Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Remains Iconic 160 Years Later

The 272-word speech is considered one of the most powerful and influential addresses in American history.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Though Lincoln's speech only lasted about two minutes, it is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential addresses in American history, crystallizing the principles of the nation and the sacrifices of the Civil War.

Why it matters

The Gettysburg Address is a seminal moment in American history, as Lincoln connected the ongoing Civil War to the founding ideals of the country laid out in the Declaration of Independence. The speech has endured as a powerful statement on democracy, equality, and the price of preserving the Union, cementing Lincoln's legacy as the Great Emancipator.

The details

Lincoln's speech followed a two-hour oration by renowned orator Edward Everett, but it was Lincoln's brief yet poetic words that captivated the audience. While some initial reviews were critical, the speech was quickly recognized as a masterpiece, with one Massachusetts newspaper calling it 'a perfect gem' and praising its 'verbal perfection and beauty.' Everett himself acknowledged the power of Lincoln's words, writing that he wished he 'could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes.'

  • On November 19, 1863, Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.
  • The speech came during the American Civil War, which had been raging since 1861.

The players

Abraham Lincoln

The 16th President of the United States, who is renowned for leading the country through the Civil War and issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which helped end slavery.

Edward Everett

A renowned orator and former President of Harvard University, who gave a two-hour speech at the Gettysburg dedication ceremony before Lincoln spoke.

Winston Churchill

The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who later praised the Gettysburg Address as 'the most sublime speech in all of history.'

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What they’re saying

“Surprisingly fine as Mr. Everett's oration was in the Gettysburg consecration, the rhetorical honors of the occasion were won by President Lincoln. His little speech is a perfect gem; deep in feeling, compact in thought and expression, and tasteful and elegant in every word and comma. Then it has the merit of unexpectedness in its verbal perfection and beauty...”

— Springfield Republican, Newspaper (Springfield Republican)

“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.”

— Edward Everett, Orator (Letter to Abraham Lincoln)

“The Gettysburg Address is the most sublime speech in all of history.”

— Winston Churchill (Unspecified)

What’s next

The Gettysburg Address continues to be studied and celebrated as a defining moment in American history, with the five existing handwritten copies of the speech preserved at institutions like the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

The takeaway

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address stands as a timeless testament to the principles of democracy, equality, and the sacrifices necessary to preserve the Union. Its enduring influence and poetic power have cemented its status as one of the most iconic speeches in American history.