European Reacts to Gettysburg Address - Abraham Lincoln (Greatest Speech in American history?)

[@mrsparkle9048]

One of my favorite Lincoln quotes from his "Speech to the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield (1838)": At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it?-Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!-All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years. At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.

[@jamesleyda365]

Yep!👍

[@hailstone1417]

Man, I can't agree with you more.

[@VirginiaPeden-Harrington-qd5zu]

We are living his truth and wisdom right now. We need him and his quotes are as close as we can get to him.

[@davids6898]

They play an excerpt from this speech at Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln at Disneyland lol.

[@binabina4445]

I really hope we don't fulfill his words in my lifetime.

[@JimEllis-hq5zt]

Washington defined the presidency. Lincoln preserved it.

[@dragoona3055]

this should be a quote

[@vilap18]

@@Billy-zv6gvand????

[@lizetteolsen3218]

@@Billy-zv6gv LOL--just like the modern verson, I am sure.

[@Billy-zv6gv]

@@lizetteolsen3218 teehee! 🤫 🤭

[@reindeer7752]

@Billy-zv6gv - The parties 150 yrs. ago have nothing to do with them today. In fact, The Lincoln Project is a group of Republicans who are disgusted by the MAGAs and want to bring sanity back to the party. A great shift occurred in the 1960s with the Democratic presidents and Congress supporting civil rights. The racist Democrats in the south deserted the party and became the racists of the Republican party of today. can party has taken

[@jooleebilly]

The first speaker talked for about 3 hours. Lincoln came up and finished his speech so quickly that there's only one photograph of him, I believe walking off the podium. It is 272 words long, and it said exactly what needed to be said and nothing more.

[@brianwinn9491]

I believe that people where still getting "settled in" when the speech ended as it was so short by the day's standard.

[@Olivia_Dreamrider]

And he wrote it on the way to there on the train. Amazing!

[@george217]

And he got ripped in the press of the time for it's brevity...

[@lowellhendrix7889]

There was nit the aura of he "Imperial President " then e vide ced bythe fact that he s nit even the primary speaker. It was like "Oh, by the way the President happtobe here, so let's heara few words from him. " I don't think I have heard evena paragraph of Horten's three hour speech.

[@lowellhendrix7889]

Excellent analysis

[@ChaosKnight7000]

As someone born, raised, and currently living in Gettysburg, I love that this speech reaches people all over the world. Thank you for taking an interest in American history.

[@seangates1451]

I visit Gettysburg every year. My aunt lives there, she and her late husband taught school there for many years. It’s one of my favorite places to be.

[@ChaosKnight7000]

@@seangates1451 If it's in the Gettysburg Area School District I may well know her or have even had her as a teacher.

[@seangates1451]

@@ChaosKnight7000 her name is Sandra Speck. At some point she became mostly a substitute teacher. Her husband was John Speck. He taught English.

[@ChaosKnight7000]

@@seangates1451 Ah, no I don't happen to know them.

[@trevor3013]

I mean it reaches those who look for it if we're being honest here. A lot of Europeans don't even know who Lincoln was other than his name or statue in DC

[@beesnort3163]

Never apologize for pausing! That is the whole reason people watch reactions!!! Your commentary and point of view are important and welcomed! ❤

[@trevor3013]

I've told him a few times now but he still apologizes constantly XD. He should get merch shirts that say "sorry my friends"

[@willylumpnj]

I love how you love America

[@gl15col]

President Lincoln pushed forward despite terrible personal tragedies and sending so many men to their deaths. His face tells the story, the weight of the world crushed him and tested his sanity. He held the country together with pure determination. The saddest thing is, we are in many ways still fighting this war, human nature being what it is.

[@johnl5316]

The South did not want to be "held together", just as Ukraine does not want to be held together by Putin

[@j.w.greenbaum7809]

Yes the Civil War was the most difficult time in American History. When I was in High School we had to memorize the Gettysburg Address. I majored in American History in college and was enthralled by the Civil War. Lincoln was America’s Savior of our nation.

