When I was in 7th grade I entered the Daughters of the American Revolution Essay contest. The theme was "The Ideals of the Gettysburg Address". I was able to win 3 out of the 4 levels of this competition. I couldn't find the final draft, but I think this copy is practically identical. Enjoy, and feel free to comment...hint, hint.
Four and a half months after the Gettysburg Battle was fought, on November 19th, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln stood and delivered what is one of the most quoted speeches in American History, known as the Gettysburg Address. This two and a half minute speech changed the meaning of the Civil War for the Union.
In Lincoln’s speech he revealed three very important topics. The first is “all men are created equal”, the second, “It is rather for us here dedicated to the great task remaining before us…,” and the third key concept is “a new birth of freedom.”
When he said that “all men are created equal” the general meaning was slavery and discrimination towards the blacks. When President Lincoln was elected the South knew that it could be devastating for them. They were accustomed to using slaves to harvest the main crop of the South, cotton, and also for many tasks around the plantations. At this time 57% of U.S. exports, was cotton. If they lost the War they lost their slaves and their livelihood.
The second topic President Lincoln addressed was the fact that the people should be dedicated to the work which the dead soldiers had fought for as well as those still fighting. The country was separated into the Union (North) and the Confederacy (South). It was necessary for them to unite so they could succeed as a nation.
It is a common belief that slavery was the main cause of the Civil War, when in reality the big issue was state rights with the states wanting to create their own laws and not be subject to Federal Laws. In the Gettysburg Address President Lincoln presented the fact that to become a free nation they would have to join together.
In the closing of the Gettysburg Address, President Lincoln presented his hope that at the conclusion of the Civil War the United States would be able to proceed as George Washington and the founding fathers had meant for it to be: “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”That the country would be able to learn from this experience and become stronger.
Many years later the ideals presented in the Gettysburg Address still relate to our nation today. If the Gettysburg Address was recited now and those same three topics mentioned were addressed, how would our country change?
The first issue was “all men are created equal”. Even though slavery became illegal at the end of the Civil War, the oppression towards black did not end at that time. It took more than one hundred years for blacks to begin being treated as equals. In fact history was made in the last presidential election when the country elected its first African American President. However, stereotypes still exist and there are issues today on religious and non religious beliefs.
In the last presidential election one of the many topics of debate was the size and power of the federal government versus the size and power of each state. It seems that in all the years since President Lincoln gave his speech the correct balance for state rights versus federal rights is still trying to be determined.
When President Lincoln stated that he hoped “that this nation, under god, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”. One hundred forty six years later, the United States has been privileged enough to enjoy the blessings of freedom.
Through President Lincoln’s speech he showed the Union what the war was about. It took many years after the war for the country to start becoming united. It was after the Gettysburg Address, however, that the war turned in the North’s favor. The Gettysburg Address contained many important ideas about the country then and still relate today.
Well Fermata, I have many things to say. First, when the war started, the chances of the South ever winning the war was one to a million. Why? Because the North had industries, metals, and ports to trade for weapons and other war details. Also, the North had three times the population that the South had. It often surprises historians that the North did not win sooner than it did (they were a bit unlucky), but their victory was almost guarrunteed.
ReplyDeleteSecond, when President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclimation, he did not do it with the thought that "All Men Are Created Equal". He did it to change the point of the war. People were getting angry with the war and its purpose to unite the U.S. I would be ticked too considering that the amount of people that died in the Iraq war died in a single Civil War Battle. He did it out of neccesity. It wasn't untill the war was over that he actually gained compassion for the African American people, and voiced the thought of giving them the right to vote (after the war of course). In fact, your second topic in your speech actually is telling people to support the war, which was what he needed.
Third, the discussion on the control of Federal versus State government was rampent before the issue of slavery. In fact, the week after the final formation of our countrie's constitution, Alexander Hamiltion and Thomas Jefferson met in a meeting that almost elevated to a fist-fight because of Hamilton's Federal beliefs against Jefferson's State beliefs.
Fourth, if the South had given up their slaves immediately at the wish of the North, and had started to pay African Americans to work there, their very livelyhoods would have not been destroyed. Only about 25 to 30 percent of the states had slavery, and of that, 98 percent had only one, two, or three. Only about one percent had plantations. The slave owners were higher class, dressed better, and had more extravagent homes than the rest of the Southerners (which was mostly made up of lone farmers, traders, transporters, and many other tasks. Plus, blacks at the time were paid about a fourth of a regular worker, making them cheap to hire. Goods were cheaper in the Southern states, so even when the slaves of the slave owners had to be paid, they could still afford them and even a few luxuries.
In closing, I think that American events and happenings that occur in our country are very warped in textbooks, internet sites, and even in commom public perception. Each one has a little bit of the truth, and it is our responsibility to find and figure out these facts. (I am Brad)