Gettysburg Address
Famous Civil War speech
The Gettysburg Address is a brief speech delivered by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 at the dedication of a Civil War cemetery in Pennsylvania.
In about 270 words, Lincoln reframed the war as a struggle for human equality and democratic government.
Its opening—Four score and seven years ago—and closing—government of the people, by the people, for the people—rank among the most quoted phrases in American oratory.
Civil War era leader
- presidentElected leader of nation
- Honest AbePresidential nickname suggesting integrity
- Civil WarCountrymen fighting countrymen
- Emancipation ProclamationExecutive order freeing Confederate slaves
assassination · Ford's Theatre · John Wilkes Booth · Republican · top hat · beard · log cabin · Kentucky
Maintaining something's condition
- nationSovereign political entity
- unitedJoined as one
- indivisibleUnable to be divided
- reunificationRestoring divided unity
secession · rebellion · Civil War · North · federal · republic · one nation · national unity
Art of persuasive language
- eloquencePersuasive verbal grace
- brevityShortness of expression
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- dictionChoice of words
two minutes · delivery · oration · public speaking · articulation · elocution · recitation · keynote
Absence of unjust constraint
- equalitySame status for all
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- democracyRule by the people
- all men are created equalDoctrine of inherent human equivalence
unalienable rights · self-determination · civil rights · justice · human dignity · founding principles · Declaration of Independence · consent of the governed
Combat engagement area
- PennsylvaniaNortheastern founding colony state
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
- UnionNamed political entity
- ConfederacySecessionist Southern government
Meade · Lee · soldiers · three days · turning point · bloodiest · Devil's Den · victory
Place for interring remains
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
- remembranceAct of holding something in mind
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
fallen soldiers · hallowed ground · consecrate · war dead · memorial · graves · monument · tribute
Abraham Lincoln
Civil War era leader
- presidentElected leader of nation
- Honest AbePresidential nickname suggesting integrity
- Civil WarCountrymen fighting countrymen
Emancipation Proclamation · assassination · Ford's Theatre · John Wilkes Booth · Republican · top hat · beard · log cabin · Kentucky · Illinois
preservation
Maintaining something's condition
- nationSovereign political entity
- unitedJoined as one
- indivisibleUnable to be divided
reunification · secession · rebellion · Civil War · North · federal · republic · one nation · national unity · war aims
rhetoric
Art of persuasive language
- eloquencePersuasive verbal grace
- brevityShortness of expression
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
two minutes · diction · delivery · oration · public speaking · articulation · elocution · recitation · keynote · dedication speech
liberty
Absence of unjust constraint
all men are created equal · unalienable rights · self-determination · civil rights · justice · human dignity · founding principles · Declaration of Independence · consent of the governed · republicanism
battlefield
Combat engagement area
- PennsylvaniaNortheastern founding colony state
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
- UnionNamed political entity
Confederacy · Meade · Lee · soldiers · three days · turning point · bloodiest · Devil's Den · victory · retreat
cemetery
Place for interring remains
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
- remembranceAct of holding something in mind
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
sacrifice · fallen soldiers · hallowed ground · consecrate · war dead · memorial · graves · monument · tribute · ceremony
- Lincoln LegacyLincoln Memorial, Ford's Theatre, Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln Bedroom, Lincoln's Birthday
- Lincoln writingsEmancipation Proclamation, Lincoln-Douglas debates, collected works, proclamations, personal letters
- Political DocumentsDeclaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Federalist Papers, Articles of Confederation, founding documents
- Adams CountyEast Berlin, Fairfield, Butler, Cumberland, Franklin
- historyancient civilizations, past events, historian, epochs, era
- 1800s AmericaOregon Trail, Trail of Tears, transcontinental railroad, Civil War, Abraham Lincoln
Gettysburg AddressDred Scott decision
1857 ruling denying Black citizenship
Fugitive Slave Act · Articles of Confederation · Emancipation Proclamation