Lincoln at Gettysburg - "The Battle and the Address"
This award-winning DVD brings to life not only Lincoln's famous speech, but also the major events leading up to the Civil War, a comprehensive background on Lincoln's life and a summary of the battle itself.
The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the American Civil War as well as the small crossroads town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Because the three day battle left over 51,000 casualties in its wake, many of the soldiers who died in Gettysburg had to be buried there.
Therefore, a new national cemetery was established and a dedication ceremony was planned. Edward Everett, a renowed orator, was scheduled to give the keynote address. President Lincoln was also asked to make a speech, but his reputation for being too witty or frivolous at solemn occasions made officials wary. Fearing the worst, they asked him to make a few appropriate remarks!
Beginning with the familiar phrase "Four score and seven years ago..." those remarks came to be known as one of the most famous and most quoted speeches in American history—"The Gettysburg Address," given by Lincoln in just two minutes on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863 at the dedication of the Soldier's National Cemetery at Gettysburg.
Two bonus sections include:
- A present day re-enactment tribute of the Gettysburg Battle.
- A rare historical re-enactment film featuring Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address and a discussion of his speech made by local community members.
This DVD is a must-have for any Civil War buff, historian, student, or teacher to own, no matter what their age.