Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Quiz

What is the main purpose of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address?

• To dedicate a cemetery for soldiers who died in the Battle of Gettysburg

• To declare the end of the Civil War

• To announce his re-election campaign

• To propose a new constitution

What event is Lincoln referring to when he says "Four score and seven years ago"?

• The signing of the Declaration of Independence

• The end of the Civil War

• The beginning of the Civil War

• The signing of the Constitution

What does Lincoln mean by "a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal"?

• A nation that is free from British rule

• A nation that is founded on the principle of equality

• A nation that is dedicated to economic prosperity

• A nation that is focused on military strength

Why does Lincoln believe that the world will "little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here"?

• Because the actions of the soldiers are more significant than the words spoken.

• Because the speech was not well-received at the time.

• Because Lincoln was being modest about his speech.

• Because the event was not widely publicized.

According to Lincoln, what is the "great task remaining before us"?

• To win the Civil War

• To honor the dead soldiers

• To dedicate the battlefield

• To ensure the survival of the nation

Lincoln states that the brave men, living and dead, who struggled at Gettysburg have _______ it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

Lincoln's use of diction contributes to the purpose of the speech by:

• Emphasizing unity and equality

• Highlighting the importance of war

• Undermining the opposition

• Promoting economic policies

PART A: Which statement best summarizes the central idea of the speech?

• The influence of the founders on our nation should be limited since the country has changed and endured so much since the American Revolution.

• The best way to honor the sacrifice of the dead Union soldiers is to continue fighting to preserve the nation and its values.

• The Union soldiers who died in the Battle of Gettysburg were heroes because they guaranteed liberty for all Americans through their sacrifice.

• Lincoln believes that the Union's efforts in the Civil War have been courageous and inspiring, but will most likely not lead to victory.

PART B: Which phrase from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." (Paragraph 1)

• "We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field" (Paragraph 2)

• "But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground." (Paragraph 3)

• "It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced." (Paragraph 3)

What effect does the opening sentence have on Lincoln's message in the speech?

• It conveys a tone of great sadness, emphasizing the tragedy of so many lives being lost in the Civil War.

• It portrays the Civil War as a continuation of the United States' enduring commitment to liberty and equality.

• It emphasizes how the United States lost the ideals of liberty and freedom fought for by the Founding Fathers.

• It encourages listeners to remember that the Founding Fathers knew that slavery should not exist in their nation.