November 19 - President Lincoln Delivers the Gettysburg Address

This Day in History: 19 November 2020

 

19 November 1863

 

157 years ago, today, President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of a military cemetery in Gettysburg, during the American Civil War. In less than 275 words, Lincoln movingly reminded the weary public why the Union had to fight, and win, the Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg had been fought some four months prior and was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Over the course of three days, more than 45,000 men were killed, injured, captured or went missing. It also proved to be the turning point of the war, as it marked the beginning of the Southern army's ultimate decline.

 

An attorney named David Wills bought 17 acres of pasture to turn into a cemetery for the more than 7,500 who fell in battle. At its dedication, the crowd listened for two hours to Edward Everett, one of the most famous orators of the day, before Lincoln spoke. His address lasted only two or three minutes and reflected his redefined belief that the Civil War was not only a fight to save the Union, but also a struggle for freedom and equality. Reception towards the Gettysburg Address speech was initially mixed, divided strictly along partisan lines. Nevertheless, the speech is thought by many today to be the most eloquent articulation of the democratic vision ever written.

 

Want to find out more about the Gettysburg Address? Click here for more information, or here for more about the Battle of Gettysburg.