4.+Reaction

Immediately after its deliverance, the Gettysburg Address inspired many contrasting feelings and reactions within nineteenth century Americans. Some felt that Lincoln's speech was too short and undermined the devastating Battle of Gettysburg. The //Chicago Times//' 1863 editorial stated that "the cheeks of every American must tingle with shame as he reads the silly, flat, and dishwatery utterances." Other newspapers and citizens criticized the speech's briefness and pegged it as an embarrassment to the nation. The naysayers obviously dismissed the thoughtful and emotional diction throughout the Gettysburg Address and mistook its brevity for inadequateness instead of the powerful way Lincoln got straight to the point. On the other hand, other Americans went beyond the surface of Lincoln's memorable speech. The Chicago Tribune responded to the president's speech by predicting that it would "...live among the annals* of man..." Other Americans with similar thinking, characterized the Gettysburg Address as having "...classical elegance and heartfelt emotion..." The immediate immense, although contrasting, reactions to Lincoln's speech illustrate the enormous effect it had on the American people. *chronicles; history
 * REACTIONS TO THE SPEECH **
 * Short Term **
 * **shallow negative reactions**
 * **deeper positive reactions**
 * **popularity of speech**

In the long term scope of things, the Gettysburg Address became critically acclaimed. As historians delved deeper into the memorable speech, it became clear that "the Gettysburg Address [was] a masterpiece of persuasive rhetoric." Lincoln clearly used numerous rhetoric devices to accomplish his ultimate purpose: reuniting the Union. Despite it being only 269 words, the Gettysburg Address could not have had a more lasting effect if it had been a million.
 * Long Term **
 * **praised for rhetoric**
 * **lasting effect on uniting America**
 * **new era of politics**