The Equality Gap Between Men And Women - 1346 Words

For decades, the equality gap between men and women in society has been debated, argued, and tossed around as an excuse to incite controversy—but are men and women equal? Of course, the issue is harshly divided and not easily discussed. More importantly, if they are not equal, will they ever be equal? One could even venture out into further controversy and ask, should they be equal? In this paper, I will argue that men and women are not equal based on evidence sourced from the current gender gap status in American society—furthermore, I will take a look at some of the ideas that our philosophical forefathers held about men and women in society and how those ideas may have shaped the way society looks at gender roles. Are Men and Women Equal in Society? Feminist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir, author of the notable text The Second Sex, once wrote â€Å"Legislators, priests, philosophers, and scientists have striven to show that the subordinate position of women is willed in heaven and advantageous on earth† (Beauvoir, 1949)—she fought for the oppression of women and argued that women who rebelled against the norms of society were ostracized by their peers. Like many other feminist activists of her time, Beauvoir believed that women and men were not equal partners within society; her analysis of this inequality sparked my interest in arguing this point. I believe that for decades, women have struggled to fight oppression aimed from every angle—from the very obvious wage gapsShow MoreRelatedEducation And Pay Equality Between Men And Women1105 Words   |  5 Pagesbeginning of time, humanity has fought against each other for equality. African Americans have fought to get back the human rights that the white people stole from them. For women, they protested for equality with men. In each case, people abused their privileges in order to harm others. For each problem humanity tries to solve, a new one appears. To add on, humanity now faces two new issues: the fight for educational and pay equality. Boys and girls are no longer receiving balanced treatment forRead MoreEssay about Is Equality Truly Equal?1311 Words   |  6 PagesWomen have always been paid less than men for doing the same work of the same quality. We are at a point in history where all people are considered to be equal, especially in this country. But even in this â€Å"equal world, women are still paid less. Is this what equal looks like? We can’t just brag about being of the forerunners of the modern world, we have to actually practice what we preach. The worst part of this inequality is that most people are oblivious to this pay gap; employees are usuallyRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women Essay1710 Words   |  7 Pa gesEquality is something America prides itself on having, equality of rights between every race and ethnicity, because as we were so told, â€Å"All men are created equal.† We’ve assumed that they implied all humans, not simply the male gender when speaking that truth. However, women only gained their rights within the last 100 years and that famous quote was spoken centuries ago. So does this famous quote only apply to the male gender of our society? It seemed that for the longest time it did until womenRead MoreGender Inequality During The Civil Rights Movement1480 Words   |  6 Pagesthat promoted equality, including the Equal Pay Act of 1963. This Act requires equal pay for equal work, which calls attention to the unethical practice of paying female employees less in wages than male employees for the same job. It has been 53 years since President Kennedy approved this Act, and it has allowed women to experience economic and social progress, but much more remains to be done. When this Act was signed into law in 1963, women were only being paid 59% of what men were paid (â€Å"PayRead MoreThe Gender Wage Gap Within Society1050 Words   |  5 Pagescounterparts. The gender wage gap has been a real and prevalent thing in our society. Even in the present, women are inclined to get lower salaries than men throughout the world, and most importantly the United States where the constitution says â€Å"all men are created equal.† All salaries are on a weekly basis and percentages are cents a woman earns per dollar a man earns. Although, there is much we can do as individuals to stop discrimination in the work force. The United States’ wage gap is caused by discriminationRead MoreFemale Discrimination And Domestic Violence869 Words   |  4 Pagessuch as pay gap significantly affect female graduates. A report showed that some industries suffer a larger gender pay gap than others. The pay inequality was then argued to stem from a lack of women in Parliament. The lack of women representatives was witnessed to have a direct impact on workplace discrimination and domestic violence. Due to an image that women are â€Å"lesser† in the workforce, women have been portrayed as weak and reliant on men. Furthermore, a survey showed that men and employeesRead MoreThe Gender Wage Gap Within Society1281 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout history females have never been treated fairly compared to their male counterparts. The gender wage gap has been a real and prevalent thing in our society. Even in the present, women are inclined to get lower salaries than men throughout the world, and most importantly the United States where the constitution says â€Å"all men are created equal.