What is the real meaning of the Gettysburg address?

Answer 1

The Gettysburg Address is the most famous speech of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and one of the most quoted Famous Speeches in United States history. It was delivered at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on November 19, 1863, during the American Civil War, four and a half months after the Battle of Gettysburg.

Lincoln's carefully crafted address, secondary to other presentations that day, has ultimately become regarded as one of the greatest speeches in American history. In fewer than 300 words delivered over two to three minutes, Lincoln invoked the principles of human equality espoused by the Declaration of Independence and redefined the Civil War as a struggle not merely for the Union, but as "a new birth of freedom" that would bring true equality to all of its citizens. Beginning with the now iconic phrase "four score and seven years ago," Lincoln referred to the events of the American Revolution and described the ceremony at Gettysburg as an opportunity not only to dedicate the grounds of a cemetery, but also to consecrate the living in the struggle to ensure that "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Despite the speech's prominent place in the history and popular culture of the United States, the exact wording of the speech is disputed. The five known manuscripts of the Gettysburg Address differ in a number of details and also differ from contemporary newspaper reprints of the speech. It was a speech by Abraham Lincoln during the dedication ceremony of a national cemetery on the field of one of the major battles in the Civil war. Mr Lincoln was not the main speaker, but was asked to attend and say a few words.

The most commonly accepted version goes like this: "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 battlefield 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 cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot 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...shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth." A pretty good show for children to learn about the Gettysburg Address is the Charlie Brown (Peanuts) special "This Is America, Charlie Brown" The Smithsonian and the Presidency (1989).

Answer 2

Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg address speech at the battleground of the Civil War were many brave soldiers gave their lives for our freedom. Abraham Lincoln was emphasizing the fact that all men are created equal.

"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."

In 1776 the signers of the Declaration of Independence put their lives on the line to create freedom, liberty, and equality for this country. For they did what was considered wrong knowing that what they did was right.

"Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure."

Today this is true with little exceptions, for we are at war with Iraqi terrorists whose sole purpose is to take our freedom, liberty, and equality away, which are brave soldiers are fighting for today. This is a great test much like the Civil War testing if this nation so conceived and so dedicated can conquer and endure the fear we are being surrounded by the terrorists.

"We are met on a great battlefield 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."

The soldiers of the United States of America are dying to protect our freedom and their country. We have come together to create a resting place for their sacrifices they made and for the freedom, liberty, and equality of this country so that we could experience the greatness of this country.

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."

We can't express enough thanks to those who have died and have fought so that we might live and so that others might live. The soldiers that have died have given all they could give for this country and it is very hard if not impossible to fully express the gratitude that should be given to them and their families. They are the ones who concentrated the ground so far beyond our power by giving their lives for their country.

"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."

Although Lincoln was wrong when he said "The world will little note what we say here." We remember his words that what the soldiers did by giving their lives so that this country might be free today, tomorrow, and the next is far greater then what Lincoln said that day. When he said they had "Nobly advanced" he was talking about how the soldiers had consecrated and hallowed the battle grounds. We have gone far since the Civil War. There is no more slavery and we have just recently elected a black president. This proves that the soldiers had not died in vain and that we are thriving on freedom.

"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."

It is for us the living to join together and be dedicated to our country much like the soldiers did in 1861 - 1865. It is only right that we should have great respect for the soldiers that gave their last full measure of devotion. We should realize that in all our wars men have given their lives so that his country might live as one in liberty, freedom, equality, justice, and honor.

The Gettysburg Address was one of the speeches given. In the Civil War more Americans died then any war in history. If they hadn't done it were would we be, what would we be doing, now as a divided nation? Why did the American soldiers give their last full measure of devotion for something they could never experience? The answer might be that we the living are striving for harmony, peace, equality, liberty, freedom, and justice.

Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address speech at the battle ground of the Civil War where many brave soldiers gave their lives for our freedom. Abraham Lincoln was emphasizing the fact that all men are created equal.

Answer 3

The Gettysburg Address is a speech that decrees all people to be equal as was written in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution 87 years before. The Gettysburg Address was given by Abraham Lincoln during the civil war.

all men are equal That all people should be treated the same way and that no one should have to be a slave Mr Lincoln first recalls to the listener the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and that our country was founded on freedom and equality. He then goes on to bring to the forefront the struggle that was the Civil War, which was then being fought, and that the outcome would determine whether the United States would remain whole or forever be divided. He then narrows his view to the Battle of Gettysburg, one battle within that Civil War, the battlefield upon which it was fought (where the speech was delivered), and to the men who fought and died there. He declares that the blood those soldiers shed there has sanctified that ground more than those who are gathered there can ever do.

