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

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[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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"

[@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.

[@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

[@user-be7tc2bd6e]

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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@elizabethrogers8306]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@Tijuanabill]

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

[@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.

[@kellylundy5115]

President Biden has always had a stutter.

[@wendywatkins3625]

For someone with a lifelong speech impediment, Biden does pretty well. A longstanding misconception about stutterers is that they have some sort of intellectual impairment and it's just not true.

[@larrysrubas7305]

Your point is....

[@michaelsmith-iu1be]

Oh that's why, ok thanks for explaining everything he does. He's been an idiot his whole political career.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@torkhi6349]

The speech was originally longer, but he shortened it because of the smell. The corpses were still in the field

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@FaithFamily26]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@matchu.j]

Great speach...few Americans even know it...recite your favorite song...yet alone our favorite speech

[@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.

[@WhodatLucy]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@phildicks4721]

Apart from Teddy Roosevelt's speech, I would recommend FDR's "We have nothing to fear speech", Eisenhower's Farewell speech to the nation, JFK's Speech in Berlin( aka " Ich bin ein Berliner!"), and Ronald Reagan's Berlin Speech(aka " Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"). All are powerful speeches.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@79mib]

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

[@nadineerickson-lo3gx]

The speaker before Lincoln talked for about 2 hours and it was extremely hot and humid out. It's good he gave a short speech. This is considered one of the best political speeches. He is my favorite President.

[@kmercer9632]

I don't know if you realize that Biden has a severe stutter and that public speaking is a struggle. Also the style of speaking has changed over the last 100 years. Lincoln was a self educated man who spoke eloquently to prove his worth. Present political leaders want to appeal to the common man in a folksy manner. Also, this isn't a recording of Lincoln's voice. We don't know what he sounded like. By all accounts of the time, he was an excellent orator. I enjoy your reactions.

[@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..

[@carolynbertram5598]

Lincoln was mostly self-taught, as well. He was a great man. The Civil War was most definitely the most heartbreaking time for America, because brother fought against brother. Families were divided... A heartbreak all around. I think it's kind of amazing that Lincoln emerged to lead the nation just when he was most needed.

[@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.

[@sdashton]

I think he was #1. He has a tough job reuniting this country. That is probably one of the most powerful presidential speeches in USA history.

[@richardmartin9565]

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

[@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!

[@johnl5316]

Actually, "a new nation was NOT brought forth". The treaty was between King George and 13 separate political entities, the now former former colonies. This part of his speech was a dramatic distortion of history

[@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.

[@janihensley5306]

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

[@markmiller3101]

My daughter and I are lucky enough to be able to visit this battlefield many times during the year. We are going for another week at the end of the month. To be able to see, walk, and stand where so many men lost their lost lives is truly a moving experience. You can walk in the very same paths and stand where Lincoln did when he this very speech. If you ever come to the US do yourself a favor, spend a couple of days in Gettysburg. You won’t regret it…..it somehow changes your perspective especially today. Sad that this isn’t taught to our children, instead their heads are filled with complete garbage by people who have no respect for what our country has been thru.

[@cp368productions2]

And that speach was just written down on an envelope on the train to Gettysburg. At that time they did not know that Gettysburg would be forever known as the turning point in the war, when the North started really winning. And my great great great grandfather was there, 104th New York Volunteer Infantry the second regiment hit before the GRA retreated through the village to the hill. Abraham Lincoln was also about 30 years younger than Biden is now. But who is Jeff Thomas? Did we have a leader that only Portugal knows of?

[@JPMadden]

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

[@victoriabrown9015]

Abraham Lincoln has always been my favorite president. He was the right person to be the leader and save our nation from tearing itself apart. He was set apart by his true humility. I went to a private school where we memorized this speech and I was proud to do it.

[@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.

[@rufusbayne2230]

Lincoln is my #1.

[@hazmat263]

The BBC "In Our Time" has a really good podcast episode breaking down this speech. Worth a listen if you're interested.

[@tarabradford1848]

Lincoln’s speeches are probably up there with the top speeches ever given, like some of Winston Churchill’s, Martin Luther King’s, and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s speeches. They were certainly great orators. I also am quite fond of some of Teddy (Theodore) Roosevelt’s speeches. Teddy wasn’t a particularly “wordy” guy when he did not need to be (like in everyday regular affairs), but he spoke with purpose, so what he did say had weight and meaning. His famous quote “Speak softly and carry a big stick” which was characterizing his views on foreign policy, is evidence of this. He also was the only US president to continue giving his speech AFTER BEING SHOT which lasted for 84 minutes, on October 14, 1912 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (He also survived the assassination attempt)

[@toriamansfield2999]

You should look for the version of the Gettysburg Address from the 2012 movie "Lincoln", featuring Daniel Day-Lewis and directed by Steven Spielberg. (It's an excellent movie, too.)

