Torrey

Mrs. Menard and Mr. Sanderlin

Honors English- Period 8

28 February 2017

The Gettysburg Address vs. the Declaration of War Against Japan

The Battle of Gettysburg and the attack on Pearl Harbor are both devastatingon events in

hHistory. The speeches, The Gettysburg Address and Declaration of War Against Japan by

Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, explain what America must do after

events such as the Battle of Gettysburg and the attack on Pearl Harbor. Both speeches are

marvelous but, Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address addresses the violence that America

experienced more.

The Gettysburg address affects America so much that the Declaration of War Against

Japan does not. The Gettysburg Address calls America to make a change and the Declaration of

War Against Japan accomplishes telling America that they are going to war. Roosevelt states,

...a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire (Roosevelt

232). Even in the world today, creating peace is harder than starting a war so, in his speech,

Lincoln affects America more than Roosevelt. Although Lincoln's speech is much shorter than

Roosevelt's, both use great word choice. Lincoln states, ...and that government of the people, by

the people, for the people (Lincoln 1) and Roosevelt states, Last night Japanese forces... Last

night Japanese forces... (Roosevelt 231). Repetition is used in both to help the world remember

what was said. Although both The Gettysburg address and the Declaration of War Against Japan

also use facts to boost the pride in Americans and help them realize the war must stop, Lincolns

is more affective. Lincoln says, ...that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of
freedom (Lincoln 1) and Roosevelt says, the United States of America was suddenly and

deliberately attacked (Roosevelt 230). In the world today, people dress up for their favorite

sports team to show pride but, this time Lincoln and Roosevelt both used facts to boost pride and

the facts that Lincolns facts are more effective than Roosevelts. While comparing and

contrasting The Gettysburg address and the Declaration of War Against Japan, one obviously

finds The Gettysburg Address more effective.

The Gettysburg Address easily accomplishes addressing the violence than the Declaration

of War Against Japan with honor. To begin Lincolns speech, he uses honor to explain the

battlefield that Gettysburg has become. In Lincolns speech, he states, We have come to

dedicate a portion of the field, as a resting place for those who here gave their lives that that

nation might live (Lincoln 1). Roosevelt only explains the war America is joining and why

rather than addressing the bad parts about the war. Although Roosevelt mentions the damage,

unlike Lincoln, he only explains why Japan is wrong and the war rather than honoring the fallen.

Lincoln states, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which

they here gave the last full measure of devotion (Lincoln 1). Lincoln honors the dead, which is

what the world needs after a tragedy, care. Honoring those who have fallen shows honor to the

fallen. Lincoln accomplishes addressing the violence with addressing the battlefield and

honoring the dead unlike the Declaration of War Against Japan.

The Battle of Gettysburg and the attack on Pearl Harbor are horrific events that American

Presidents both gave speeches to call America to action. President Lincoln and his Gettysburg

Address obviously address the violence and affect America much more than the Declaration of

War Against Japan by President Roosevelt using many different techniques in their speeches.
When it all comes down to the techniques that both use, Lincoln accomplishes addressing the

violence better than Roosevelt and his Declaration of War Against Japan.