† All salaries are on a weekly basis and percentages are cents a woman earns per dollar a man earns. Though many are currently working to fix the situationRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women Essay1647 Words   |  7 Pagesearly 1920’ s, women thought they had achieved the unachievable. They could finally work, keep their earned wages, marry whomever they please, and even vote. After reaching their goal and fighting vigorously, women could taste equality and the freedom they deserved. While women still have the right to work in today’s society, women are not exactly treated equal in the workplace. Regardless of the past and the extreme measures taken to ensure equal opportunities for both men and women, there are manyRead MoreGender Wage Inequality1630 Words   |  7 Pagesgender pay gap without defining it. Simply put, gender pay gap is the inequality between men and women wages. Gender pay gap is a constant international problem, in which women are paid, on average, less than that of their male counterpart. As to if gender pay gap still exist, its exactness fluctuates depending on numerous factors such as professional status, country and regional location, gender, and age. In regards to gender, in some cases, both men and women have stated that the gap does not existRead MoreEssay on Education: A Path to Gender Equality in Labor Markets1667 Words   |  7 Pagesor reinforcing gender equality in labor markets worldwide will lead to gains in productivity. However, what can be done to create gender equality? A study emphasized the equality of education. When education access to women is equal to men, occupation opportunities and earnings of men and women with similar education and experience are equal. A research in Pakistan and other studies are introduced. Their findings suggest that education plays a vital part in gender equality in labor force. In another

Human Resource Management New Version Of Personal...

The case study shows that human resource management is new version of personal management. There is no watertight contrast between human resource management and personal management 1. Faculty administration is a conventional methodology of overseeing individuals in the association. Human assets administration is an advance methodology of overseeing individuals and their qualities in association. 2. Work force administration concentrates on staff organization, representative welfare and work connection .human asset administration concerts on securing, advancement, inspirational, and support of HR in the association. As indicated by this procedure, as their chaotic ways of life , European more inspired by the fast food shop fast food has get to be. McDonalds’s deals dropped 14%, in spite of the fact that the hugeness of this business sector mirrors McDonalds’s expansionary plans. The accompanying thoughts rose up out of our examinations: demographic conduct in Europe has changed definitely .The general ripeness rate underneath the substitution rate in numerous nations age at first marriage and the first youngster has changed, yet a second demographic move is portrayed as another example has developed .these progressions reached a state of perfection in populace development practice .By and large ,the populace development is area has expanded populace and changing appreciate the oration word machines ,sex contrasts have been diminished significantly. Monetarily dissolvable toShow MoreRelatedThe Impact Of Organizational Culture On Hrm Practices And Its Effect On Hr Outcomes1554 Words   |  7 Pagescombined with the nature of the research question and the audience interested in the research, guide the selection of a research design and data collection methodology during the exploration of a research topic (Creswell, 2003). The researcher applied a personal pragmatic world-view to HR in the academic area. Creswell (2003) argued that knowledge in the pragmatic paradigm is viewed as reality based and socially constructed with the truth being what works at the time. The pragmatists interest is with â€Å"applicationsRead MoreThe Position Analysis Of A Worker Oriented Approach For Gathering And Analyzing Job Information1540 Words   |  7 Pagesanalysis instrument, adapting a worker-oriented approach to gathering and analyzing job information. The purpose of the PAQ is to identify general job characteristics, and is primarily employed by human resource and personnel functions of organizations (Aamodt, 2012). The PAQ is not used by human resource functions for ope rational purposes, such as wok design or training programs, due to its generalized perspective on job analysis. However, the prime applications of PAQ extend towards recruitment andRead MoreIndividual Assignment for International Hrm Elements of the Module1104 Words   |  5 Pagesdesigns and markets consumer electronics, personal computers and computer software.   