The Gettysburg Address Abraham Lincoln November 19, 1863

Invitation Given November 19, 1863 Given to dedicate the cemetery and battleground Judge David Willis invited Lincoln late Edward Everett was the main speaker and invited months before Lincoln Lincoln was told he would only be a small part

Main points Everett’s speech lasted 2 hours Lincoln’s lasted less than 10 minutes Speech was not to discuss the war, but more the state of the United States Arguments were that we need to remember the people who died and that the Declaration of Independence is more important than the constitution

Facts Five copies to different people Lincoln DID NOT write it while on a train on the way to Gettysburg Writing surface was clear and hard for Civil-War era trains, which were bumpy Additional copies appeared in newspapers