Spencer Traster

October 13, 2016

AP Language
Babcock
Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Analysis

Within Lincolns persuasive piece entitled Gettysburg address regarding the

preservation of the nation after the Battle of Gettysburg, he shifts from the past to the present to

the future to give the civilians and military gathered a sense of hope that that government

shall not perish (Lincoln 19) so that they will continue to fight and support the war.

To convince his audience to support the war effort, Lincoln gives them a sense of

hopefulness that the nation will prosper. The personification of a nation conceived in Liberty

(Lincoln 2) creates that sense of hope in Lincolns audience so that they will continue to support

the war. This demonstrates that the nation is still young and will run into hard times with war and

other catastrophes, but will continue to prosper with the help of the civilians and military alike.

This instills a sense of paternal protection in his audience. Through this, a sense of emotional

appeal is created, for if they feel they are responsible for the welfare of the nation, they will rally

behind Lincolns cause. By invoking this sense of life and feeling into the nation, he helps create

a rallying point for the people to follow. He also rallies the audience behind the war effort by

using abstract language in his use of the concept of Liberty (Lincoln 2), which he uses to

demonstrate the nations founding idea of prosperity through all hardship, even if that founding
fabric is being ripped apart. By supplying a foundation for the birth of the nation, he strengthens

his use of personification. Through this emotional appeal, Lincoln persuades his audience to

continue to support the war and persevere through all hardship.

Today, Lincolns message echoes across all forms of society. In pop culture, movies have

begun to move toward honoring those who have served, including The Hurt Locker and

Saving Private Ryan. Many of these movies have helped to shift focus onto military families

and their sacrifice. This focus has created a rally for better conditions for soldiers and their

families. It has also strengthened Lincolns rallying cry for both civilians and military alike to

join together and fight for a common cause.