Index IntroductionRhetorical Analysis of the Gettysburg AddressConclusionIntroduction Lasting from July 1 to July 3, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg is considered the most important part of the American Civil War. This battle was a Union victory that stopped Confederate General Robert E. Lee's second invasion of the North. More than 50,000 men died during the three days, making it the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave a significant and inspirational speech dedicating the battlefield cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In an era when leaders commonly gave long speeches, Lincoln's lasted less than three minutes. It is known as the most influential speech in the history of the United States and called the Gettysburg Address. In it, Lincoln paid tribute to the Union soldiers who sacrificed their lives. Having no idea at the time how famous his short speech would become, it continues to be well known and remembered today. In the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln uses rhetorical strategies such as allusion, repetition, and antithesis to remind listeners of the purpose of the soldier's sacrifice: equality, liberty, and national unity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Rhetorical Analysis of the Gettysburg AddressLincoln's speech begins with an allusion to when the Declaration of Independence was signed. Starting with the phrase "Four score and seven years ago..." he was referring to the year 1776, which was 87 years ago (Lincoln). Through this strategy, Lincoln was able to emphasize the importance of equality, freedom, and national unity in his argument while recalling the founding of the United States. He ends his first sentence with a more explicit allusion to the Declaration of Independence by using the phrase “…that all men are created equal.” (Lincoln). Once again, this allusion appealed to the shared value of equality, freedom and unity. For such a short speech, Lincoln used many of the same words. His repetitive phrasing was intentional as it emphasized the points he made. Repeating the word “dedicate” several times at the beginning of his speech, he turns to recognizing those who have fallen in love with their country. There was also the idea that Lincoln wanted Americans to dedicate themselves to the task of building their nation and remain true to the principles on which it was founded. Lincoln was able to make a connection between the dead who gave their last measure of devotion and the living who dedicated themselves to preserving the nation. Through the use of allusion and repetition, Lincoln emphasized the importance of equality, liberty, and national unity in his speech. Moving on to the body of his speech, Lincoln uses the rhetorical strategies of repetition and antithesis to show his dedication to fallen soldiers and fallen soldiers. persuade listeners to preserve the nation. Lincoln repeats the words "our" and "we" several times in the middle of his speech (Lincoln). During the Civil War, when the nation was sharply divided, the repetition of these words emphasized and created a shared national unity. Lincoln preferred to use the pronoun "we" rather than "I" in addressing his message. This pronoun was essential to say to the public because collective work is important for the development of the nation. It is not just an exclusive function of a president. This oft-noted repetition is central to Lincoln's purpose as it emphasizes that the pain of loss and the work to be done are shared by all. Lincoln also employed the use of antithesis to contrasteffectively an idea from another idea. By stating “…for those who here gave their lives, that that nation might live,” Lincoln creates a definitive contrast between life and death. Communicating an idea juxtaposed with its polar opposite is compelling and engages the audience. This illuminates the purpose of the thesis by honoring those who died during the war, but also remaining true to the principles on which America was founded. The antithesis allowed Lincoln to convey a hopeful and inspirational tone in the speech. Even though many died in the battle, new life is born from death, and so through sacrifice a rebirth of the nation is possible. It motivates those who survived to strive for a goal of those who sacrificed their lives. Using repetition and antithesis, Lincoln was able to create unity and purpose in the hearts and minds of those who supported the Union and its soldiers. When Lincoln opened his speech with an allusion to the Declaration of Independence, he closed it with an allusion to the Constitution. The first three words of the Constitution are “We the People” (Madison). They declare that the Constitution derives its power from the people themselves. Lincoln alludes to the crucial document by concluding with a powerful triple that has become famous throughout the world: “of the people, by the people, for the people” (Lincoln). He connected the two great founding documents of the United States as he sought to connect the shattered country. Lincoln opened his speech by referring to the principles of human equality contained in the Declaration of Independence and linked those principles with the desire to preserve the Union created in 1776 and its ideal of self-government. By opening and closing the speech with references to the country's foundational documents, Lincoln created an especially strong sense of unity to convey the purpose of the Civil War. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom EssayConclusion To remind the audience that soldiers sacrificed their lives for equality, freedom, and national unity, Lincoln used the rhetorical strategies of allusion, repetition, and antithesis in his speech. The Gettysburg Address has become arguably the most famous speech in American history because it took suffering and gave it meaning. In fewer than 300 words, Lincoln honored the death of the Union and strove to maintain the kind of nation envisioned by America's founders. He reminded the American people what they were fighting for. Beginning by invoking the image of the Founding Fathers and the new nation, Lincoln expressed his belief that the Civil War was the ultimate test of whether or not the North would win. From the time this speech was delivered to the present, Northern victory preserved the United States as one nation and ended the institution of slavery that had originally divided the country. The argument presented in Lincoln's speech successfully persuaded opponents because it changed the nature and purpose of the Civil War. His speech is still important to consider today because he rededicated the nation to the principles of equality, freedom and national unity. The Gettysburg Address had a notable impact on society, proving to be still famous and remembered by many Americans today. In this essay we will analyze Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, a masterful demonstration of rhetorical strategies. As you explore this analysis, consider exploring other rhetorical essays on our website, where you can discover the intricacies of persuasive writing. Join us as we delve deeper into rhetorical analysis essay examples to reveal the power of language and persuasion. Works Cited Gallagher, G. W. (2005). The speech of.