Which of these sentences from the Gettysburg address best supports the answers to Part A.
A. four score and seven years ago our father brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and so dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
B. now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.
C. we have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who have gave their lives that that nation might live.
D. it is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The sentence that best supports the answer to Part A is A. “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and so dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
Explanation:
In the context of the Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln begins by referencing the founding of the United States and its core principles. This sentence highlights the notion that the country was “conceived in liberty” and dedicated to the idea that “all men are created equal.” These ideas are central to the mission of the nation and to the very essence of the American democracy that Lincoln is affirming and reaffirming in his speech.
When Lincoln states “four score and seven years ago” (which refers to 87 years prior to the address, marking the year 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed), he ties the Civil War to the original purpose of the nation. He argues that the country was founded on principles of liberty and equality for all people. Lincoln emphasizes that this dedication to equality was at the heart of the nation’s creation, which is directly related to the central purpose of his speech: to honor the fallen soldiers and to affirm that the Civil War was being fought to preserve these founding principles.
This foundation of equality and liberty is crucial to understanding the Civil War and the need for unity. By invoking the founding principles of the United States, Lincoln stresses that the sacrifices made by soldiers at Gettysburg were not just about preserving a country, but about securing the ideals of liberty and equality for future generations.
Thus, sentence A connects directly with the overarching theme of the Gettysburg Address, which is to honor those who gave their lives for these principles, and to ensure that the nation remains dedicated to the proposition that “all men are created equal.”