What Other Founding Document Is President Lincoln Referring To In This Passage?

Soldiers National Cemetery
© Abraham Lincoln Online
The Gettysburg Address
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863
On June i, 1865, Senator Charles Sumner referred to the most famous speech ever given by President Abraham Lincoln. In his eulogy on the slain president, he called the Gettysburg Address a "awe-inspiring human action." He said Lincoln was mistaken that "the earth will little notation, nor long remember what nosotros say here." Rather, the Bostonian remarked, "The world noted at once what he said, and volition never cease to remember it. The boxing itself was less important than the speech."

At that place are 5 known copies of the speech in Lincoln's handwriting, each with a slightly different text, and named for the people who first received them: Nicolay, Hay, Everett, Bancroft and Bliss. Two copies apparently were written before delivering the speech communication, one of which probably was the reading copy. The remaining ones were produced months later for soldier benefit events. Despite widely-circulated stories to the contrary, the president did not dash off a copy aboard a railroad train to Gettysburg. Lincoln advisedly prepared his major speeches in advance; his steady, even script in every manuscript is consistent with a firm writing surface, non the notoriously bumpy Civil State of war-era trains. Boosted versions of the spoken language appeared in newspapers of the era, feeding mod-twenty-four hour period defoliation about the authoritative text.

Bliss Copy

Ever since Lincoln wrote information technology in 1864, this version has been the about oft reproduced, notably on the walls of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. It is named later Colonel Alexander Bliss, stepson of historian George Bancroft. Bancroft asked President Lincoln for a copy to use as a fundraiser for soldiers (run across "Bancroft Copy" below). However, considering Lincoln wrote on both sides of the paper, the oral communication could not be reprinted, so Lincoln made another copy at Bliss's asking. It is the last known copy written past Lincoln and the only one signed and dated by him. Today it is on brandish at the Lincoln Room of the White Firm.

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.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long suffer. Nosotros are met on a great boxing-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, every bit a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. Information technology is birthday fitting and proper that nosotros should do this.

Only, in a larger sense, nosotros can non dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this footing. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor ability to add or detract. The world will niggling note, nor long recall what nosotros say here, simply it can never forget what they did here. Information technology is for the states the living, rather, to be dedicated hither to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far and then nobly advanced. It is rather for united states to be here defended to the groovy task remaining earlier us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that nosotros here highly resolve that these dead shall not accept died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall accept a new nascence of liberty -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 1863

Nicolay Copy
Named for John Grand. Nicolay, President Lincoln's personal secretary, this is considered the "first draft" of the speech, begun in Washington on White house stationery. The 2d page is writen on different paper stock, indicating it was finished in Gettysburg before the cemetery dedication began. Lincoln gave this draft to Nicolay, who went to Gettysburg with Lincoln and witnessed the oral communication. The Library of Congress owns this manuscript.

Four score and 7 years agone our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

At present we are engaged in a great civil state of war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. Nosotros are met on a great battle field of that war. We come to dedicate a portion of it, as a concluding resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. This we may, in all propriety practice.

But, in a larger sense, we can non dedicate we can not consecrate we tin can not hallow, this ground The brave men, living and expressionless, who struggled here, have hallowed information technology, far to a higher place our poor power to add together or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what nosotros say here; while it tin never forget what they did here.

It is rather for us, the living, we hither exist dedicated to the not bad task remaining before us that, from these honored expressionless we have increased devotion to that crusade for which they here, gave the final total measure of devotion that we here highly resolve these dead shall non have died in vain; that the nation, shall have a new birth of liberty, and that authorities of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the world.

Hay Copy
Believed to be the second draft of the speech, President Lincoln gave this re-create to John Hay, a White House banana. Hay accompanied Lincoln to Gettysburg and briefly referred to the speech in his diary: "the President, in a fine, free way, with more grace than is his wont, said his one-half dozen words of induction." The Hay copy, which includes Lincoln'southward handwritten changes, also is endemic by the Library of Congress.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought along, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Freedom, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great ceremonious war, testing whether that nation, or whatsoever nation so conceived, and and then dedicated, can long endure. We are met here on a peachy battlefield of that war. We accept come to dedicate a portion of it, equally a concluding resting place for those who hither gave their lives that that nation might alive. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should practice this.

Only in a larger sense, nosotros can not dedicate we tin not consecrate we tin non hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled hither, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add together or detract. The world will little annotation, nor long remember, what nosotros say here, but can never forget what they did here.

