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

The Gettysburg Address, delivered by Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, primarily served to memorialize the soldiers who fought and died at the Battle of Gettysburg while also reinforcing the broader principles of human rights and equality. Lincoln emphasized the ideals of liberty and democracy, invoking the idea that the nation was founded on principles that ensured every person has the right to freedom.

In his address, he characterized the Civil War as a test of whether a nation conceived in such principles could endure. By dedicating the battlefield as a cemetery, Lincoln elevated the sacrifice of the soldiers to a symbol of the struggle for the nation's future, asserting that their sacrifices should not have been in vain and that it was the living's duty to continue fighting for the nation's ideals.

The focus on memorialization and the call to honor those who died by ensuring that democracy and equality would thrive captures the essence of Lincoln’s message, which aimed to unite the nation in the face of division and conflict, pushing for a renewed commitment to the principles of human rights.