[@scottbivins4758]

Depends on how you look at it. And how you look at his presidency. As a southerner I do think he did some good but he definitely did some bad as well. Bending the Constitution. And if I'm not mistaken he went after the freedom of speech too so. Depends on you look at it. Theres always two sides to the story man. An im sure u can agree with that.

[@airsoftpopcorn]

@@scottbivins4758yeah, but he also held the north together and defeated southern rebels who were fighting to expand slavery

[@kerry-j4m]

650,000 dead soldiers,problably tens of thousands of civilians killed & maimed.Thanks to the scorched earth policy of northern generals it took 7/8 yrs of reconstruction for the south. All those deaths affected the US for many years down the line-the future work force,tax-payers,it also affected the births of future babies,etc,etc,..it was a very heavy toll on america.

[@johnl5316]

Putin wants to be the savior of greater Russia as Ukraine was bad and seceded

[@johnl5316]

@@airsoftpopcorn Lincoln was the classic tyrant who, like Putin, launched a terrible war to stop a group of states from seceding, as the colonies had done. He locked up 1,000's of political prisoners in the north and shut down 100's of northern newspapers due to their being against his war of aggression.He tried to imprison a supreme court justice for opposing his unconstitutional war of aggression.

[@johnpearson5616]

Part of the greatness of Abraham Lincoln was that he could speak the brevity, but power.

[@karisugars5055]

My favorite President has always been Lincoln. I memorized this speech for 8th grade history class and can still recite it perfectly.

[@Dumaski]

You can perfectly recite the speech of the largest mass murder of Americans in history? Good for you.

[@jenyanc]

Every year, my fifth grade students worked to earn the Great American Award, which included memorizing this speech. I will never forget it either. PS - My dog’s name is Lincoln

[@elizabethrogers8306]

He is widely considered one of our best Presidents - probably considered by many (including myself} as the best President. And a powerful speaker.

[@johnwheeler8882]

Believe it or not, this man was so brilliant that he wrote this speech on the back of an envelope whilst on the train on his way to Gettysburg.

[@wandapease-gi8yo]

Not true, but he was so great a writer and thinker he could have!

[@jimreilly917]

And the greatest US orator of the day spoke for two hours before Lincoln. Who remembers that?

[@margaretspignardo5588]

We are all fighting for this guy, in a manner of speaking, when we dedicate ourselves to preserving our country.

[@Rhov9]

People like Lincoln and Douglass were literally the best of us. Those who tried to help society toward a higher path. They weren’t perfect people, but they were the perfect people for the time.

[@johnl5316]

Lincoln was the classic tyrant who, like Putin, launched a terrible war to stop a group of states from seceding, as the colonies had done. He locked up 1,000's of political prisoners in the north and shut down 100's of northern newspapers due to their being against his war of aggression.He tried to imprison a supreme court justice for opposing his unconstitutional war of aggression.

[@kathyritchie2996]

I was born in southwetern Virginia. In the Blue Ridge Mountains. I have been too many other places in my long life. However when visiting the famous battlefields of the Civil War in Virginia. I fealt a new and bigger respect for Abraham Lincoln than George Washington. I loved the history of Lincoln youth and his great sacrafices for our nation. This speach in the Lincoln Memorial in his voice is one of the most spine-tingles of all.

[@jeffhampton2767]

Did you ever go to Washington's Crossing and Bowman's Tower north of Philadelphia right near New Hope Pennsylvania?

[@kathyritchie2996]

@@jeffhampton2767 Yes I did. Went to Maryland as well.

[@scottbivins4758]

​@@kathyritchie2996sorry but Washington still the goat an better. Without him would we ever even gotten an Abraham Lincoln? Nope so Washington above them all. And as a trump supporter that means Washington definitely goes above trump too.

[@foots-qt4pk]

My mother's family is from Maine. My father's family is from Alabama. Grandfathers on both sides served in the Civil War. Today they sit together in frames on my shelf, in perfect peace and agreement.

[@garryhall9519]

Wow!! Did they face each other at Little Round Top?

[@gracierose3076]

I had great-grandfathers on both sides.