Apple has a globally recognised logo known as the â€Å"bitten apple†. In an international work space setting the employers in the organisation may reflect their own culture and experience backgrounds this shows the importance and effectiveness of human resources management in an international company. â€Å"The functions of an HR professional should focus on the company’s greatest resource of all – its employees. Without goodRead MoreExecutive Summary Essay1593 Words   |  7 Pagesfinancial package that supports approximately $521 million in revenue per year and inventories of approximately $13 .8 million per year, based on 2009 annual reporting (â€Å"Dave Buster’s†). As well, the corporation must also utilize a powerful human resources and payroll system that is capable of supporting approximately 8,000 employees in the United States and Canada. Each of these systems and various other in-house developed applications are supported by a host of servers, switches and other hardwareRead MoreThe Management Of Performance Management Essay1199 Words   |  5 PagesThere seem to be a multitude of definitions for Performance Management. Here are several of these definitions: â€Å"Performance management is a process by which managers and employees work together to plan, monitor and review an employee’s work objectives and overall contribution to the organization. More than just an annual performance review, performance management is the continuous process of setting objectives, assessing progress and providing on-going coaching and feedback to ensure that employeesRead MoreHuman Resource Management: The Guardian of Ethics1724 Words   |  7 Pagesorganization. Human Resource Management is the process of acquiring, training, appraising and compensating employees, and of attending to their labor relations, health and safety and fairness concern. â€Å"Human Resource Management is a distinctive approach to employment management which seeks to achieve competitive advantage through the strategic deployment of a highly committed and capable workforce, using an array of cultural, structural and personal techniques† Storey (1995) Human Resource ManagementRead MoreHuman Resource Systems And Human Resources Essay948 Words   |  4 Pagesused in human resources, their present and predicted future impacts on human resource systems. There were numerous sources that were cited in this research. Research mainly focused on existing human resource systems’ limitations and possible technology solutions to current problems in traditional and computerized HR methods. Information technology has influenced every single aspect of our lives. It also has been notably affective on organizational structures of businesses such as human resources. TechnologyRead MoreHuman Resource Management ( Hrm )1506 Words   |  7 Pages1.0 Introduction Human Resource Management (HRM or simply HR) is the role inside an organization that is centered on the recruitment, management, and providing guidelines for employees in an organization; designed to maximize their performance to meet the organization’s strategic objectives. Human Resources Management (HRM) has turn out to be an important feature to deliberate in every organization. HRM is characterized by processes responsible for achieving set the goals and objectives of an organizationRead MoreHuman Resource Management ( Hrm )857 Words   |  4 PagesHuman resource management (HRM) can be described as a process of managing people in a company with a structured and thorough manner (MSG.com). This covers the fields of staffing (hiring people), retention of people; pay and perks setting and management, performance management, change management and taking care of exits from the company to round off the activities (MSG). These functions relate to what used to be called personnel management, which theorists see HRM as the modern version of personnelRead MoreSystem Design for Riordan Manufacturing Human Resources Department1314 Words   |  6 PagesRiordan Manufacturing’s current human resources technology in-place in that department and consolida te the array of applications they currently use into a single, integrated system that will serve their functional needs and introduce their employees to the latest technology. Our team understands Riordan Manufacturing’s need for new technology and their desire to expose their personnel to the latest, cutting-edge methods available to members of the human resources management environment, so that those

A Comparative Analysis Free Essays

string(126) " wherein the client lies on a couch facing away from the therapist, minimizing opportunity for client-therapist relationship\." The field of psychotherapy provides a therapist 11 diverse therapeutic systems, all of which are designed to achieve the same goal – to address the problems, whether emotional or mental, of the client. Some of these systems call for an active and directive participation from the therapist while some requires him to â€Å"hold back† and let the client heal himself. This paper aims to tackle the differences as well as discuss similarities between two of the eleven available counseling approaches – the Psychoanalytic Therapy and Person-Centered Therapy. We will write a custom essay sample on A Comparative Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now Comparative Analysis 3 A Comparative Analysis of Two Counseling Approaches Two of the most-utilized counseling approaches are Psychoanalytic Therapy and Person-Centered Therapy. Perhaps due to its very opposite characteristics, these approaches embrace the two types of clients – one who wishes to sit down, talk, remain distant