Based on what you learned today? Why do you think Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address?

3 answers

Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address to honor the fallen soldiers of the Battle of Gettysburg and to reaffirm the principles of equality and democracy that the United States was founded upon. Delivered on November 19, 1863, during the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, the speech served several purposes:

  1. Commemoration: The primary purpose was to pay tribute to the soldiers who died at Gettysburg, recognizing their sacrifice and the importance of their contributions to the nation.

  2. Reinforcement of National Ideals: Lincoln sought to remind the American public of the values of liberty and equality outlined in the Declaration of Independence. He frames the Civil War as a struggle not just for the Union, but for the principles of human rights and democracy.

  3. Motivation and Unity: The address aimed to inspire the living to continue the fight for a united nation, emphasizing that the sacrifices made by the soldiers should not be in vain. Lincoln called for a renewed commitment to the cause of freedom and the preservation of the Union.

  4. Redefining the Civil War: In his speech, Lincoln transformed the Civil War from a struggle for the Union into a larger fight for equality and democracy, suggesting that the outcome of the war would determine the fate of those principles for future generations.

Overall, the Gettysburg Address not only commemorated those who had fallen but also served as a powerful call to action for the living to continue the work of ensuring a "new birth of freedom" and to strive for a truly democratic nation.

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Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address to honor the soldiers who fought and died at the Battle of Gettysburg, emphasizing the principles of equality and democracy central to the nation's founding. Delivered during the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery on November 19, 1863, the address served to commemorate the fallen, reinvigorate the national commitment to liberty, and inspire unity in the ongoing struggle of the Civil War. Lincoln framed the conflict not just as a fight for the Union but as a pivotal moment to ensure the survival of democratic ideals, calling for a "new birth of freedom" that would define the nation’s future. Through this speech, he urged the living to dedicate themselves to the cause of both the fallen soldiers and the foundational values of the United States.

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