Gettysburg

Battle of Gettysburg

Confederate Strategy

Throughout the Civil War the Confederates used a defensive strategy (fighting back on their land.) Fighting defensively was an advantage because they only had to fight hard enough to get the Union to leave them alone; they didn’t have to invade and conquer like the Union did. The first time they tried an offensive strategy and invaded the Union (battle of Antietam) they failed.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following describes the Confederate strategy throughout most of the Civil War?

• Offenseive

• Defensive

Confederate Strategy

However, as the war dragged on into its third year, the Confederates were more desperate. They were short on food and supplies and as a result were getting weaker as the war dragged on. Confederate General Robert E. Lee planned a bold move: a massive attack on the north in hopes of forcing the Union to give up on the war

Multiple Choice

Why did Confederate general Robert E Lee want to change Confederate strategy and attack the Union in 1863?

• He believed that the Confederates should try and take the Union capitol

• He knew that offensive fighting is more effective than defensive fighting

• He was low on supplies and was desperate for a battle that could make the Union give up

• He wanted to access Union railroad lines in the North

Battle of Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War. This was the second time Confederate forces invaded the Union but it would be the last time.

This battle in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania lasted 3 days, resulting in around 51,000 casualties. Gettysburg was the deadliest battle in American history.  

Multiple Select

What are TWO reasons why Gettysburg was a turning point in the war?

• It was the first time the Confederates fought defensively

• It was the last time the Confederates invaded the Union

• It was a major victory for the Confederates

• It was the deadliest battle of the war

• The Confederates captured the U.S. capitol

Photographs of the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg

These images shocked the country and showed the brutality of the war

They caused greater public opposition to the war

(they are not gory images but if death disturbs you don't look)

Effect of Gettysburg

• The Union won the battle of Gettysburg but had 23,000 casualties so it was not a happy victory

• This battle showed that the war could keep dragging on for many years and cost thousands of lives 

• By this point in the war many Northerners wanted to end the war and were willing to compromise with the South

Lincoln's response

• Lincoln was concerned about talk of a compromise with the south

• He wanted a complete Union victory

• This led him to write a speech known as the Gettysburg Address in order to motivate the Union to keep fighting 

Multiple Choice

Why did Lincoln need to motivate the troops in 1863?

• Many troops had abandoned the army

• The Confederates had gained major advantages over the Union

• The war was almost over but they needed a final push to fight

• Many Northerners were tired of the war and talking about compromising with the south

Gettysburg Address

• After the battle of Gettysburg, a cemetery was created to bury the dead from the battle

• A ceremony was held to honor those who had died at Gettysburg

Gettysburg Address

• Lincoln came to the ceremony with the goal of delivering a speech that would honor those that had died and motivate troops to keep fighting. This speech is known as the Gettysburg Address

Multiple Choice

Which of the following describes Lincoln's speech at Gettysburg?

• He was the featured speaker at the event and people came just to hear him speak

• He spoke for almost 2 hours about the battle of Gettysburg

• He was not the featured speaker and his speech was very short

Gettysburg Address

• Short speeches were uncommon in that time period, but in a way it made it more powerful

• Lincoln's speech gained wide recognition and helped to regain support for the war

• Today it is considered one of the most important speeches in US History

As you listen to the speech:

-write down words that you hear repeated more than once(please don't include basic words like the, and etc.)

-write down words that stick out to you as important

What words did you write down?

What do those words mean?

Why do you think he chose those words?

Analyzing the Gettysburg Address

You will answer questions about each paragraph of the speech independently, then review it together (on quizizz)

Multiple Choice

1. What is Lincoln referring to in the first sentence?

• The beginning of the Civil War

• The beginning of abolition in the north

• The American Revolution

• The Social Reform movements of the 1800s

Multiple Choice

2. Why did he bring up this time period?

• To show that the Civil War was testing the principles and accomplishments of the Revolution

• To show that the Civil War started for the right reasons so they must keep fighting

• To show that the war would be about abolishing slavery

• To show that God was testing the limits of the United States

Multiple Choice

3. What is the focus of this part of the Gettysburg Address?

• Stating the necessity to continue fighting

• Recognizing and honoring the soldiers who fought at Gettysburg

• Explaining the details of the Battle of Gettysburg

• Stating the importance of fighting to abolish slavery

Multiple Choice

4. What did Lincoln mean by the first sentence: “dedicated here to the unfinished work” ?

• It is important to follow in the footsteps of future presidents in leading the nation

• The Union and Confederates must work together to find a solution to their differences

• The Union needs to get revenge for the deaths from the battle of Gettysburg

• The Union must continue to fight to achieve their goals which many have already lost their lives for

Multiple Choice

5. What does Lincoln mean when he says, “that this nation... shall have a new birth of freedom” as stated in the last sentence?

• That the United States will become a free country if it wins the war

• That the goal of the war is to protect the Union

• That the war will lead to the freedom of slaves

• That freedom means more when the laws are enforced

Multiple Choice

6. What does Lincoln mean when he says, “and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” as stated in the last sentence?

• The reuniting of the United States will prove that a democratic government can last

• The United States is a stronger country when all of its people are united around a common cause

• The government cannot allow people to disobey the law

• The people who fought for this country need to be honored

Open Ended

7. Why do you think the Gettysburg Address is considered one of the most powerful speeches in American History?