History | Graded Assignment | Inside the Gettysburg Address

Name: Gabriel Oliveira Rodrigues Date: 31/07/18

Graded Assignment
Inside the Gettysburg Address

The Gettysburg Address is a remarkable speech. It is only 272 words long and took only two minutes to deliver.
But it had a profound effect on the nation—both then and now.
President Lincoln was not even the principal speaker on November 19, 1863 at the dedication of the Gettysburg
National Cemetery, just four months after the battle there. The key speaker was Edward Everett, a renowned
orator who talked for over two hours. Later Everett wrote Lincoln to say that "I should be glad if I could flatter
myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes."
Just what was this central idea? Analyze each of these excerpts and see if you can arrive at its central idea.

Total score: ____ of 75 points

(Score for Question 1: ___ of 7 points)

1. A “score” is twenty. Calculate the number of years in “four score and seven.” Then go back from
1863. What year is Lincoln referring to?

A. 1607
B. 1776
C. 1787
D. 1812

(Score for Question 2: ___ of 7 points)

2. What document did Abraham Lincoln believe provided the foundation for the nation?

A. the Declaration of Independence

E. the Articles of Confederation
F. the Constitution
G. the Bill of Rights

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 History | Graded Assignment | Inside the Gettysburg Address
(Score for Question 3: ___ of 7 points)

3. What did Lincoln believe to be the key premise of the nation that was conceived?

A. A nation should be founded on liberty.

H. All people are equal.
I. There should be dedication when a nation is founded.
J. Fathers conceive nations.

(Score for Question 4: ___ of 7 points)

4. What does Lincoln say is the challenge of the Civil War?

A. whether people are dedicated

K. whether the nation will last
L. whether the battlefield at Gettysburg was great
M. whether anyone can win

(Score for Question 5: ___ of 7 points)

5. What does Lincoln feel is the purpose of having this cemetery serve as a final resting place?

A. to give everyone a proper burial

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 History | Graded Assignment | Inside the Gettysburg Address
N. to preserve a portion of the battlefield
O. to do the right thing
P. to recognize those that died to preserve the nation

(Score for Question 6: ___ of 7 points)

6. Why does Lincoln say that “we cannot dedicate…we cannot consecrate…we cannot hallow this
ground,” when that is the supposed purpose of the event?

A. because those things had already been done by those who fought at Gettysburg
Q. because not enough people attended the event to do this
R. because the dead soldiers were the only ones who could accomplish this
S. because only God could do it

(Score for Question 7: ___ of 7 points)

7. What does Lincoln think will be remembered and what will be forgotten about the cemetery
dedication?

A. Those who died will be the ones remembered.

T. The sacrifices of those who fought will be remembered, but the words will not.
U. The words will carry the nation forward and will be remembered.
V. The people who fought at Gettysburg will be forgotten, but the words will not.

(Score for Question 8: ___ of 7 points)

8. What is Lincoln’s hope for the nation?

A. that the nation and its government will last

W. that more people will not perish in war
X. that winning the war is necessary
Y. that everyone will remain dedicated to honoring the dead

(Score for Question 9: ___ of 7 points)

9. Looking at the speech as a whole, what does Lincoln NOT mention?

A. The country was founded on the ideal of equality.

Z. Those who died stood for important principles.
AA.Slavery and the Confederacy must be eliminated.

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 History | Graded Assignment | Inside the Gettysburg Address
BB.Freedom and the foundation of government are in the people.

(Score for Question 10: ___ of 7 points)

10. The Gettysburg Address has had a long-term impact similar to the Declaration of Independence.
Why?

A. Both were carefully written and edited.

CC.Both were delivered as powerful speeches.
DD.Both were lengthy explanations of freedom.
EE. Both expressed clear moral ideals.

(Score for Question 11: ___ of 5 points)

11. Imagine you are a Northerner listening to the Gettysburg Address. How does it make you feel:
Sad for those who died at Gettysburg? Encouraged to continue to fight the South? Excited about the future of
the nation? Explain your reaction to the Gettysburg Address.

Answer:
The Gettysburg Address is a powerful piece of history, echoing through culture. Just reading it is easy
to be full of courage and melancholy, but one can only imagine how someone felt hearing it from
Lincoln itself. I do believe the original listeners were full of respect and melancholy, as they fight their
once brothers, deceived by false promises and philosophies, seeing them in the wrong side of the fight.
This is, at least, how I would feel myself.

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