became the turning point in the Civil War. The poetic imagery and rhythms of Lincoln's speech memorializing the battle and the battlefield are what makes the speech a key document in American history. One of the reasons why Abraham Lincoln's Address was so effective was the audience he spoke to. He was speaking in front of mostly white males from the North, who had either the same or similar beliefs as President Lincoln had, which pertained to slavery. This audience helped Lincoln address not only the audience before him, but also the entire nation. The audience also contributed to his attitude by making him more comfortable. Because he was speaking to a friendly audience he used pathos. Abraham Lincoln's attitude while giving his Gettysburg Address was calm but dedicated, and he was trying to convince the audience that all men are created equal. The audience believed what Lincoln was saying. He spoke to them in a way which almost demanded that they keep fighting to end slavery. The techniques Abraham Lincoln used while giving his speech included the usage of strong powerful words like "consecrate, "nobly" and "vain." The usage of alliteration also helped to convey his message. Through these different techniques Abraham Lincoln was able to convey his message that all men were created equal.
