Abraham Lincoln's The Gettysburg Address and Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain

Abraham Lincoln’s The Gettysburg Address and Winston Churchill’s Iron Curtain are two important speeches that are remembered for their grand deliveries and detailed content. Both of these speeches are known for rallying their listeners but their message is vastly different. Additionally, the two speeches have made lasting impacts on the nation’s history, but each in opposing ways. The speeches set new standards in public speaking.

The Gettysburg Address and the Iron Curtain are very comparable speeches, in content and delivery. Abraham Lincoln, US president, delivered his famous speech , The Gettysburg Address, on November 19, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Only about 80 years later, Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister, gave his famous speech the Iron Curtain on March 5, 1946 in Fulton, Missouri. Both of these speeches were meant to rally the American people. Each of the speakers talked of a nation divided. Lincoln stated, “Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.” (Lincoln, Gettysburg Address) He spoke of the American civil war with an optimistic view. He believed that America would make it through even stronger than before, with a little work. Churchill also had similar ideas. He meant to rally Americans and gain them as allies to help the British fight against communist nations. “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” (Churchill, Iron Curtain) He talks about the Soviets being of influence to everyone on one side of the curtain and those on the other sides were not yet influenced. He wanted Americans to stay “pure.” Both Lincoln and Churchill wer...

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...as given amidst a war. He was trying to draw it to a close by encouraging Union troops to not give up on America. Also, Lincoln’s speech is remembered because of its ability to use few powerful words in an inspiring way. He didn’t need long to motivate people with his compelling message. Few, if any, historical speakers have been able to touch Lincoln’s work and speaking ability. Although just as inspiring, Churchill’s speech is remembered more for content. The Gettysburg Address and the Iron Curtain have made lasting impacts of the development of history.

Both The Gettysburg Address and the Iron Curtain are known for rallying their listeners but their messages are vastly different. Additionally, the two speeches have made lasting impacts on the nation’s history, but each in a different way. They will forever be regarded as speeches that dominated politics.