Lincoln Delivers the Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of a soldiers' cemetery in Pennsylvania.
Published · Updated · 1 min read
The Event
Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of a soldiers' cemetery in Pennsylvania. The battle had taken place months earlier.
The Wider Story
The short address linked the war's sacrifices to representative government and the promise of equality. It formed one part of a larger dedication ceremony.
Putting the Event in Perspective
The speech was not delivered during the battle and did not immediately end the war.
Reading the Historical Record
A recreation should show a cemetery gathering in November rather than July combat, and should not pass an actor's voice off as an original recording.
About the Historical Recreation
The accompanying visual is an illustrative reconstruction: a distant 1863 cemetery dedication gathering at Gettysburg under bare autumn trees. It is not authentic archival footage, an eyewitness record or additional evidence for the event.
Sources
Found an error? Send a correction. Read our editorial standards.