AMERICAN POLITICS: EXPLORING THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS
The Gettysburg Address is perhaps the most famous speech in American history – some would even say
world history. Lincoln traveled to Gettysburg, PA in November of 1863 to help dedicate the battlefield
cemetery and to commemorate the horrible battle that had occurred there. This exercise is designed to
help you REFLECT on these words, with a particular eye on how they are connected to the Declaration of
Independence. Read the speech, note the attached commentary, and work through the questions that
follow.
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought
forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in
Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are
created equal.
Lincoln’s opening line DIRECTLY
connected this moment with the
Declaration of Independence (1776).
A “score” is 20 years, so four score is
80 years + 7. 1863 – 87 = 1776.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether
that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated,
can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of
that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that
field, as a final resting place for those who here gave
their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether
fitting and proper that we should do this.
Note his use of the word
PROPOSITION – something being
“proposed”
“proposed” or asserted. In other
words, Jefferson’s idea of equality was
an IDEA that was yet unfulfilled.
Jefferson had given us a GOAL, in
other words.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not
consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave
men, living and dead, who struggled here, have
consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or
detract. The world will little note, nor long remember
what we say here, but it can never forget what they did
here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to
the unfinished work which they who fought here have
thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here
dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that
from these honored dead we take increased devotion to
that cause for which they gave the last full measure of
devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead
shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God,
shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government
of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not
perish from the earth.”
Lincoln believed that the Civil War was his
generation’s “test.” Lincoln revered the
FOUNDERS, and felt
felt that his generation
would have to prove themselves worthy
with how they conducted themselves
during the current war. Remember that
he gave this speech at roughly the midmidpoint of the war.
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
1. How does Lincoln “connect” himself with the
Declaration of Independence?
2. What would the “unfinished work that they who fought
here” be referring to?
3. Why do you think Lincoln saw the Civil War as a “new
birth of freedom” for the nation?
4. This speech was roughly 3 minutes in length. Why do
you think it became such a big part of “how we define
ourselves” as Americans? Why do you think it became
so famous?
The “CAUSE” that the soldiers were devoted to was
the survival
survival of the United States and the
continuation of the great gift of liberty that had
been launched in 1776.
The final line of the speech is perhaps as
clear a statement as we have of the concept
of POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY – the idea that
people have the power to govern
themselves. The phrase “new birth of
freedom” indicates, again, that Lincoln saw
this situation as a great challenge to
continue the work of earlier patriots.
GO TO THE NEXT PAGE
FOR SOME FURTHER
WORK ON THIS!
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND GETTYSBURG ADDRESS
COMPARING THE TWO DOCUMENTS
Language from the Declaration
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that
among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness. That to secure these rights,
governments are instituted among men, deriving
their just powers from the consent of the
governed.”
Language from the Gettysburg Address
Note Lincoln’s reference here . . .
and dedicated to the proposition that all men
are created equal.
And see the reference here to the concept
of POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
and that government of the people, by the
people, for the people, shall not perish from the
earth.”
Lincoln used the Gettysburg speech to
highlight two CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
concepts that undergird the American
Governmental system: EQUALITY and
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY.
HOW WOULD
JEFFERSON REACT
TO THIS POLITICAL
CARTOON?
HOW WOULD
LINCOLN REACT
TO THIS
POLITICAL
CARTOON?