Lastly he implores the people listening to make a greater effort to see that the values upon which the nation was founded are upheld, and distributed to all in equal measure.
Meaning

4 years ago ( a score is a set of 20) our ancestors created a new nation that believed in freedom and liberty for all.

We are now fighting a great civil war (the war between the north and the south) . This war will test whether our nation (America) or any other nation that believes in freedom and liberty can last. Here we are at Gettysburg where there was a great battle of this civil war and we are setting aside a part of that battle ground as a final resting place (cemetary) for those who have died here fighting for our nation. It is the right thing to do.

But really, we can not dedicate or make holly this ground. The brave men living and dead who, who struggled here (fought here and died here) have made it holly (or scared), far more than any power we here have to add or detract. The world will not remember what we (the speakers that day and the listeners) say here but the world will never forget what they (the men who fought and gave their lives) did here. It is for the living to be dedicated to the unfinished work that these men fought to advance. It is up to us to dedicate ourselves to finish this work for which these men gave the last full measure of devotion (died). We must now totally resolve that these men have not died in vain (must not have died for nothing). That this nation (America) under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that the government of the people , by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. (Meaning that our way of life ie: freedom, justice,etc. shall not die).



President Lincoln had given his brief speech a lot of thought. He saw meaning in the fact that the Union victory at Gettysburg coincided with the nation's birthday; but rather than focus on the specific battle in his remarks, he wanted to present a broad statement about the larger significance of the war. He invoked the Declaration of Independence, and its principles of liberty and equality, and he spoke of "a new birth of freedom" for the nation. In his brief address, he continued to reshape the aims of the war for the American people---transforming it from a war for Union to a war for Union and freedom. Although Lincoln expressed disappointment in the speech initially, it has come to be regarded as one of the most elegant and eloquent speeches in U.S. history.


Perhaps the most famous battle of the Civil War took place at Gettysburg, PA, July 1 to July 3, 1863. At the end of the battle, the Union's Army of the Potomac had successfully repelled the second invasion of the North by the Confederacy's Army of Northern Virginia. Several months later, President Lincoln went to Gettysburg to speak at the dedication of the cemetery for the Union war dead. Speaking of a "new birth of freedom," he delivered one of the most memorable speeches in U.S. history.

The Gettysburg Address is a speech by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and one of the most quoted speeches in United States history It was delivered at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, during the American Civil War, four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the decisive Battle of Gettysburg.

At the end of the Battle of Gettysburg, more than 51,000 Confederate and Union soldiers were wounded, missing, or dead. Many of those who died were laid in makeshift graves along the battlefield. Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin commissioned David Wills, an attorney, to purchase land for a proper burial site for the deceased Union soldiers. Wills acquired 17 acres for the cemetery, which was planned and designed by landscape architect William Saunders.

The cemetery was dedicated on November 19, 1863. The main speaker for the event was Edward Everett, one of the nation's foremost orators. President Lincoln was also invited to speak "as Chief Executive of the nation, formally set apart these grounds to their sacred use by a few appropriate remarks." At the ceremony, Everett spoke for more than 2 hours; Lincoln spoke for 2 minutes.

Answer 4

President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address has two fundamental points. The first is to clarify the magnitude of the sacrifice made by those who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg in July of 1863. The second is to inspire listeners to dedicate themselves to making a similar sacrifice for the sake of a 'new birth of freedom' in the United States.

Answer 5

It is a speech of Lincoln's stating the the North and South should get over their dissagreements and live peacefully. Also, that we should honor those who serve in war and all of us should follow the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.

Answer 6

Lincoln came to Gettysburg to dedicate a cemetery of the men who died in the three day battle at Gettysburg. He spoke softy and his speech only lasted about 10 minutes and the newspapers didn't give it a very good review. It is one of the greatest speeches a president has ever given. He set out the reasons why he wouldn't allow the south to leave the union.

Answer 7

it was about the civil war and what the Americans were fighting for.

Answer 8

A proclamation to end the civil and the abuse of human rights in the south.