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The Gettysburg Address

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The Impact of the Gettysburg Address on the United States
The speech we now know as the Gettysburg Address was given to consecrate the fallen soldiers in the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. It is known as one of the most influential speeches ever and has been recognized in hindsight as pivotal in the outcome of the war. Its brevity and poetry emphasized America’s original dream, the importance of equality, and the opportunity for a new birth of freedom, a message which continues to be of relevance today.
The Gettysburg Address was powerful because each word was thought out and was meaningful to Lincoln. It was on November 19, 1863, when Lincoln delivered the speech after the battle of Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg was the most demoralizing battle of the Civil war between the Union and the Confederacy, with over 50,000 casualties in just three days. Lincoln spoke at the ceremonies honoring the brave Union soldiers after Edward Everett, a famous orator who spoke for two hours. In contrast Lincoln captivated his crowd for just over two minutes with a mere 272 words. He was concise and to the point while also poetic. Everett is known to have sent Lincoln a letter after the ceremony that said; "I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes." Lincoln repeated words that he wanted to emphasize; we, dedicated, and nation. He stressed these words to make his message clearer.

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