and maintain no personal relationship with the therapist and one who prefers to spill his thoughts while creating an intimate relationship with the therapist. Definition According to Psychology Today, Psychoanalytic therapy is a general name for therapeutic approaches which try to get the patient to bring to the surface their true feelings, so that they can experience them and understand them. In this kind of therapy, the unconscious is studied with a focus on dreams, behavior, slips of tongue, post-hypnotic suggestion, and the use of techniques that provide the client an opportunity to search their thoughts for links to various issues and problems. Unconscious thoughts and processes are the basis for all forms of problem symptoms and behaviors. On the other hand, a Person-Centered Therapy, sometimes called Rogerian Therapy, focuses on immediate conscious experience. Rogers (1977) describes this form of therapy as a process of freeing a person and removing obstacles so that normal growth and development can proceed and the client can become independent and self-directed. Unconscious vs. Conscious Psychoanalytic therapy holds that bringing the unconscious into conscious awareness promotes insight and resolves conflict. (Psychology Today) According to Freud, human beings are basically determined by psychic energy and by early experiences. Unconscious motives and Comparative Analysis 4 conflicts are central in present behavior. Making the client aware of his unconscious motives by interpreting his dreams and thoughts will lead him to freedom of mind and body. Person-Centered therapy, on one hand, deals with immediate conscious experience. Its primary purpose is to provide a deep understanding and acceptance of the attitudes consciously held at this moment by the client as he explores step by step into the dangerous areas which he has been denying to consciousness. (Personality Consciousness) This form of humanistic therapy deals with the ways in which people perceive themselves consciously rather than having a therapist try to interpret unconscious thoughts or ideas. (Depression-Guide, 2005) Directive vs. Non-directive Psychoanalytic therapy is directive in nature such that the therapist allows the client to talk freely but in the process asks a number of questions, dictates length and frequency of sessions, and advises client on how to deal with things and how to view certain issues. Person-centered therapy is non-directive. It is an approach to counseling and psychotherapy that places much of the responsibility for the treatment process on the client, with the therapist taking a non-directive role. (Mind Disorders, 2007) The therapist’s role is mainly to act as a facilitator and to provide a comfortable environment, rather than to drive and direct therapy outcomes. (Lots of Essays, 2009) The client is seen as the core therapist, with the actual therapist serving as consultant, advisor, witness, and support system. Then vs. Now Psychoanalysis places significant importance on early development. (Psychology Today) It believes that such is of critical importance because later personality problems have their roots in repressed childhood conflicts. Comparative Analysis 5 In Rogerian therapy, attention is given to the present moment and on experiencing and expressing these feelings in order to move towards a more beneficial direction. Techniques The therapist employing Psychoanalytic Therapy uses techniques such as free association (the client reports anything that comes to mind), dream analysis, interpretation, analysis of resistance and transference, and understanding of counter-transference, to find commonalities in the client’s thoughts and behaviors and to interpret them in terms of the client’s problems. (4therapy Network, 1998) In a Person-Centered therapy, few techniques are utilized. Research has shown that the most significant variables in the effectiveness of this therapy are aspects of the relationship and the therapist’s personal development – not the particular discipline they practice or techniques they employ. The therapist is expected to create an atmosphere that is both suitable and comfortable for the client in order for him to freely express his feelings and direct himself towards healing. In fact, in order for this type of therapy to be effective, it requires three things – unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuineness or congruence. (Rogers, 1961) Unconditional Positive Regard. This unconditional positive regard, or something like love, can allow the client to expose his vulnerabilities, fears, flaws, secrets, and dysfunctions within the therapeutic setting without fear of being rejected. This allows the therapist to gain the necessary insights on the client’s worldview and overall situation that enables the therapist to devise interventions, or make suggestions, that can help the client shift that worldview in a beneficial direction. (Lots of Essays, 2009) Comparative Analysis 6 Empathy. Empathy refers to understanding the client’s feelings and personal meanings as they are experienced. The therapist encourages the patient to express their feelings and does not suggest how the person might wish to change, but by listening and then mirroring back what the patient reveals to them, helps them to explore and understand their feelings for