03c2_Activity

Unit03: Era of Growth & Disunion

Ch.11

Document Analysis
The Emancipation Proclamation vs. The Gettysburg Address
Where necessary, take targeted notes and keep the notes organized in your notebook. Sources are listed separately at the end of
this document.

I. The Emancipation Proclamation

Please read a background summary of this document at http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/
featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/index.html
A. Begin an analysis of the document by considering the questions below. The document is found at
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/
transcript.html
1. By what presidential authority does the president issue this proclamation?
2. What is the presidents goal with this proclamation?
3. How does he intend on accomplishing this goal according to the proclamation?
B. The Gilder-Lehrman Institute of American History poses this question:
Why is it so bland? Surely, the author of the Second Inaugural and the Gettysburg Address
could make an Emancipation Proclamation the occasion for the most stirring and sublime
prose in American political history. Instead, the Emancipation Proclamation is written in the
flat legal language of whereas and therefore and military necessity. As historian Richard
Hofstadter said, The Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, had all the moral
grandeur of a bill of lading.**
1. Why would Richard Hofstadter say this and do you agree?
2. Why would the style of this proclamation differ so much from President Lincolns other great
writings?
II. The Gettysburg Address
A. Please read a background summary of this document at http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/
lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm.
B. Begin an analysis of the document by considering the questions below. The document is found on
the same webpage as the background summary above.
1. What is the purpose of the speech? (Paraphrase, rather than repeat the words used)
2. There no persons or places mentioned in the speech. In addition, references to slavery and
the battle/ war are similarly missing. Why? A dedicatory speech without a reference is weird.
What is he doing?
C. Please conduct a Wordle analysis as youve done previously with other documents. Any comment
on how the 713 word Emancipation Proclamation compare to the 272 word Gettysburg Address?
Sources: Accessed 7 Dec. 2014
The Emancipation Proclamation: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/
transcript.html
Bliss Copy of the Gettysburg Address: http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm
Gilder-Lehrman Inst. of American History: https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/african-americans-and-emancipation/
essays/emancipation-proclamation-bill-lading-or-ti
** Note: Bill of lading is a document issued by a carrier which details a shipment of merchandise and gives title of that shipment to
a specified party. Bills of lading are one of three important documents used in international trade to help guarantee that exporters
receive payment and importers receive merchandise.