[@shibboleth5768]

Abraham Lincoln is one of the Greatest Presidents and Statesman that America has ever had. He was an amazing man and is only equaled by the likes of George Washington. Also, YES you need to react to Teddy Roosevelt's speech, "The Man in the Arena". Its extremely moving. When I hear the "Man in the Arena" speech that Roosevelt gave, ironically it makes me think of Abraham Lincoln. He truly was the man in the arena. And fun fact, there is actually a photo of Teddy Roosevelt as a boy watching the funeral parade of Abraham Lincoln pass by. Amazing.

[@jeffjones6221]

I understand the pause...1, to completely to decipher the language barrier. 2, yes, to just give honor to the man and the history.

[@karijaneify]

Yes!

[@montymetcalfe1982]

It would be good for all of us in America to step back, and listen to the words Lincoln spoke, and decide if we can heal the division we have now before it is beyond repair.

[@Tijuanabill]

We used to memorize this speech in school. We shouldn't need to listen to them; they should be committed to memory already.

[@WateryTarty]

Amen

[@montymetcalfe1982]

@@Tijuanabill I’m with you, but that probably stopped 30 years ago and now too many of our fellow Americans have little if any knowledge of our history

[@Tijuanabill]

@@montymetcalfe1982 I never thought the old saying, "If you don't read the paper, you are uninformed, and if you do read it, you are misinformed" would apply to education, but here we are. I hope the left got what they wanted out of this decades long scheme; but looking around, I can't imagine this is what they wanted.

[@lorriredmon8212]

Amen! Well stated.

[@Tijuanabill]

Both Lincoln and Washington freed millions of Americans, albeit in very different circumstances.

[@haoherb]

The Gettysburg address is pretty great, but Lincoln’s best speech is actually the second inaugural.

[@aaronburdon221]

Agreed. I love that speech. With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations. That's my favorite part.

[@Liz-sz2ee]

It was brilliant, I agree.

[@MamaDisco1313]

Grew up in Western Pennsylvania, I graduated from Lincoln High School. In middle school, we had to memorize and recite the Gettysburg Address to pass English class. As a senior, I had to do a research project on Lincoln. I researched the local citizens reaction to the speech, who heard it live. The speech was heavily criticized for being too short.

[@gingersnap22]

If I remember correctly from my high school history class, the man that spoke before Lincoln spoke for literally 2 hours or more, I believe. Lincoln said more in mere minutes.

[@wandapease-gi8yo]

The phrase “conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Is a phrase to Grace the nations developed since. “The Last Full Measure of Devotion”. Phrases that echo thru the ages! Abraham Lincoln gave this speech in a voice that few in the crowd present could hear. He was not a great orator. The Man who came after his spoke for two hours. A speech that was little noted and not remembered. Millions of American School Children have read, memorized, and spoken This short definition of the US and the Civil War for the last century and more. Read Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address for more knowledge of his way with words and his mercy to the thousands who had fought on the side of the South. He begged that the Angels of our Better Nature guide the Nation to reconsileration after this hateful conflict. We will never know if he could have managed it thanks to his assassination.

[@JPMadden]

The main speaker, orator Edward Everett, wrote to Lincoln "I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes."

[@499marvin]

You are correct about Lincoln's voice! It was high-pitched and he had a strong Kentucky accent. Yet somehow, he could be spell-binding in his speeches. His delivery of the Gettysburg Address probably was not one of his best, however. He was suffering from a mild form of Smallpox that day and did not feel well. This speech survives solely on the power of his written words!

[@Tijuanabill]

It's hard to choose between the greatness of these two men, Lincoln and Washington. That's part of why we celebrate President's Day, to honor the two of them, rather than celebrate their individual birthdays, which are in the same month.

[@rhiahlMT]

Thomas Jefferson had to take the line out about slavery in the Declaration of Independence, but it was genius to put in all men are created equal. Lincoln ran with it.

[@BBMC101]

It was more than a line though. He had a paragraph or more that was removed because South Carolina and Georgia objected to it, and it was decided the declaration had to be unanimous.

