Abraham Lincoln - Gettysburg Address

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Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, delivered on November 19, 1863, is a pivotal speech in American history. It was given during the American Civil War at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The speech honored the soldiers who died at Gettysburg, reiterating the principles of equality and liberty upon which the United States was founded. Lincoln drew from the Declaration of Independence, emphasizing that the nation was "conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." The speech also underscored the ongoing struggle to preserve the Union and the ideals it represented. Lincoln urged the living to continue the unfinished work of those who had fallen, ensuring that their sacrifice would not be in vain. He envisioned a "new birth of freedom" for the nation, where government would truly be "of the people, by the people, for the people." The Gettysburg Address is renowned for its eloquence and brevity, lasting only two minutes yet leaving a lasting impact on American ideals and political discourse.