Lincoln's Gettysburg Address: A New Birth of Freedom and the True Foundation of the United States

On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the most renowned and powerful speeches in American history: the Gettysburg Address. This speech was not only a eulogy to the fallen but also a profound articulation of the core principles that define the United States. Lincoln's address was a poignant reminder of the significance of the Civil War in shaping the future of the nation, while also reaffirming the commitment to the ideals of democracy and equality.

National Purpose and the Founding Principles

Lincoln began his address by emphasizing the founding principles of the United States, specifically the idea that the nation was conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Drawing upon the Declaration of Independence of 1776, he highlighted the ideals that the nation was founded upon, which had become the bedrock of American identity. For Lincoln, the Civil War was the ultimate test of whether a nation committed to these ideals could endure.

Sacrifice and Honor: The Soldiers of Gettysburg

Lincoln honored the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg, acknowledging their sacrifice and the importance of their commitment to the Union and the principles of democracy. By this, he underscored the idea that the war was not just about states or regional interests but about the fundamental values that bind the nation together. The soldiers' sacrifice was a testament to the belief that the nation was worth fighting for.

Unity and Continuity: A Test of National Endurance

In calling for national unity, Lincoln dared to question the very foundation of the nation's existence. He argued that the struggle of the Civil War was a test of whether a nation conceived in liberty could endure. This was a significant departure from the prevailing understanding that the states had created the federal government. Instead, Lincoln posited that it was the federal government that defined and created the states. This was a profound shift in the way the nation's founding was viewed.

By framing the conflict in these terms, Lincoln emphasized that the states did not create the federal government but rather the federal government created the states. This perspective was critical in redefining the relationship between the federal government and the individual states, emphasizing a more unified and centralized form of governance.

A New Birth of Freedom: A Renewed Nation

Lincoln's vision for a renewed nation suggested that the war should lead to a "new birth of freedom." This phrase encapsulated his belief that the war was not merely devastation but a transformative experience that would ensure that "government of the people, by the people, for the people" would not perish from the earth. Through the sacrifices and resilience of the soldiers, a new and more equitable nation could be born.

Contrary to what many people today might miss, the first line of the speech ("Fourscore and seven years ago our ancestors brought forth upon this continent a new nation") was a direct reference to the Declaration of Independence. This point is often overlooked but was fully understood by the audience at the time. By linking the Gettysburg Address to the Declaration, Lincoln underscored the continuity of American democratic principles and the enduring legacy of the founding fathers.

One of the chief rationales for secession in the 1860s was the idea that the states, by ratifying the Constitution, had created the United States. However, by the 1860s, a different understanding had taken root. Representatives of the people of a bunch of colonies got together and created the United States. It was through the power given to the new nation that the colonies became states. This understanding shifted the focus from the states creating the federal government to the federal government creating the states.

Lincoln's address was not just a eulogy; it was a powerful declaration of unity and a call to action. He urged the living to dedicate themselves to the unfinished work of those who fought and died, to ensure that the principles of liberty and equality would prevail. The Gettysburg Address remains a testament to the enduring commitment to these ideals and a reminder of the critical role of the Civil War in shaping the future of the United States.