[@JeanneLiberato]

I cry every time I hear his speech. It remains relevant.

[@daricetaylor737]

This short speech is why we here in the USA are so patriotic. We HAVE to daily remember where we came from and honor that heritage and fight for those rights that we built our country upon.

[@jenyanc]

God bless America 🇺🇸

[@FaithFamily26]

He is the best by far! Love Lincoln. Born here in my State KY. ❤

[@hollycook5046]

"Ranger Up" by General Patton is a good one. Had to memorize Gettysburg Address when I was in school and recite it in front of the class

[@bookman7409]

One of the things that gets lost in the shuffle is that at the time, the ACW was warfare on the cutting, if not bleeding edge of technical progress driving massive tactical changes, and could be considered to be the first prototype of modern warfare. All the major powers sent military observers because of this, and many took note of the impact of rail transport had on troop movement speed, a relative innovation that likely influenced the way the rail networks of Europe are laid out. You could say that I've been studying the history of the American Civil War for a minute or two, just ask my now-adult kids, lol.

[@terrycarter1137]

Andre, A great leader understands the fact that the American people should be remembered that they need room to express themselves, and not have a ruling class dictating their beliefs.

[@summersands8105]

"And not have a ruling class dictating their beliefs." It's a shame that more US CItizens don't remember this and want it. Too many these days have succumed to a political element that is slowly taking away their inalienable rights and the people are pretty much handing their them rights on a silver platter.

[@johnl5316]

Lincoln was the classic tyrant who, like Putin, launched a terrible war to stop a group of states from seceding, as the colonies had done. He locked up 1,000's of political prisoners in the north and shut down 100's of northern newspapers due to their being against his war of aggression.He tried to imprison a supreme court justice for opposing his unconstitutional war of aggression.

[@jujubees5855]

In a Civil War theme, Battle Hymm of the Republic was Civil War era. Nyboxers73 uploaded my favorite rendition by Judy Garland, sung in tribute to JFK with the backstory that explains why that performance was special.

[@ThePelagicHermit]

This was our lowest point. The world would be vastly different today had Lincoln allowed America to fail.

[@davidburney8463]

I dont think America would have fallen , it would just be different, and we would probably be divided into 4-6 different Nations . The 9ne thing for damn sure..D.C would NOT have the power and control it has today

[@quasicrystal5166]

Well Lincoln was a Republican. It is always us who have the American peoples best interest at heart.

[@ThePelagicHermit]

@@quasicrystal5166 I think the first step toward civil war is unnecessary partisan bickering. Maybe save the reflexive boasting for actual sports.

[@quasicrystal5166]

@@ThePelagicHermit Just a fact. Why so butthurt?

[@ThePelagicHermit]

@@quasicrystal5166 not butt hurt it is just sad to see gratuitous party politics added to a story about how party politics nearly destroyed our country. It is just so tiring to see it. Could be a video about Corn Flakes and someone will somehow be in the comments about Hunter Biden or Eric Trump. Just so tired of it and now we have an election!

[@Catherine.Dorian.]

They’re both the best presidents. Washington was basically the one who defined what a president was while Lincoln managed to hold the country back together and end a dark practice. One created the country and one preserved it

[@sally7210]

The story is that he wrote this speech on the back of an envelope while on the train riding to Gettysburg. Some say this story is false. There were about 50,000 casualties at Gettysburg.

[@JPMadden]

The envelope story is almost certainly untrue. Historians believe he wrote multiple drafts in the preceding days or weeks.

[@deborahvretis3195]

I did a history paper on this speech, while in college. He didn't write it on the back of an envelope. This is a myth. He was diligent in the words he used, and labored over them. Much like all good authors. He was brilliant. The Gettysburg Address is brilliant.

[@iagreesbut]

It was not 50,000 dead. It was 50,000+ Dead, wounded, missing, and captured.

[@JPMadden]

@@iagreesbutYou are correct. The word "casualty" is often mistakenly thought to mean "fatality."

[@ekim0513]

50,000 casualties does not mean 50,000 dead. That includes wounded, missing or captured. There were 7058 who died.

