Famous Speeches: Abraham Lincoln's
Gettysburg Address
By Original speech from the public domain on 03.29.16
Word Count 343
President Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, at the dedication of the
National Cemetery of Gettysburg in 1863. Photo: David Bachrach/Library of Congress
In November of 1863, President Abraham Lincoln was invited to deliver a speech at the
official dedication ceremony for the National Cemetery of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. The
speech, which later became known as the Gettysburg Address, was given on one of the
bloodiest battlefields of the Civil War where more than 50,000 Americans fighting on either
side died.
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.
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.
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.
Editor's Note: This transcript of Lincoln's speech uses the spelling conventions of the time.
Quiz
1
Read the first sentence of the address.
Which answer choice has the SAME meaning as the phrase "dedicated to the proposition" as it
is used in the sentence?
2
(A)
loyal to the conflict
(B)
connected to the history
(C)
committed to the concept
(D)
attracted to the notion
Read the sentence from the address.
The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have
consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
Why does Lincoln use the phrase "our poor power" in the sentence above?
3
(A)
to convey that the people listening to his address are mostly disadvantaged
and powerless
(B)
to convey that those who died in battle are more powerful and admirable
than the living
(C)
to convey that he does not have the same level of power as other leaders of
his time
(D)
to convey that all people will need to work together in order for the country to
become more powerful
Read the second paragraph of the address. What is the main purpose of this paragraph?
(A)
to explain the various effects of the country's long civil war
(B)
to explain the meaning of the speech's setting
(C)
to make a prediction about what will happen when the war is over
(D)
to draw a conclusion about why certain battles have taken place
4
Which of the following answer options BEST describes the structure of the address?
(A)
Lincoln describes the values held by past leaders, then contrasts these with
his own values.
(B)
Lincoln argues that the country has many problems, then offers a list of
potential solutions.
(C)
Lincoln highlights the significance of his speech's location, then explains
why his audience should join him in action.
(D)
Lincoln mentions the date of his address, then names other events that are
historically important.
Answer Key
1
Read the first sentence of the address.
Which answer choice has the SAME meaning as the phrase "dedicated to the proposition" as it
is used in the sentence?
2
(A)
loyal to the conflict
(B)
connected to the history
(C)
committed to the concept
(D)
attracted to the notion
Read the sentence from the address.
The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have
consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
Why does Lincoln use the phrase "our poor power" in the sentence above?
3
(A)
to convey that the people listening to his address are mostly disadvantaged
and powerless
(B)
to convey that those who died in battle are more powerful and
admirable than the living
(C)
to convey that he does not have the same level of power as other leaders of
his time
(D)
to convey that all people will need to work together in order for the country to
become more powerful
Read the second paragraph of the address. What is the main purpose of this paragraph?
(A)
to explain the various effects of the country's long civil war
(B)
to explain the meaning of the speech's setting
(C)
to make a prediction about what will happen when the war is over
(D)
to draw a conclusion about why certain battles have taken place
4
Which of the following answer options BEST describes the structure of the address?
(A)
Lincoln describes the values held by past leaders, then contrasts these with
his own values.
(B)
Lincoln argues that the country has many problems, then offers a list of
potential solutions.
(C)
Lincoln highlights the significance of his speech's location, then
explains why his audience should join him in action.
(D)
Lincoln mentions the date of his address, then names other events that are
historically important.