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ACT Template for Gettysburg

Gettysburg Address By President Abraham Lincoln 1 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 me 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 endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We 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 live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate we cannot 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 will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. IT is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us 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.

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Name _____________________________________________ Date ______________________ Gettysburg Address Meaning of Words 1. As it is used in line 7, the word consecrate most nearly means a. criticize b. desecrate c. bless d. condemn 2. President Lincolns state that Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation. Can best be paraphrased as a. Eighty-seven years ago the United States was created. b. Eighty-seven years ago North America was discovered. c. Eighty-seven years ago Lincolns father settled Gettysburg. d. Eighty-seven years ago a new nation was blessed by God. Supporting details 3. According to the passage, the United States is in the midst of a. a debate on the validity of a government of the people, by the people, for the people. b. a dedication of a monument for those who gave their lives on a great battle field. c. a war to determine the nations resolve for independence. d. a conflict testing the strength of a nation conceived in liberty. 4. According to the passage, Lincolns justification for the Battle of Gettysburg was for I. a new birth of freedom II. government by the people, of the people, for the people. III. the honored dead. a. I and III b. I and II c. III only d. II and III only Authors approach 5. Which of the following statements best describes the method and purpose for addressing the topic? a. A letter to consecrate a cemetery in Gettysburg cemetery. b. A speech with the purpose of honoring the fallen at the Battle of Gettysburg. c. An essay defending the structure of the United States government. d. A speech encouraging men to enlist in the great cause of liberty. Cause and Effect 6. It can most reasonably be inferred from the passage that the Gettysburg Address was primarily given to? a. Encourage the soldiers to continue their great struggle. b. Honor the fathers who have fought in the war of independence. c. Honor the dead and their sacrifice to preserve the nation. d. Preserve the government of the Union. Comparative Relations

7. It can most reasonably be inferred that the author compares the Civil War with the War of Independence because a. both conflicts arose from the protection of liberty and equality. b. both conflicts were fought with great loss of life. c. both conflicts were fought four score and seven years ago. d. both conflicts stood for the proposition that the nation would not endure. Generalization 8. The narrators claim that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom suggests that a. the United States will rewrite its constitution. b. the United States shall recommit to, and redefine the meaning of liberty. c. religion will become the guiding force for the new nation. d. prior to this conflict, the citizens of the United States lacked freedom. Main Idea 9. The primary function of the first paragraph is to a. honor the dead. b. form a new nation in this continent. c. establish that this nations government is based on liberty and that all men are created equal. d. honor the sacrifices of our fathers. Sequential Relationships 10. According to the passage in which order did the following events occur? I. The Battle of Gettysburg II. The United States was created III. The Civil War began a. II, III, and I b. I, II, III c. III, II, I d. I, III, II

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_____ A. The sacrifices made by all soldiers during the Civil War are being honored. _____ B. The sacrifice of the soldiers cannot be in vain, it must be used to redefine the meaning of liberty and expand the concept of democracy and equality to all. _____ C. This battle field is being honored due to the great loss of the soldiers lives. For Specific details: Write down 5 important details in your own words (paraphrased) /facts/data from the reading that support the main idea. For each of the details you stated, explain why you believe it is important. Supporting Detail 1. Rationale

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