The Gettysburg Address redefined the purpose of the war and emphasized equality.

Delivered by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, during the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, was significant for its profound articulation of national ideals. In just a few short minutes, Lincoln emphasized that the Civil War was not only a fight for the Union but also a struggle for human equality. He reaffirmed the principles of liberty and democracy, framing the war as a means to ensure that "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."