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12.02Gettysburg Address
Background: President Lincoln wrote down five different versions of the Gettysburg Address. The versions are similar and it is unknown what is exact words were on that day in Gettysburg. He wrote the different versions for people who asked for a copy and for charitable purposes. The following is a transcript of the John Nicolay copy. Nicolay was one of Mr. Lincoln’s’ private secretaries.
Instructions:
1. Read the Gettysburg Address
Transcript of Gettysburg Address (1863)
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon 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 it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. This we may, in all propriety do.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate – we cannot consecrate – we cannot hallow, this ground – The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; while in can never forget what they did here. It is rather for us, the living, to stand here, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that, from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation, 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.
President Abraham Lincoln
2. Answer the questions.
QUESTION / ANSWERUse textual clues to define score.
Use textual clues to define propriety.
Use textual clues to define consecrate.
Use textual clues to define vain.
Notice that Mr. Lincoln uses the word “nation” repeatedly, but never uses the word “union.” Assess why Mr. Lincoln used the word nation instead of union.
Slavery is not mentioned in the Gettysburg Address. Determine why Mr. Lincoln didn’t use the word slavery. How is slavery implied in his speech?
President Lincoln dates the nation’s birth at the Declaration of Independence. Judge why he used that event rather than the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
What is the great task remaining before us?
Analyze the methods President Lincoln used to emphasize his key points in this address.
President Lincoln was disappointed in his speech at the time he gave it. Also the listeners were disappointed in a two-minute speech. Given that disappointment; how do you believe this became the best loved speech of any American president?