AUTHOR’S BACKGROUND:
The author of “The Gettysburg Address” is Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United
States, who served from 1861 until his assassination in 1865.
Key Background Information on Abraham Lincoln:
Born: February 12, 1809, in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky (now LaRue County).
Early Life: Lincoln grew up in a poor family and had limited formal education but was a self-
taught reader. He worked as a farm laborer, rail-splitter, store clerk, surveyor, and lawyer before
entering politics.
Political Career: Lincoln was elected to the Illinois State Legislature in 1834 and served one term
in the U.S. House of Representatives (1847–1849). He gained national attention during debates
in 1858 against Senator Stephen A. Douglas, particularly over the issue of slavery, which set the
stage for his presidential candidacy.
President (1861–1865): Lincoln was elected president in 1860, and his election prompted several
Southern states to secede from the Union, leading to the outbreak of the Civil War. His
leadership during the war, including his efforts to preserve the Union and his Emancipation
Proclamation (1863) which freed enslaved people in Confederate-held territories, was pivotal.
Assassination: Lincoln was tragically assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, just
days after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House, marking the end of the Civil
War.
The Gettysburg Address:
Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, following the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the bloodiest and most
significant battles of the Civil War. The speech, lasting just a few minutes and composed of only
about 270 words, redefined the purpose of the war and the nation’s commitment to the principles
of liberty and equality.
Lincoln is remembered not only for his leadership during the Civil War but also for his vision of
a unified nation and his advocacy for human rights, particularly the abolition of slavery.
CHARACTERS:
The main characters in the Gettysburg Address are Abraham Lincoln and the soldiers who died in
the Battle of Gettysburg:
Abraham Lincoln
The 16th president of the United States, who delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19,
1863. Lincoln’s speech was given at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a key site of the Civil War. Lincoln’s speech honored the fallen
soldiers and described the war as a struggle for liberty, equality, and self-government.
Soldiers
The soldiers who died in the Battle of Gettysburg, which was the bloodiest battle of the Civil
War. Lincoln’s speech described the soldiers’ sacrifices as necessary for the survival of the
nation.
Other people involved in the Gettysburg Address include:
Edward Everett
A former US senator, governor of Massachusetts, and president of Harvard, who spoke before
Lincoln at the dedication ceremony
General Robert E. Lee
The Confederate general who led the Army of Northern Virginia into Pennsylvania
Union Major General George Meade
The Union general who led the Army of the Potomac and defeated Lee’s forces at Gettysburg.
PLOT :
Lincoln used the speech to remind his audience that the United States was founded based on
liberty and equality, pulling from language used in the Declaration of Independence. Lincoln
stated that the Civil War was being fought to uphold and safeguard these ideals.
SETTING:
The setting for the Gettysburg Address was the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, on November 19, 1863
LESSON SUMMARY:
President Abraham Lincoln wrote and delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863,
to commemorate a new national cemetery at Gettysburg during the American Civil War. The
Gettysburg Address’s significance is that it sought to give meaning to the sacrifice of soldiers
who died during the war. The Gettysburg Address is only ten sentences long and takes less than
three minutes to recite or deliver. It includes a reference to the Declaration of Independence and
the foundation of the United States of America on liberty and the idea that all men are created
equal. The speech talks about ‘’a new birth of freedom’’, referencing the abolition of slavery and
reunification of the country as the purpose for fighting the Civil War.
The Gettysburg Address was given b” President Abraham Lincoln at the dedication ceremony for
the cemetery, which was located on the site of the Battle of Gettysburg. The battle was one of the
bloodiest and most decisive of the Civil War.
Prepared by :
Gomez, Gadiel Ivan S.
Espiritu, Jennylyn M.
Flores, Rhomarie Jade S.
Guevarra, Queenie
Gatbonton Madelene B.