themselves Congruence. Congruence on the part of the therapist refers to his ability to be completely genuine and transparent. He does not present an aloof professional facade. (Mulhauser, 2002) There is no air of authority or hidden knowledge, and the client does not have to speculate about what he is really like. This is very far from what is being done during psychoanalytic therapy sessions wherein the client lies on a couch facing away from the therapist, minimizing opportunity for client-therapist relationship. You read "A Comparative Analysis" in category "Papers" Length of Session Two or more years with multiple sessions each week is required to fully apply and utilize Psychoanalytic Therapy. (Psychology Today) In contrast, there are no strict guidelines regarding the length or frequency of sessions in a Person-Centered Therapy. Generally, therapists adhere to a one-hour session once per week. However, true to its spirit, scheduling may be adjusted according to the client’s expressed needs. The client also decides when to terminate therapy. Termination usually occurs when he or she feels able to better cope with life’s difficulties. (Mind Disorders, 2007) Applications Analytic therapy is not recommended for self-centered and impulsive individuals or for people with psychotic disorders, in the same way that person-centered therapy is not intended for a specific age group or subpopulation. While psychoanalysis essentially wrote off some groups, Comparative Analysis 7 like schizophrenics or borderline personality disorder types, person-centered psychotherapies assume that all people could be worked with and that the answer to their dysfunction lay within them. (Mind Disorders, 2007) Person-Centered Therapy has been used to treat a broad range of people and has also been applied to persons suffering from depression, anxiety, alcohol disorders, cognitive dysfunction, and personality disorders. Some therapists argue that person-centered therapy is not effective with non-verbal or poorly educated individuals; others maintain that it can be successfully adapted to any type of person. The person-centered approach can be used in individual, group, or family therapy. With young children, it is frequently employed as play therapy. Criticisms of the Two Approaches One major criticism of Psychoanalytic Therapy is its inability to cure one of the most common and major emotional disorder – depression. People, it is believed, need ‘insight’, before they can change. This means that you have to understand why they are depressed before you can get better. On the face of it, this seems perfectly reasonable, particularly as it seems to match the natural human response to a problem – to find out why. However, in depression, this style of thinking will tend to make the depression worse. The problems with this type of counseling for depression are many. First, the focus is predominantly on the past. Depressed people do this plenty already. One main idea is to discover ‘the reason why’. There is rarely any single ‘reason why’ with depression, and even if there was, discovering it does not make the depression go away. Take this for example, if you know why you blush, does the blushing stop? Comparative Analysis 8 Some therapists have been sued for using this approach in the US when treating depression. Approaches which mainly focus on the past are not recommended in the treatment of depression and anxiety conditions. (Depression Guide, 2005) As for Person-Centered Therapy, there is no other aspect which comes under such vigorous attack aside from the implications of the therapist acting as a facilitator rather than as a counselor. It seems to be genuinely disturbing to many professional people to entertain the thought that this client upon whom they have been exercising their professional skill actually knows more about his inner psychological self than they can possibly know, and that he possesses constructive strengths which make the constructive push by the therapist seem puny indeed by comparison. The willingness fully to accept this strength of the client, with all the re-orientation of therapeutic procedure which it implies, is one of the ways in which client-centered therapy differs most sharply from other therapeutic approaches. (Rogers, 1946) Personal Viewpoint I strongly believe that a Person-centered therapy works best for me, not because I have once seeked the help of a professional therapist, but because I feel that my father had served as my own therapist – employing the Person-centered therapy on me. There was one time when I felt so down about not being able to make it to the top of the class for a certain school year. You see, I’m an A-grade student – the cream of the crop. I even graduated with First Honors in grade school. Come high school, though, I belonged to a class where everyone is â€Å"the best† in their own schools. Competition was tough. Anyone who doesn’t live up to the expectation is transferred to another section to mingle with the average students. The â€Å"Number One’ student in me struggled to keep up. I did for the first three years. However, Comparative Analysis 9 come the last year in high school, I was suddenly faced with the fact that I didn’t make it. I no longer belong to the prime class. It was painful. It was unacceptable. The reason for not making it