Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address in 1863 to dedicate a cemetery for Union soldiers who fell in the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. In the address, Lincoln framed the Civil War as a struggle to determine whether the nation founded on the principles of equality, liberty and democracy as expressed in the Declaration of Independence could long endure. He called on those living to renew their dedication to the cause of the Union for which so many soldiers had died.

1. Gettysburg Address In Pictures

2. 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.

3. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.

4. We are met on a great battlefield of that war.

5. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live.

6. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

7. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground.

8. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

9. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here

10. 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.

11. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—

12. —that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—

13. —that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—

14. — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth

16. National Cemetery at night Flickr.com: fauxto_digithttp://www.flickr.com/photos/fauxto_dkp/3051238549/

17. Reynolds Flickr.com soaptreeehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/soaptree/3760419394/

18. Gettysburg Canon 2009 Flickr.com BOGDPG3c (J. Todd Poling) http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigdog3c/3916031549/

19. Gettysburg Flickr.com JFL1066 http://www.flickr.com/photos/65047661@N00/4095280481/

20. Gettysburg soldier Flickr.com geopungohttp://www.flickr.com/photos/36319440@N05/4701788182/

21. Cannon on Culp’s Hill Flickr.com roger4336 http://www.flickr.com/photos/24736216@N07/4684010388/

22. North Carolina Monument Alaskan Dude http://www.flickr.com/photos/72213316@N00/4187069976/

23. Makers to unknown soldiers Alaskan Dude http://www.flickr.com/photos/72213316@N00/4183403515/

24. Virginia Monument Alaskan Dude http://www.flickr.com/photos/72213316@N00/4186314227/

25. Union Infantryman Alaskan Dude http://www.flickr.com/photos/72213316@N00/4186302787/

26. Pickette’s Charge Pablo Sanchez http://www.flickr.com/photos/pablosanchez/3149278386/

27. Gettysburg battlefield intrepid00 http://www.flickr.com/photos/30651729@N05/3929961083/

28. Gettysburg 132 intrepid00 http://www.flickr.com/photos/30651729@N05/3930017707/

29. Soldier monument ttarasiulhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/tara_siuk/4697597273/

30. Soldiers memorial BOGDPG3c (J. Todd Poling) http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigdog3c/2749091497/

31. Pickette’s charge fence line Joe Shlabotnikhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/joeshlabotnik/2518789575/