What was the purpose of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address speech?

Answer 1

To dedicate a cemetary on the Gettsyburg battlefield.

Answer 2

The Gettysburg Address

"For three days in July 1863, Union and Confederate forces fought fierce battles at and near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Union turned back one of the last major thrusts of the Confederate troops toward the North. Many consider it the turning point in the war; after Gettysburg, the South had to fight a defensive war that was doomed to fail."

"On November 20 of that same year, a battlefield cemetery was dedicated at Gettysburg. Edward Everett, a well-regarded and prominent speaker, was the main feature of the event. President Lincoln followed Everett's two hour speech with what came to be known as the Gettysburg Address. In about two minutes, Lincoln gave his speech; though the newspapers of the time had much to say about Everett's speech and relegated Lincoln to the back pages, Everett himself recognized the beauty of the simple elegance of Lincoln's words, and told the President as much in a note he wrote to him the next day."

Answer 3

I just learned about this in history. If this is for homework, I am apologizing in advance to your teacher for helping you.

87 years ago, our fathers brought forth a new nation, formed in liberty, and dedicated to the idea that all men are created equal. Now we are taking part in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so formed and so dedicated can last. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a part of that field as a cemetery for those who died so that that nation might live. It is altogether the right thing to do. But in a larger sense, we cannot set apart for this purpose; we cannot make this ground holy. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have made it holy—so far above our power that we cannot add or take it away. The world will little remember what we say here, but they will never forget what has been done here. It is for us, the living; rather this field is dedicated to, to the unfinished work, which they who fought here have thus far so moved with honor. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great work remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased loyalty to that cause for which they gave their last bit of loyalty, that we firmly decided that the men did not die worthlessly; that this nation, under God shall have new freedom and that the government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not die away from the earth.


Sound familiar? It's in more simple words, helping you understand it better.

Abe Lincoln is trying to say, that our forefathers created a nation that was meant for all men to be equal but really it wasn't. Cuz no one played by the friggin' rules! He also says that this civil war is testing their strength as a nation to stay together even in the worst of times. And...skipping ahead...that although the purpose of their gathering is to honor the dead and cemetery, they cannot because the troops have already made it holy by fighting for their beloved country.

Answer 4

To redfine the struggle in terms of the founding and preservation of our republic in terms of the principals set forth in the Declaration of Independence.

Answer 5

To convince the country that it needed to win the civil war.

Answer 6

....Government
Of the people
by the people
for the people
shall not perish from the earth.

We've come a long way, baby!