was simply because of a Technology Project – an amplifier that’s supposed to make a bulb light up. Unfortunately, mine didn’t when the professor inspected it. That was it – no considerations, no second chances, I got a low mark. I was informed a month before the next school year starts. That month was indeed a difficult time for me. I remember crying several nights talking to myself and still, I wasn’t feeling any better. I felt that my parents were disappointed of me; my friends were not sad enough that I’m leaving the class. What helped me to move on and accept the turn-out of events was my father – he sat down with me, just listening and helping me spill my guts. I talked non-stop, crying and just telling him that I hate myself for what has happened, that I cannot yet accept that I failed, that he has to do something about it. My father just sat there, letting me talk. He listened – making no negative comments, not judging me or blaming me or telling me that I’m wrong. He would always repeat the things I said in the form of questions. He was literally mirroring me. I guess that was his way of letting me know that he is really there, he is listening intently and not just pretending to. He did not even use the usual â€Å"parent line† â€Å"I’ve been there, Child. What you need to do is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And thinking about it now, I am thankful that he didn’t. Had he said those words, I would have reacted negatively by saying â€Å"No, you don’t know how I’m feeling. You never had to go through something like this! † I would have regarded him as one of my peers who I felt that time didn’t care much as they are still part of the class. I would have stopped opening up to him. Comparative Analysis 10 My father’s technique, as I study the different approaches of therapy, is very much the same as that of the Person-centered Therapy. And luckily, it worked for me. I ended up hearing myself over and over again – talking about the same things, angry over the same stuff. Eventually, reason, understanding and acceptance came. My father must have known I wasn’t the type to take orders from people. He trusted that I am capable of solving my own problems and facing my own dilemmas. The Challenge The key challenge in the field of psychotherapy is to find ways to integrate and combine certain features of various approaches in order to work with the needs of different clients. What is crucial is a strong knowledge of what a certain approach is – its advantages, strengths and weaknesses, applications and even recent studies/cases that may prove to be helpful in solving a client’s case. Comparative Analysis 11 References Cain, David J. (2002). Humanistic Psychotherapies: Handbook of Research and Practice. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Counselling Directory. Psychoanalytical and Psychodynamic Therapies. Retrieved May 24, 2009, from http://www. counselling-directory. org. uk/psychoanalytical. html Depression-Guide. (2005). Person-Centered Therapy. Retrieved May 22, 2009, from http://www. depression-guide. com/person-centered-therapy. htm Lots of Essays. (2009). Person-Centered Psychotherapies. Retrieved May 24, 2009, from http://www. lotsofessays. com/viewpaper/1691857. html Mind Disorders. (2007). Person-centered therapy. Retrieved May 22, 2009, from http://www. minddisorders. com/Ob-Ps/Person-centered-therapy. html Modern Psychoanalysis. The Talking Cure. Retrieved May 20, 2009, from http://modernpsychoanalysis. org/default. aspx Mulhauser, G. Counselling Resource. (2002). An Introduction to Person-Centered Counselling. Retrieved May 24, 2009, from http://counsellingresource. com/types/person-centred/ Personality Consciousness. Rogerian Therapy. Retrieved May 23, 2009, from http://pandc. ca/? cat=carl_rogerspage=rogerian_therapy Psychology Today. What’s Your Orientation? Retrieved May 24, 2009, from http://www. psychologytoday. com/pto/methods. html Comparative Analysis 12 Rogers, C. R. (1946). Significant Aspects of Client-Centered. American Psychologist, 1, 415-422. Retrieved May 24, 2009 from PsychClassics database. Rogers, Carl. (1951). Client-Centered Therapy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 4therapy Network. (1998). Psychoanalytic Therapy. Retrieved May 21, 2009, from http://www. 4therapy. com/consumer/about_therapy/item. php? uniqueid=4933categoryid=401 How to cite A Comparative Analysis, Papers

Analysis Of The Gettysburg Address Essay Example For Students

Analysis Of The Gettysburg Address Essay In the early days of the United States, loyalty to one’s state often took precedence over loyalty to one’s country. The Union was considered a â€Å"voluntary compact entered into by independent, sovereign states† for as long as it served their purpose to be so joined (Encarta). Neither the North nor South had any strong sense permanence of the Union. As patterns of living diverged between North and South, their political ideas also developed marked differences. The North needed a central government to build an infrastructure of roads and railways, protect its complex trading and financial interests and control the national currency. The South depended much less on industrialization and federal government than other regions did and therefore felt no need to strengthen it. In addition, Southern patriots feared that a strong central government might interfere with slavery. One of the largest disputes between North and South was over tariffs, or taxes placed on imported goods and increased the price of manufactured articles. Due to its resistance of industrialization, the South had to import almost all manufactured goods, making them strictly opposed to high tariffs. The North on the other hand, demanded them to protect its own products from cheap foreign competition. Contrasting social, economic and political points of view such as these gradually drove the two sections farther and farther apart. Each tried to impose its own interests on the country as a whole. Although compromises had kept the Union together for many years, in 1860 the situation was explosive. Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th president, which was viewed by the South as a grave threat to slavery and therefore a threat to the entire way of life. The only feasible course of action then was secession and war. So in 1861 seven states including South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas, initially seceded from the Union. Not long after Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas joined them. These states made up the Confederacy. This was the beginning of the bloodiest war ever to be fought on U.S. soil. The American Civil War. For over two years, control seemed to shift back and forth between the North and South, neither ever having clear dominance over the other. The war appeared headed towards stalemate until July 1, 1863 and the 3 day Battle of Gettysburg. This battle was considered, â€Å"by most military historians to be the single most decisive turning point in the Civil War† (Encarta). In an effort gain foreign recognition, lessen pressure on confederate forces at Vicksburg, obtain much needed food and clothing, and â€Å"increase Northern war-weariness, General Robert E. Lee boldly lead his troops into northern territory† namely, Gettysburg (World Book 485). Here Lee encountered Union troops lead by General George G. Meade and battle commenced. In a decisive Union victory (mostly due to their occupation of Cemetery Hill) the battle ended on July 4, 1863. However both sides suffered heavy casualties totaling nearly 50,000 which were split almost equally between North and South. This ho rrific battle gave the divided states some common ground. The extensive loss of life was, no matter Confederate or Union, was all American and the pain of it shared by each and every living American. It began to open their eyes to a much larger mutual goal, resolution. Soon after the battle, â€Å"Pennsylvania governor Andrew Curtain had charged David Wills, a successful local citizen and Judge, with cleaning up the horrible aftermath of the battle† (LOC). Wills acquired seventeen acres of the battlefield for purposes of establishing a national cemetery for the soldiers who gave their lives at Gettysburg. He then invited venerable Edward Everett, the nations foremost rhetorician, to give an oration at the dedication ceremony. Wills also asked President Lincoln to speak extending him as well as Everett an invitation to stay in his home while in Gettysburg. â€Å"Linclon accepted the invitation, probably viewing it as an appropriate time to honor all those who had given their lives in the Civil War. He also may have seen the dedication as an opportunity to reveal his evolving thinking about the War, as a fight not only to save the Union, but also the need to be united in preserving the ideals and meanings upon which it was founded, the ideals our soldiers were dying for† (LOC). These ideas are central to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, which, despite its brevity, as opposed to Everett’s long-forgotten two-hour oration, has become one of the most memorable and effective of all time. The idea Lincoln is trying to persuade the audience to support is that we must dedicate ourselves to preservation of a united nation and a new birth of freedom. He provides three arguments in support of this idea. One is that we should honor the dead by dedicating ourselves to preserving the nation so that they did not die in vain. Secondly that this war is a test of the Union endurance and the task of preserving it remains unfinished. And lastly, because the nation is dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal and is a government of, by, and for the people, to preserve it is great and worthy cause. .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978 , .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978 .postImageUrl , .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978 , .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978:hover , .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978:visited , .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978:active { border:0!important; } .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978:active , .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978 .