History | Graded Assignment | Inside the Gettysburg Address

Name: Date:

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.
(75 points)

“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.”

(6 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?
Score

a. 1607
b. 1776
c. 1787
d. 1812
(6 points)

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

a. the Declaration of Independence

b. the Articles of Confederation
c. the Constitution
d. the Bill of Rights
(6 points)

3. According to his speech, what foundational idea did Lincoln believe the United States was built upon?

Score

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 History | Graded Assignment | Inside the Gettysburg Address

a. All nations are conceived in liberty.

b. All people are equal.
c. New nations demand new values.
d. Nations must adhere to the values of their founding fathers.

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 History | Graded Assignment | Inside the Gettysburg Address

(6 points)

“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 battlefield of that war.”

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

Score

a. whether people are dedicated

b. whether the nation will last
c. whether the battlefield at Gettysburg was great
d. whether anyone can win

“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.”

(6 points)

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

a. to give everyone a proper burial

b. to preserve a portion of the battlefield
c. to do the right thing
d. to recognize those who died to preserve the nation

“But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate. . .we cannot

consecrate. . .we cannot 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.”

(6 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?
Score

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 History | Graded Assignment | Inside the Gettysburg Address

a. because those things had already been done by soldiers who fought at Gettysburg
b. because not enough people attended the event to do this
c. because the dead soldiers were the only ones who could accomplish this
d. because only God could do it

(6 points)

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

a. Those who died will be the ones remembered.

b. The sacrifices of those who fought will be remembered, but the words will not.
c. The words will carry the nation forward and will be remembered.
d. The people who fought at Gettysburg will be forgotten, but the words will not.

(6 points)

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

Score

a. that the nation and its government will last

b. that more people will not perish in war
c. that winning the war is necessary
d. that everyone will remain dedicated to honoring the dead

“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining

before 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 here highly resolve that these dead shall not have
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. "

(6 points)

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

Score

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

b. Those who died stood for important principles.
c. Slavery and the Confederacy must be eliminated.
d. Freedom and the foundation of government are in the people.

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 History | Graded Assignment | Inside the Gettysburg Address

(21 points)

10. Now that you have analyzed the Gettysburg Address, imagine that you are a commentator attending the
ceremonies on November 19, 1863. Write a paragraph explaining why the Gettysburg Address will have a
long-term impact. In your remarks explain why Lincoln never calls for a Northern victory.

The Gettysburg Address will have a long-term impact because it will made every descendant proud of what
the history of their country was. Lincoln never calls a Northern victory because it was not the fault of anyone
the war.

Score

Your Score ___ of 75

Points Comment
5 The response provides a complete answer to the question. It addresses all parts of the question. It
demonstrates thorough understanding of the concepts and facts. It is accurate, relevant, and complete.
4 The response provides an incomplete answer to the question. It addresses most, but not all, parts of the
question and/or demonstrates less than a thorough understanding of the concepts and facts. It contains
minor flaws.
3 The response provides a partial answer to the question. It fails to address all parts of the question and/or
demonstrates a superficial understanding of the concepts and facts. It contains moderate flaws.
2 The response provides an inadequate description and explanation. It fails to address several parts of the
question. It demonstrates a lack of understanding of the concepts and facts. It contains serious flaws.
1 The response is completely inadequate or so inaccurate as to be unacceptable.
0 There is no response or the response is unreadable.

5 17-21
4 13-17
3 9– 13
2 4-8
1 1-4

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 History | Graded Assignment | Inside the Gettysburg Address

0 0

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