Content of Presentation

I. introduction
II. purpose of speech
III. quotes from the speech
IV. discuss content and structure
V. impact to the world/audience
VI. personal reactions
VII. References
Meet the speaker...

Abraham Abe Lincoln

He was born on February 12, 1809 at Hodgenville, Kentucky

Elected as (16th) President of USA in 1860

Assassinated in April 5, 1865 (aged 56) at Petersen House, Washington D.C.

Father: Thomas Lincoln - farmer and carpenter

Mother: Nancy Hanks - died when Lincoln was nine.

Siblings: Sarah Grigsby was the only sibling to live to maturity.

Wife: Mary Todd - grew up in relative wealth. She was considered mentally unbalanced.

Children: Edward - died at age 3 in 1850; Robert Todd - lawyer and diplomat; William
Wallace - the only president's child to die in the White House, and Thomas "Tad" - died at
18.

Career and Achievements

Lincoln worked as a clerk before joining the military.

He ran for the state legislature and lost in 1832.

He was elected as a Whig to the Illinois legislature .

He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1836.

Lincoln served as a US Representative (1847-49).

He was elected to the state legislature in 1854 but resigned to run for the US Senate.

Summary of Speech

Lincoln's speech puts the Civil War in perspective as a test of the success of the American
Revolution.

The nation founded on equality was in the midst of a war to determine whether such a
nation could continue to exist.

He said that they were gathered to formally dedicate ground hallowed by the men,
American citizens, who died there, but his speech turned the event into a rededication of
the living to the war effort to preserve a nation of freedom.

He delivered his speech at The Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Purpose of the Speech

He wanted to honor those brave soldiers fought in the battles.

He also stresses the importance of liberty, freedom, and equality.

He reminded listeners that the war was being fought to protect these cherished principles.

He wants the nation to be united stronger and that they will better in the future
generations.

He wants everyone to realize that they have a part to play and only when they realize
their part will the nation be strong.

Content and Structure

The Organizational pattern of this speech is chronological, suggesting a metaphor of

organic growth pattern analogous to that of a single human life.

The first part, which provides the basis on which the remainder of the speech depends ,is
identified as the birth of the nation (an event in the past.)

The second part covers the present, or just completed, testing of that nation, which has
now grown to young manhood. This period is characterized as a time of sacrifice (by
individual young men) for the protection of the child-nation.

The third, and final, part sets forth the task for the listenersthe nation has survived its
first major test, now we must work to see it's resurrection from the ashes of the
battlefields, and to realize it's growth to the full promise of maturity.

Impact to the World

It was very short compared to the other speaker, there was silence from the audience
afterward.

Some said it was because they were not sure that he was done, but others said that the
crowd was in awe of what was said.

His speech encouraged many people to stop slavery and become a better nation and to
become a whole nation.

Lincoln invoked the principles of human equality espoused by the Declaration of

Independence.

He redefined the Civil War as a struggle not merely for the Union, but as "a new birth of
freedom" that would bring true equality to all of its citizens.

He created a unified nation in which states' rights were no longer dominant.

He defined democracy in terms of government of the people, by the people, for the
people,

He defined republicanism in terms of freedom, equality and democracy.

Reactions

Gettysburg Address lasted for two minutes and is only 272 words, but those words are
very memorable.

Some people said that the speech is inappropriate to the occasion. On the other hand,
many people published glowing reviews and noted the classical elegance and heartfelt
emotion of the address.

When president-elect Barack Obama spoke on election night, he quoted from the
Gettysburg Address. That contributes to the fact that Lincolns address was frequently
divided along political lines and it has never fallen out of favor . Also, it has been
reprinted countless times. Indeed, it is really remarkable eventhough it only consists of
less than 300 words and lasted for 2 minutes.

His speech was brief, to the point, and poetic yet understandable.

It was a heartfelt and precise message he very much wanted to deliver at a moment of
national crisis.

Lincoln is really smart and I think he used extreme care with constructing it.

He was a modest man who delievered one of the most noble speeches made.