Question 5
Gettysburg Address
“It is for us the living...to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us...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, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”
Using the quote from the Gettysburg Address, select phrases Lincoln used in his speech and explain how those phrases reminded his listeners of the American ideals of liberty, equality, and the responsibility of government. *
We'll be glad to critique your answer.
To analyze the phrases used by Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address and how they reminded his listeners of American ideals of liberty, equality, and the responsibility of government, we can break down the quotes:
1. "It is for us the living...to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us": This phrase emphasizes the responsibility of the present generation to fulfill the unfinished work left by those who fought and died in the Civil War. Lincoln is urging his listeners to actively dedicate themselves to preserving the ideals of liberty and equality.
2. "That these dead shall not have died in vain": By acknowledging the sacrifice of those who fought and died, Lincoln is stressing the importance of ensuring that their deaths were not in vain. This phrase signifies that preserving liberty and equality is a crucial task to honor their memory.
3. "That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom": In this powerful phrase, Lincoln conveys the idea that America should experience a rebirth of freedom. By invoking a divine element and emphasizing a fresh start, he is suggesting that it is essential for the nation to rediscover and recommit itself to the principles of liberty and equality.
4. "Government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth": In this iconic phrase, Lincoln emphasizes the cornerstone of American democracy. He highlights the importance of a government that is represented and serves the interests of the people. By using the phrase "shall not perish from the earth," Lincoln underlines the responsibility of the present generation to protect and preserve this form of government.
Overall, the phrases used by Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address remind his listeners of the American ideals of liberty, equality, and the responsibility of government by emphasizing the duty to carry on the cause for which the soldiers fought, not letting their sacrifices be in vain, and reaffirming the importance of a government that represents and serves the people.