[@shannonhoenig873]

How we got from Abraham Lincoln to Joe Biden is simple we stopped investing in our youth, we prioritize money over people, we let people in charge stay in power even when they failed the people because we didn’t want to step up, we stoped voting based on policies, ignored the smaller elections, we became lazy as technology improved, and we let the little problem pile up until they became big issues that nobody can agree on how to fix

[@lydiaedwards8100]

Joe Biden has a speech impediment. As a child, he stuttered, and he is now in his eighties doing a very stressful job that we asked him to do. His writing and knowledge of government, foreign diplomacy, and constitutional laws are still excellent. He was the better candidate.

[@thenecrolept]

2 - I love your reactions to deep and moving things like this. It’s very cool to get an “outside” or at least a different perspective. Much respect to you!

[@beegee1960]

Lincoln was born and raised in a log cabin on the edge of the American frontier. His life story is fascinating. There have been thousands of books about him. I recommend Michael Burlingame’s ABRAHAM LINCOLN, A LIFE.

[@79mib]

I’m really thrilled to see you engage with this speech ❤

[@Rick-Rarick]

A score = 20 years. So 4 score and 7 years ago means 87 years ago. Also, the speaker that went before the President apparently spoke for 2 hours. The President spoke for just over 2 minutes and it remembered to this day. The guy who went before him and droned on and on is forgotten to all but history buffs.

[@RitaCarroll-b4t]

I learned in Sunday School that President Lincoln was despondent after the speech. He misinterpreted the complete silence as they didn't like his speech. His aide tearfully told him it would've been like clapping to a prayer.

[@chuckbiker9400]

Thanks for the laugh at "Jeff Thomas instead of Thomas Jefferson! I don't know how we went from the Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln class of president to Biden. But it scares me and I am not easily spooked.

[@chuckbiker9400]

Any person in my 7th grade class. Could recite the Gettysburg address.

[@dr.thrashfinger4915]

4:30. He wasn't wrong, he was humble, and respectful.

[@Crusty_Comrad]

The battle of gettysburg was insane, By far the largest battle ever fought in the american continent even today, and at the time still one of the largest battles ever fought

[@airsoftpopcorn]

It was the deadliest battle of the civil war, but definitely not the largest.

[@Crusty_Comrad]

@@airsoftpopcorn Just checked and yeah you are right, I guess I was caught up in the fact that it was the last real attempt of the south to break through and go on the attack against the north, battle of the bulge style.

[@airsoftpopcorn]

@@Crusty_Comrad in fact, the largest battle (by number of Americans) is the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, with around 1.2 million Americans fighting in it

[@airsoftpopcorn]

@@Lisa-lq8xz can you read? It says that gettysburg is by far the largest battle fought on american continent, which it definitely wasn’t. Also, it was nowhere near one of the largest battles ever fought.

[@aaperez58]

from all that is known with regards to Abraham Lincoln as a man, he was humble and very much a person in touch with his humanity and those of the world and understood things that no matter how hard we try we may never conceived on our mind or understand the vision that he had and that he was at the place that he needed to be to be sure that the world continued in a positive way and create a nation where all could come without prejudice... a great man is a man who understands himself the world and is humbled by the task in front of him..

[@suterfamily5578]

I won a contest in middle school by reciting the Gettysburg Address from memory. My 2nd great uncle died on July 4, 1863 from wounds suffered in battle on July 2, 1863 at Gettysburg, he fought for the Union (north). I really don't want to go too far down the rabbit hole regarding comparisons between our current president and Abraham Lincoln, but suffice to say the differences are stark.

[@rudymarmaro]

I live a half hours drive from Gettysburg. It is a very awesome place to see.

[@elizabetholiviaclark]

I believe Lincoln left the stage disappointed with his speech, but as you pointed out, we did take note and we have remembered.

[@babujai1]

My family visited Washington D.C. and we went to the Lincoln Memorial. My son couldn't read yet, so I read the Gettysburg Address to him and starting crying about halfway thru. I always get super emotional when I hear it.

