What was the purpose of the Gettysburg Address given by Abraham Lincoln?

The Gettysburg Address, delivered by Abraham Lincoln in November 1863, primarily aimed to memorialize the soldiers who died at the Battle of Gettysburg and to reiterate the principles of human rights and equality that the nation was founded upon. The speech came at a critical point during the Civil War when the nation was grappling with its core values and the meaning of democracy. By honoring the sacrifices of the soldiers, Lincoln emphasized the ongoing struggle for the ideals of liberty and equality, urging that their sacrifices ensure that the nation would engage in a “new birth of freedom.” This connection between honoring the fallen and promoting the broader ideal of human rights solidified the importance of the Civil War as not just a battle for the Union but as a fight for the principles of freedom and equality.