It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on. It is rather for united states to be here dedicated to the swell task remaining earlier 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 hither highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall accept a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Everett Copy
Edward Everett, the chief speaker at the Gettysburg cemetery dedication, conspicuously admired Lincoln'southward remarks and wrote to him the side by side day proverb, "I should exist glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as virtually to the central idea of the occasion, in 2 hours, as yous did in two minutes." In 1864 Everett asked Lincoln for a copy of the spoken communication to benefit Marriage soldiers, making it the 3rd manuscript copy. Eventually the land of Illinois caused it, where information technology's preserved at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Four score and vii years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the suggestion that all men are created equal.

At present nosotros are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or whatsoever nation so conceived, and and so dedicated, can long suffer. Nosotros are met on a slap-up battle-field of that war. Nosotros 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 alive. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

Simply, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we tin non consecrate we can not hallow this basis. The dauntless men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated information technology far above our poor power to add or detract. The earth volition little note, nor long call back what we say here, only it can never forget what they did here.

Information technology is for u.s., the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here, have, thus far, so nobly avant-garde. It is rather for us to be here defended to the corking task remaining before us that from these honored dead nosotros take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the final full mensurate of devotion that nosotros here highly resolve that these expressionless shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall accept a new birth of liberty and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Bancroft Copy
As noted above, historian George Bancroft asked President Lincoln for a re-create to use every bit a fundraiser for soldiers. When Lincoln sent his copy on Feb 29, 1864, he used both sides of the paper, rendering the manuscript useless for lithographic engraving. So Bancroft kept this copy and Lincoln had to produce an additional one (Bliss Copy). The Bancroft re-create is now owned by Cornell University.

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.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or whatever nation and so conceived, and so dedicated, tin long suffer. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a last resting-place for those who here gave their lives, that that nation might alive. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

Simply, 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. The world volition trivial note, nor long remember what nosotros say here, but it can never forget what they did hither. Information technology is for u.s.a. the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished piece of work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for united states of america to exist here dedicated to the keen chore remaining earlier us that from these honored dead we have increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure out of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not accept 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.

Source for all versions: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, edited past Roy P. Basler and others.

Related Links

A Teacher'southward Tour of the Battle of Gettysburg (Matthew Pinsker/Gilder Lehrman Plant)
Battleground Maps (Library of Congress)
Civil State of war Found (Gettysburg College)
Edward Everett's Gettysburg Speech communication (University of Maryland)
Gettysburg Address Showroom (Library of Congress)
Gettysburg Address Eyewitness (National Public Radio)
Gettysburg Address News Article (New York Times)
Gettysburg Address Teacher Resource (C-Bridge)
Gettysburg Address Text
Gettysburg Civil War Photographs (Library of Congress)
Gettysburg Discussion Grouping (Bob & Dennis Lawrence)
Gettysburg Foundation
Gettysburg National Military Park (NPS)
How Some Few "Remarks" Became the Gettysburg Address (LAP/ALI)
David Wills'due south Letter of the alphabet of Invitation to Lincoln (Library of Congress)
Lincoln and the Gettysburg Awakening (JALA)
Lincoln and Gettysburg Timeline
Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania
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Edward Everett'south Alphabetic character to Lincoln (Library of Congress)
Photograph of Lincoln at Gettysburg (Library of Congress)
Reading of the Gettysburg Address (NPR)
Recollections of Lincoln at Gettysburg (Bob Cooke)
Response to a Serenade
Robert Todd Lincoln'southward "Gettysburg Story" (JALA)
Seminary Ridge Museum
Solving the Mysteries of the Gettysburg Address (LAP/ALI)
The Gettysburg Powerpoint Presentation (Peter Norvig)
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Wills House

Related Books

Boritt, Gabor. The Gettysburg Gospel: The Lincoln Oral communication That Nobody Knows. Simon & Schuster, 2006.

Graham, Kent. Nov: Lincoln's Elegy at Gettysburg. Indiana University Press, 2001.

Hoch, Bradley R. and Boritt, Gabor South. The Lincoln Trail in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Land Academy Press, 2001.

Johnson, Martin P. Writing the Gettysburg Address. University Press of Kansas, 2013.

Kunhardt, Philip B., Jr. A New Birth of Freedom - Lincoln at Gettysburg. Boston: Little, Brown, 1983.

Mearns, David C., Dunlap, Lloyd A., Wilson, Douglas L., and Sellers, John R., contributors. Long Remembered: Lincoln and His V Versions of the Gettysburg Address. Levenger Press, 2011.

Wills, Garry. Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America. Touchstone Books, 1993.

Wilson, Douglas L. Lincoln'southward Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words. Alfred A. Knopf, 2006 Home | News | Education | Timelines | Places | Resources | Books | Speeches | Index | Search
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