Today marks the 152nd Anniversary of President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, given November 19th, 1863. Here are some interesting facts about his famous speech:
- The people were surprised at the short speech. The main speaker that day was Edward Everett, who spoke for two hours. Lincoln spoke for two minutes and said essentially the same thing in his plain, simple way.
- A “score” refers to the number 20; therefore, “Fourscore and seven years” is 87 years.
- Lincoln addressed 15,000 people.
- A myth was that he wrote it on an envelope.
- He was interrupted 5 times with applause.
- After his defeat at Gettysburg, Gen. Robert E. Lee offered his resignation to Confederate President Jefferson Davis; Davis refused it.
- President Lincoln thought his speech would be forgotten. But it is still remembered 152 years after it was given.
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