In the Gettysburg Address, we read the following, “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.” What great task would you consider is being alluded to by President Lincoln here, why or why not should one find a devotion to that task?
Question
In the Gettysburg Address, we read the following, “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.” What great task would you consider is being alluded to by President Lincoln here, why or why not should one find a devotion to that task?
Solution
The "great task" President Lincoln alluded to in the Gettysburg Address is the task of preserving the Union and the principles of freedom and equality it stands for. This is in the context of the Civil War, where the Union was fighting against the Confederacy, which had seceded from the Union. The "honored dead" refers to the soldiers who had died in the battle of Gettysburg, one of the deadliest battles in the Civil War.
The devotion to this task is important because it is a devotion to the principles that the United States was founded on - principles of freedom, equality, and democracy. These principles were being threatened by the secession of the southern states and the institution of slavery they were fighting to preserve. By dedicating themselves to this task, the living can honor the sacrifice of those who died in the battle.
However, one could argue against finding devotion to this task if they believe in different principles or interpret the principles of the United States differently. For example, the Confederacy believed in the principle of states' rights, which they felt was being threatened by the federal government's attempts to restrict slavery. Therefore, they would not find devotion to the task of preserving the Union as Lincoln defined it.
In conclusion, whether one should find devotion to the task Lincoln alluded to depends on their interpretation of the principles the United States was founded on and how they believe those principles should be upheld.
Similar Questions
Read this passage:It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, 1863Which phrase does Lincoln use in this passage to inspire a sense of hope in his audience?A.honored deadB.measure of devotionC.a new birthD.died in vain
he earth.Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, 1863How does Lincoln inspire the audience to feel a sense of hope about the future in this passage?A.By saying the dead should always be "honored"B.By encouraging people to think about "a new birth"C.By reminding people of "the great task" before themD.By urging people to increase their "devotion"
these passages from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Martin Luther King Jr.'s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech.Gettysburg AddressIt is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance SpeechYet when years have rolled past and when the blazing light of truth is focused on this marvellous age in which we live men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization because these humble children of God were willing to suffer for righteousness' sake.Based on these passages, what do both authors believe is worth fighting for?A.Honoring the deadB.Freedom and equalityC.Solving world hungerD.Better schools for students
Read this passage:The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, 1863In this passage, what action does Lincoln want the audience to take?A.Honor Gettysburg and turn it into a national monumentB.Give the government the power to end the Civil WarC.Think about Lincoln's speech and study it for years to comeD.Remember the people who sacrificed their lives at Gettysburg
Which sentence from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address best shows the spiritual tone of his speech?A.It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do thisB.But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate we cannot hallow this ground.C.Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nationD.It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us
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