[@mikekwayne]

As a school boy, every dictionary had in the back "The Gettysburg Address" and all children were required to memorize the beginning. Go see the Lincoln Memorial in Washington if you get a chance. Go at night. Your heart will glow.

[@richardmartin9565]

Can't compare greats because the greats were products of their times.

[@kyloren1014]

Lincoln is my favorite and I wrote my senior thesis on him - he belongs to the ages

[@zippitydoodah5693]

I wrote my Master's Thesis on him. I don't know what sources _you_ used, but it is obvious it wasn't primary sources from the war colleges and the LOC.

[@rufusbayne2230]

Lincoln is my #1.

[@Peter-oh3hc]

Just beautiful. Thank you

[@ai1een876]

When I was in elementary school in South Carolina every child memorized The Gettysburg Address and the test was that we each had to stand in front of our class and say it out loud.

[@channonskinner50]

The most amazing thing about this speech, he wasn't even the keynote speaker. The first speaker spoke for 2 hours before Lincoln spoke.

[@nancy9891]

This speech is like a song. Absolutely beautiful to the preservation of this country through the blood shed as a hallowed place. Lincoln like all the greatest personalities have been assassinated. Bless Abraham Lincoln and now we are living under a dictatorship. What has happened? I’m so sad.

[@janihensley5306]

My fellow Kentuckian. The Cherokee name for Kentucky is bloody ground.

[@JuanFromH-Town]

There is a movie called Gettysburg about this very battle that is great. That movie is based on book, the Killer Angels.

[@beegee1960]

The Civil War was a tragic time in America. Slavery was the great shame in our history. It is a shame it could not have been ended without the horrific war which cost the lives of so many Americans and left such a long period of acrimony and pain.

[@TheAlmaward]

Even more amazing - Lincoln wrote this speech on the back of an envelope while on the train to the site from DC, which was then about a 20 minute trip.

[@warrengwonka2479]

There was another address, by a famous speaker, taking a couple of hours at this ceremony.

[@davidcaldwell8780]

I think Lincoln was our greatest president. He preserved our Union. My great grandfather made a nation of a wonderful performance

[@thissideupthatsidedown]

Lincoln didn't give up. You can still visit Gettysburg and other historic sites. These places are well done with lots of information and things to see. Don't worry about pausing we watch for your opinion. React to whatever is of interest to you that is what makes a good video.

[@leahmollytheblindcatnordee3586]

I agree that we were blessed by so many great presidents.

[@strpdhatldy]

2. Another good one by Abraham Lincoln is his "2nd Inaugural Address."

[@RedlandsRedhead927]

Yes! I live close to the Lincoln Shrine in Redlands, CA and some of those words are inscribed on one of the outside walls. I actually like it better than the Gettysburg Address.

[@DelightfulDisappointment]

Abraham Lincoln was one of the greatest, if not THE greatest in American history. You were totally right with that “little will remember” part. The Gettysburg Address is widely held as the best speeches in our history.

[@ThePelagicHermit]

The greatest American.

[@ragnarthepirate]

The battle of Gettysburg, perhaps THE most pivotal battle in the Civil War, was made into a movie that I like very much. It is more like a Shakespearian play, with soliloquies interspersed between intense battles. As good as the of the battles were, it was the soliloquies that made the movie for me, and I consider them a great preparation for the Gettysburg Address (which does not appear in the movie).

[@richardmartin9565]

James Madison is number 1. He was the force behind the Constitution and Bill of Rights

[@maryhaynes8633]

I think Lincoln was our greatest President. When I finally got to visit our capital and stand at the Lincoln Memorial I just burst into tears. Reading his words, and what he did for us as a nation makes me cry still. He was an amazing, good man, and so honorable. I have also been able to visit the battlefield in Gettysburg and its also a very emotional experience too. I got chills standing there. How did we get from this to Trump. But of course he was murdered, as our President Kennedy was. I remember that day so vividly. And I remember thinking this is how people felt when Lincoln was murdered. I was 12 years old when Kennedy was killed. This country at its beginning had some of the greatest minds that ever lived to form it. Jefferson, Washington, Adams, Benjamin Franklin. This wonderful democracy was created with amazing revolutionary ideas of freedom. As an American right now i am very frightened and saddened because I think we no longer have leaders who care about what America was meant to be, but only care what they can take from her.