[@phildicks4721]

Just remember that at the time this speech was an afterthought. It was hardly covered in the press at the time. President Lincoln wasn't even the main speaker. He was invited at the last minute. Lincoln himself thought the speech was a failure ("That plow won't scower!" was what he said afterwards). Later in the 1880's to the turn of the century members of the GAR(Grand Army of the Republic) began looking back at the war they fought, and took a second look at the speech and realized it's sheer brilliance. It really became enshined in American's hearts once the Lincoln Memorial was built.

[@hellhound1389]

Legend is he wrote it on the train en route to Gettysburg

[@elizabetholiviaclark]

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

[@warrengwonka2479]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@JuanFromH-Town]

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

[@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.

[@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 .....

[@scifiauthor]

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: You're going to love the movie "Lincoln" (made in 2012). Please consider reacting to it. I think you'd really enjoy it.

[@MultiLizc]

I do believe it is one of the greatest speeches in American history. Words that every president should have to recite on his or her inauguration publicly at the podium after being sworn into office.

[@matthewmarzani332]

2! My god…this speech has given me goosebumps since I learned of it as a small child. Lincoln is almost mythical.

[@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.

[@sdashton]

Lincoln was also far younger than Biden or Trump now. There is definitely not a comparison between this strong speech and any other presidential speech in these modern times.

[@Peter-oh3hc]

Just beautiful. Thank you

[@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.😅

[@michaelhenault1444]

As one biographer Gore Vidal pointed out Lincoln read Pericles' funereal oration of Greeks who had been killed in the Peloponnesian War. Read Thulsidies account of Pericles' address if you don't believe it. Greek idea of honor and country, like Athenian democracy. Lots of Greek columns in DC.😂 Lincoln edited the speech down from the longer oration by Pericles on a train ride from Union Station in Washington to get him to Gettysburg.

[@anonygent]

I don't see it commented here, but Lincoln's voice was supposedly thin and high and didn't carry beyond the first few rows, so it wasn't until the following few days after the speech was printed in the newspapers that anyone besides his fellow speaker on stage recognized its greatness. His fellow speaker said something like, "You have managed to say in two minutes what I spent two hours trying to say."

[@karijaneify]

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

[@jmtv1963]

My school in Florida had us memorize this speech as part of our History class. It has always moved my heart for patriotism, though I am not sure that was the teacher's intention.

[@zararobnett8284]

As a child. I believe grade 5 we memorized this speech and recited it in English class.

[@alexamend6765]

Doing these videos are giving you a better education on American history than the average American. Our history is short but it’s fire ❤

[@maryannweitzel5636]

It's amazing that this wasn't the speech President Lincoln had written. In the hot humid summer heat,the previous speaker had rambled for hours. Everyone was hot and sweating. So he scribbled a new shorter speech that has gone down in history. He certainly had a quick wit and a way with words. I live in Mr. Lincoln's hometown. The only property he owned is his home which is now a National Park. We have his sayings all over town and his Presidential Liberty and Museum are here as well as his and his family's tomb.

[@hilarytimpe7056]

I love the Lincoln Library & Museum. I've been a few times. It still shocks me the vitriol from the media (the newspaper articles/ political cartoons). A fascinating place.

[@kkyankee13NY]

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

[@hudson8954]

You may have already seen the movie. But if you have not seen it and are interested in Lincoln's story, you should watch the movie "Lincoln with Daniel Day Lewis. It's one of the best movies I have ever seen.

[@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.

[@theanthropologuy7775]

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

[@oliviawolcott8351]

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

[@beegee1960]

The amazing thing about this speech is that it was not written by a speechwriter. Lincoln wrote it himself.

[@ThePelagicHermit]

The greatest American.

[@user-qy7fv8km2s]

On a different topic than Lincoln, I saw your video about John Denver's Country Roads. Since you like that song, I think you'll impressed with Jared Halley's version of it. Check it out on his KZbin channel- it's amazing!

[@WhodatLucy]

The Battle of Gettysburg was a three-day battle in the American Civil War fought between Union and Confederate forces between July 1 and July 3, 1863, in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Union dead 3,155 Confederacy dead 3909 not even listing the wounded .. that’s why Lincoln traveled there so the dead would not be forgotten… the civil war had been going on for 2 years at this point

[@leahmollytheblindcatnordee3586]

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