ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY
November 19, 1863
President Lincoln Delivers the Gettysburg Address
On this day in 1863, President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address dedicating a national cemetery at the
Civil War Battlefield in Gettysburg Pennsylvania.
Many Americans consider the Gettysburg Address one of the greatest speeches ever given, however, at the time
feeling were mixed. Even Lincoln himself, as he was stepping down from the podium said "That speech won't scour. It
is a flat failure.". Many newspapers at the time had other unflattering comments.
It is interesting that in the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln states "The world will little note nor long remember what
we say here..." yet most Americans are more familiar with what Lincoln said than they are with how the Battle of
Gettysburg contributed to the ultimate victory of the Union.
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