Thứ Hai, 10 tháng 8, 2015

Four Score: Facts About the Gettysburg Address

Gettysburg Address Facts
 
 Four Score: Facts About the Gettysburg Address

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One of the most well-written and remembered speeches of all time is the Gettysburg Address. If you are studying English, you may read through this speech and wonder how in the world you could write something that will be remembered as this piece is. Though you may need to pull out some definitions to familiarize yourself with the actual terminology, it is well worth it. Here are some notable Gettysburg Address facts.

What Was the Speech About?

The Gettysburg Address was a speech given by President Abraham Lincoln in Gettysburg, Pa. It was done on the grounds of a large battlefield where many Confederate and Union soldiers died during the Civil War. The speech is not long, only 10 sentences in length and taking just a few minutes to complete. Yet, what makes it so memorable is the ability of the words to capture the essence of the country during this trying time.

What Made It Important?

The speech was a component of a dedication of a memorial at the grounds of the battlefield. The battle at the field lasted from July 1 through July 3, 1863. Nearly 8,000 Americans died there, including more than 4,700 Confederate soldiers, and more than 27,000 men were wounded. The speech was conducted as part of the dedication of the Soldier's National Cemetery on the grounds.

Was Lincoln the Main Speaker?

Interestingly, Lincoln was not the main speaker at the dedication. Rather, a local politician from Massachusetts named Edward Everett spoke for more than two hours. He later stated that he didn't think that he could capture what Lincoln did in his short speech.

Did Everyone Like the Speech?

Right after the speech, some reports indicated it was bad and poorly done. Democrats knocked Lincoln's speech, saying it was ridiculous, while Republicans reprinted it and praised it. There are five manuscripts of the address. You can see one version, called the "Bliss" copy, in the Lincoln Room of the White House.

The speech, which starts, "Four score and seven years ago ?" has become a testament not only to the culture of the American people, but also a tool for speech writing. Written at a time of strife, the speech helped to bring together people who were tired of war. The speech's ability to move the conflict of the Civil War from that of slavery to that about the true principles of the founding of the country was a valuable part of history. It is still one of the best written speeches in American history.
 
Nguồn: http://english.answers.com/definitions/four-score-facts-about

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