In what sense is Abraham Lincoli regarded as the Father of the American nation?
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How did Abraham Lincoln prove that 'Democracy is the best form of government'?
Ans. Abraham Lincoln won the presidential election of the U.S.A. in 1861, defeating the Northern Democrat Douglas, the Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge, and the constitutional Union candidate John Bell. Lincoln's victory in the presidential election polarised the nation on the issue of slavery and soon led it to the civil war (1861-1865). But Lincoln's strong leadership during the civil war changed the racial future of the United States. The victory of the Union forces in the civil war under his able leadership was a glorious achievement. He was able to save the Union, freeing the slaves and his assassination, soon after the end of the civil war made him a martyr to millions of people all over the world. He is regarded as one of the greatest presidents in the history of the world and the Father of American nation for giving the concept of an ideal Government or the true meaning of "Democracy.
The Americans fought a liberation war against the British rule and established themselves as a free nation on the world atlas in 1776. The creators of America dreamt of a nation, dedicated to the ideals of liberty and equality for all the citizens of America. But the country in its long course failed to do justice to its dream. Racial discriminations were rampant in the U.S.A. The black people were nothing but slaves to the white Americans. This racial distinction led the country to a civil war which lasted for five years from 1861 to 1865. The war came to an end with the victory of the Union forces under the able leadership of President Abraham Lincoln.
The most famous but bloodiest battle of the American civil war occured at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania from July 1 to July 3, 1863. At the end of the battle the Union army had successfully repelled the invasion of the North by the Confederacy's army of Northern Virginia. Several months later, President Lincoln delivered one of the most memorable speeches in U.S. history at Gettysburg.
In his address Lincoln gave meaning to the sacrifice of the dead as well as inspiration to the living. He asserts that the responsibility has come upon the shoulders of the living Americans to go forward with the unfinished task of the dead sons of America. They must dedicate themselves for an America where liberty and equality will be guaranteed for all.
To sum up, Abraham Lincoln has given the right direction to the American nation during their national crisis. His 'Gettysburg Address" is actually a noble utterance full of wisdom and guide-lines for the Americans to reconstruct the war-ravaged country and to give a permanent shape to their democratic government which was so far proved to be the best form of government on the earth. That is why Abraham Lincoln is aptly called the Father of the American Nation.
What are the implications of the metaphorical expressions, birth', 'death', and 're-birth' in Gettysburg Address'?
Ans. 'Gettysburg Lincoln on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, is one of Address', delivered by President Abraham the speech is very simple but it is packed with deeper meanings. The the best speeches, ever made in the history of the world. Apparently metaphors of birth, death and rebirth have been rendered beautifully through out the speech. They not only enhance the literary value of the speech but also give it a special significance as Lincoln goes to redefine the American nation.
Lincoln starts his speech with the image of birth. The very opening sentence contains five images of birth such as, "fathers" "brought forth", "new", "conceived", and "created". By using the images of birth, Lincoln refers to the most significant event in the history of America, the birth of the American nation. The "fathers" means the America's independence heroes who fought against the British colonial rule and brought forth the American nation. The term "conceived" is connected with pregnancy of a woman. Here Lincoln uses the term to point to the fact that America's "fathers" conceived "liberty" as the landmark principle among the country's ideals as a nation. The term "created" refers to the creation of human beings by God as being equal. So the proposition that the creators of America held high was that "all men are created equal".
The images of deaths are associated with the civil war. The American civil war (1861-1865) is regarded as the deadliest war in American history, resulting in the deaths of 620,000 soldiers and an undetermined number of civilian casualties. Deaths in the civil war, were the immediate occasion for Lincoln's famous speech. He had come to Gettysburg with a view to paying homage to the dead soldiers and civilians who fought not only for America but also for entire humanity as their ultimate purpose was to uphold the principles of liberty and equality.
According to Lincoln, death does not demolish all. It to rebirth. The American heroes wilfully embraced death so that the nation might live. In Lincoln's speech, the images of death closely follow the images of birth. Within the context of the speech, the term 'death' has other symbolic significance. Symbolically it refers to the death of evil ideal or evil social custom such as slavery. So the deaths of the national heroes have driven away slavery, a social evil. The new birth of freedom has given a new shape to the American society where liberty and equality will be ensured for all. Thus after the civil war America as a nation was reborn on the principles of liberty and equality.
To sum up, the metaphors of birth, death and rebirth recur through 'Gettysburg Address', the memorable speech of Abraham Lincoln. These metaphors are at the heart of the speech and they bear special meanings.
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