Lincoln’s speech during the Civil War had a meaningful impact on listeners and helped people continue to fight for independence. It is significant, concise, with little specifics, but filled with deep meaning. Vocabulary, psychological techniques, as well as speaker pauses give the semantic load of this message. Through the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln wanted to honor ancestors’ memory, emphasizing the need to continue the struggle for freedom and equality through the praise of national and moral principles.
With his speech, the orator wanted to express gratitude and pay eternal respect to the ancestors who occupied the territory and died in the North and the Confederates’ battle. The event took place at the cemetery opening and was a significant occasion since it was dedicated to the Civil War’s bloodiest battle. The speech aimed to penetrate people’s hearts, cheer them up after a hard struggle and the loss of loved ones. According to Jordan, it was reasonably open; those words were uttered neither “behind the backs” nor “to the surprise of soldiers or former slaves” (96). Besides being sincere, the author expresses respect and honor. By the phrase “for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live,” the speaker ambitiously thank the ancestors for their sacrifice, which earns respect from the public (Basler). Lincoln delivered a brief speech filled with meaning and appealing to the audience’s emotions.
The talk is relatively short and lasts only about 2 minutes; however, it is filled with various techniques and speech patterns. In the first sentence, the author uses four different psychological strategies of influence, such as telling a story, calling for consent, personal plural pronouns, and reasons. The speaker begins with the story of the ancestors who gave birth to a new, improved nation and accepted equality. This phrase was said to gain approval from the people to agree with the president. Lincoln uses plural personal pronouns such as “we” to evoke a sense of community unity. Likewise, throughout the speech, the presenter talks about the reasons why the audience should think or act in a certain way. For instance, “it is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion” (Basler). By the expression, they tell about the goal and show the cause why the nation should continue to fight. Thanks to his speech’s brevity and semantic message, Lincoln could support and direct the audience to further development.
The struggle for freedom and equality was the main goal of the War’s outbreak; hence the president needed to remind it. The circumstances that people face during achieving the goal sometimes make humans forget why they even started all this. The speaker strongly influences emotions such as pride, regret, the anticipation of a new life. Civil War was not just a fight to save the Union, but a struggle for freedom and equality for all, an idea Lincoln had championed during the War (History.com Editors). By the story of the dead people, they recall many efforts that have previously been made and about the victims that have suffered. The concept of peoples’ unity is confirmed in the second part and is expressed in the phrase “That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom” (Basler). In the last term of the unit, they express a call to action: “This nation will have a new birth of freedom.” The narrator tries to reinforce the idea that people should be united and continue to act towards a common goal.
Lincoln talks about the birth of new freedom, which means helping those who are still in bondage. In this case, they also focus on the pronouns “we” and “our.” It assumes the absence of prejudice and racial discrimination. The effect is amplified through syntactic techniques such as ellipsis. For example, “we can not consecrate… we can not hallow…” (Basler); These small stops enable the audience to comprehend the information they heard and interpret it correctly. The dots help one assess the severity and importance of the Civil War and its aftermath. Syntactic techniques make Lincoln’s speech full and deep; the speaker conveyed fears and wishes and expressed the meaning of the idea of a united America. The president, through diction, guides the audience through a logical cycle, cause, effect, and call to action.
Civil religion occupies a particular place in people’s hearts; consequently, the president turned to values and principles to call people to harmony. The speech consists of large meta-ideas and does not carry specific details such as the number of soldiers killed or the battle’s location. This technique is relevant regardless of time and place and is suitable for all events in a similar context. The commonality of the presenter’s expressions enables each listener to accept the information in their own way and direct the soul’s high impulses to a great cause. According to Smith, “His idea of a civil religion was based on a few simple dogmas” (392). The main ones are the existence of a single supreme being, belief in the world to come, and the sanctity of the social contract and its laws (Smith 392). The principles refer to civic responsibilities and values, which are still valid today.
Another critical factor in Lincoln’s speech’s significance is faith, which helps in the struggle for the people’s moral principles. The biblical language is the principal formal property because it contains archaic words and the rhythm of biblical texts. For instance, the phrase “fathers brought forth on this continent” refers to the biblical lines of Jesus’ birth by Mary (Basler). This comparison shows the life cycle, which comprises three stages, birth, death, and rebirth. Jesus directly personifies rebirth according to the Bible, and in Lincoln’s speech, it non-verbally informs about the fathers who fought, died, and gave life to those present today to continue the circle. Another example is the expression “Four score and seven years,” which echoes one of David’s psalms; It talks about the time length of an individual has been on earth (Basler). The story’s power lay in the idea, which the speaker suggested following more than the law.
The Gettysburg address is well structured and covers all the vital points for the audience. In the beginning, the speaker salutes his ancestors and expresses condolences to loved ones. Then they talk about what is happening now and what efforts were made to achieve the goal. In the end, he calls society to action and gives them reasons to do the duty. The president’s speech is endowed with specific techniques at all stages, which allows it to be robust and relevant.
Works Cited
Basler, Roy P. “The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln.” Abraham Lincoln Online. Speeches and Writings, 2020, Web.
History.com Editors. “President Lincoln Delivers Gettysburg Address.” HISTORY, 2019, Web.
Jordan, Brian Matthew. “The Gettysburg Address: Perspectives on Lincoln’s Greatest Speech Ed. By Sean Conant.” Gettysburg Magazine, vol. 55, no. 1, 2016, p. 96.
Smith, Steven B. “Lincoln and The Politics of The ‘Towering Genius.’” American Political Thought, vol. 7, no. 3, 2018, pp. 375–99.