[@scoobysnacks]

2. Very tough choice between Lincoln and Washington but I have to give the edge to Washington, simply because without him there never would have been a United States and there would be no Lincoln. And for the same reason, Lincoln is a strong second because without his leadership through the Civil War we'd never have known the other great Presidents who came after him like Roosevelt, JFK, and Reagan. Biden, not so much.

[@angeleyesgreen1586]

There's a reason we had to memorize this speech and the declaration of independence back in the day. These words are important...and should not be forgotten.

[@unclejoe3397]

As an American I agree with all you have said. Thank you.

[@oliviawolcott8351]

the civil war is one of the big events. the civil rights movement in the 60s and 70s was incredibly significant too.

[@karijaneify]

To really see the humanity and greatness of this man's soul and intellect, read some of his personal letters and other documents.

[@kkyankee13NY]

I'm impressed that you know so much about American history

[@victorialamphear430]

It seems history always finds the right and best people. Churchill, Gandi, Lincoln, Washington, and many more at the moment they' were needed.

[@hyett1954]

When I was in the 5th grade, we were required to memorize the Gettysburg Address, sixty years later I can still recite most of it from memory. The older I get the more powerful the speech has become. I laughed when you compared Lincoln to Biden and Trump, I was thinking the same thing just before you said it. I'd be interested in your reaction to Teddy Roosevelt, a totally different kind of president, but great in his own way. I'm a bit biased to Roosevelt, I grew up in Oyster Bay, NY, his home town, and used to spend time exploring his home, Sagamore Hill, a national historic site. He is the town's local hero.

[@theanthropologuy]

You should visit Washington DC. and see the Lincoln Memorial, it's probably the most popular. Also, all the Smithsonian museums are free and you can see Lincoln's hat in the history museum

[@williamstreet4304]

This was the age of orators. I believe the orator who preceded Lincoln spoke for well over 2 hours - as the warm-up. Lincoln was expected to speak for at least 2 hours. He took the podium. In 2 minutes, he spoke these 275 words that captured the moment and lay a path to save the nation. He was derided as a simple man who could not deliver a proper speech. Yet 150 years later, you are listening to an actor delivering those 275 words. Folk lore says that he wrote the speech on the train as he traveled to Gettysburg. Less than 2 years later, he was assassinated after watching a play.

[@jonathanlay8746]

There are actually 3 presidents who commonly contend for best... Washington, Lincoln, and Franklin Roosevelt (his uncle Teddy is on Mt. Rushmore, BTW, that monument was made before FDR) And i bring up FDR because im in that camp (barely -- its a close race all around).

[@timcary5907]

Yes, you should watch Teddy Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" speech. He puts things into great perspective. Anyone who ever doubts themselves or faces criticism should listen to that speech. You will be inspired and get a huge boost in confidence especially if you know Teddy Roosevelt's own story. I especially love this section - "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

[@strick405]

I have ♥ed Lincoln since childhood. My parents honored that, and we visited all of Lincoln's places from his birthplace in Kentucky to his gravesite and every place in-between. As an adult I now know he was just another man, but, wow, what a beautiful mind!

[@marloncherry1277]

My 8th grade teacher made us have to memorize this whole speech and would call on us at anytime to site it. Word for word. Mr. Johnson A great History Teacher and A disciplinarian. Who had A wooden paddle to help 🤔 you Remember.😅

[@irisriley3284]

If not for George Washington's refusal to be just another king (the option was on the table) President Lincoln would never have had a chance to be president, BUT President Lincoln was awesome!

[@missourimomofthree]

Lincoln was undoubtedly the best man, best president in our history.

