c) Gettysburg Address

Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, delivered in November 1863, eloquently redefined the Civil War’s purpose. In just a few minutes, Lincoln’s speech transformed the Gettysburg battlefield into a symbol of the nation’s struggle for freedom and equality. He reframed the war as not only a struggle for the Union but also a fight for a “new birth of freedom,” emphasizing the ideals of liberty and democracy. The Gettysburg Address has become one of the most famous speeches in American history, celebrated for its powerful and succinct expression of national ideals.

Below is one of only two confirmed photos of Lincoln (center, facing camera) at Gettysburg taken about noon on November 19, 1863; Lincoln spoke some three hours later. To Lincoln’s right is Ward Hill Lamon, his bodyguard.