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf403955f66a1220efa7a7dc25e11a978:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: French Tourism EssayLincoln’s speech is set up chronologically in order to explain or demonstrate the steps needed to achieve, what he will explain, as united goal. Lincoln begins with the past when the nation was originally created, moving next to the present civil war that nation is now engaged in, and last concentrating on where the present situation should take us and what we should hope to accomplish from this war. This organizational technique was particularly effective in this situation. Because Lincoln was speaking to a divided audience, it was imperative he provide common ground and unity in order to effectively persuade them to adopt a mutual goal and reso lution. He achieved this by reflecting on the ideals and accomplishments of the forefathers they all have in common, reminding each side of their unified history. Bridging the gap of difference between North and South, set the whole audiences mind frame on the unified purpose by which their nation was conceived, rather than their present particular interests. Because of this larger focus, the audience is able to see the profound effect the current war would have on the entire nation. The fact that this war will make or break what past generations had worked to create. Not just that it will deiced whether or not slavery will be tolerated. For this purpose Lincoln strategically neglected to mention slavery at all, or any other comment that would put him in favor of one side. The purpose was to bring the divided people together, if only for a moment so that they might see the more important needs and form a singular goal of preservation and in effect, rebirth. Typical of persuasive speeches on questions of policy, as with the Gettysburg Address, there is also problem-solution order. The problem is presented in the first main point located in paragraph 2 â€Å"a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure†. The solution follows in the last paragraph when Lincoln asserts that it is our duty to dedicate ourselves to the unfinished work of preserving our nation. Language played a role in the effectiveness of the speech equally important to that of structure. We know creating a sense of unity between North and South was instrumental in the effectiveness of the speech so in conjunction with the reminder of common history, Lincoln utilized many words throughout the entire speech that lent a sense of togetherness and the strength found therein. Words like our, we, us, nation, and the people. Another important aspect of the language was Lincoln’s selection of simple, mostl y one or two syllable words. He was speaking to a diverse crowd containing not only politicians, military officers and press, but also the families of those who had died. Common everyday people who were probably rather uneducated individuals. Lincoln made sure that his words could reach everyone by being sure their denotative meaning could be understood by all. It doesn’t matter what great message words can convey if the words seem to be another language. And since those families were the most important segment of the audience, Lincoln choose his diction based mostly on them. One might suppose that such limited vocabulary would create a dull unmoving speech, but Lincoln was able to avoid this in several ways. One was his use of antitheses. For instance the juxtaposition of preservation and new birth of freedom. Also mortal and immortal: â€Å"those who gave there lives† and â€Å"that nation might live†¦shall not perish from the earth†. And â€Å"the world will little note, nor long remember† contrasting to â€Å"it can never forget†. Lincoln also puts to good use emotion-laden words such as: fathers, liberty, war, died, dedicate, consecrate, struggle, nobly, honored, God and freedom. Appealing to emotion is the strongest form of persuasion and â€Å"The Gettysburg Address† is great example of its usage and effectiveness. To further add to the emotional appeal Lincoln’s speech has an almost poetic quality to it. The speech seems to have a melodic flow from beginning to end starting with â€Å"Four score and seven years ago† rather than 87 years ago which is a much more blunt and bland way of saying it. There is constant repetition of words so each sentence connects to the other even through changes of ideas. This poetic flow enhances the others tones of spirituality, unity, compassion and righteousness. . The Gettysburg Address is an appeal to humanity to preserve democracy, liberty, and justice for all time The structure and language were strategically planned based on the time, place current situation in order to effectively explain Lincoln’s purpose and persuade unified support for it. Lincoln’s understanding of what the divided, grieving people of this nation needed was the key element in the success of his oration. In two minutes Lincoln was able to give them all pride, consoling, purpose, hope and a united goal. He showed them in order to obtain the new birth of freedom each side was fighting for they needed to come together as one nation, dedicated to the preservation of the nation the way it was conceived so many years before. Something no one had been able to achieve since the beginning of the separation of the North and South long before the war. The impact of the unusually brief speech was even hailed by Edward Everett, the national authority on rhetoric and oration, who wrote to Lincoln â€Å"I should be glad to flatter myself that I came as near to t he central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes.†(World Book 166) Speech and Communcations