[@PaulHammond-o1s]

He wrote that on a train ride to Gettysburg under three minutes

[@natashamurphy9736]

My family fought in this war on my father's side the north they were from Montana and Oregon, my mother side both the south and north they were from Texas and Michigan.My husband's side fought for the south Kentucky where his family was from. I have one of my grandpa's gear from that time.

[@willcool713]

In math theory class, we studied the Gettysburg Address in our module on programming and symbolic logic. Lincoln's speech is a tight logical argument, which, when viewed with symbolic logic, shows itself to be a tautology -- that is, it's always a true statement regardless if any or all of the facts within it are wrong. That makes it seem shamelessly political at first, but in fact it has the effect of forcing agreement wherever agreement can be had. This speech is unifying and peace-making in its very construction. And they still shot him. Americans can be psychopathically stubborn. It's definitely true of me sometimes.

[@sandrayoung233]

The sad thing is that Lincoln probably wouldn't be elected today. He was poor, homely, awkward and honest. He made unpopular decisions, which led to his assassination. Would that we could have an Abe Lincoln as President to save us from the brink of disaster I fear is upon us. Your love of our history touches my heart. It's appreciated.

[@bob_._.]

The Gettysburg Address is the greatest American Presidential speech and is the essence of American oration. In my opinion, John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address is the 2nd greatest American Presidential speech. But the greatest American speech is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's "I Have a Dream."

[@WhodatLucy]

Kennedy speech to go to the moon makes me cry - when he delivered it in Texas before the annual Rice vs Texas football game

[@paulmercier186]

President Lincoln was not only admired here in the U.S. but in French Canada as well. My Grandfather was born in Quebec in 1869. He spoke of his first childhood recollection being that of his parents fondly speaking of "Notre Oncle Abraham de Les Etats Unis", our Uncle Abraham of the United States. Canada was the terminus of the "Underground Railroad", moving slaves northward to their temporary freedom. I wish we had evidence of their involvement, but unfortunately none .....

[@tb1974]

I had to memorize this in primary school. Lincoln was one of the all time great orators in history. I have Lincoln and Washington tied for 1st in our presidents.

[@62rowley]

For many years I worked with foreign students when they came to the US. I thought it was interesting that two girls from China knew the Gettysburg address and the Martin Luther King I have a dream speech by heart. They said they learned it in a literary class because They consider both of those great speeches. Never would’ve expected that in China.

[@keiththompson7280]

A HISTORIN has said to understand America you must understand the Civil War.

[@TruthFactsLM57]

As a son of a WW2 vet and a student of American history since 1966 . Lincoln said " I did not wage this war to be President of half a nation, I waged this war to bring the other half back into the union " Said in 1864 to his cabinet . Lincoln was the greatest President we ever had . And remember Lincoln was 56 yrs when he was killed . And Biden is 82 12/24 26 yr age difference will have a cognitive and physical differences . But its the heart of the man . He said " Give a rifle to the southern man so he can hunt rabbit to feed his family and a horse to get back home, they are our friends , not our enemies " 1864

[@WhodatLucy]

He wrote this speech on the train to the dedication of the gravesite

[@leahmollytheblindcatnordee3586]

Abraham Lincoln was a very smart man who came from very humble beginnings. The Civil War was terrible for all of our people. More Soldiers died during the civil war than all the Americans who were killed during World War II, World War I, Vietnam, the Korean War and the Mexican American war. I had a history teacher in high school who lectured on the Civil War, the battles and the Generals. He said and I believe him, that if Lincoln had not been assassinated when he was, the South would have been treated with more compassion than they were. It was a horrendous war.

[@chrisb7198]

They are equal as great men and Great Presidents. The first helped to create this new nation and the other helped to save that country. The guy before Lincoln talked for 2 hours and nobody knows what he said. Lincoln spoke under 3 minutes and said everything that needed to be said. His humility is astounding. the world will little note nor long remember what we say here but the can never forget what they did here . He knew words were not important here as was the deeds the men that fought there. He gave honor and praise to what they did. He reminded the nation that they were in the right and that the rest needed to rededicate themselves to winning the war. And roused the nation to arms. I wish their were men like them here today. I don't think any of our leaders remember what the USA should stand for.