The Gettysburg Address was a short speech given by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, during the American Civil War. He delivered it at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the site of a major and bloody battle that took place just months earlier.

In just about two minutes, Lincoln honored the Union soldiers who died fighting and reminded the country why the war was being fought. He famously began with the words “Four score and seven years ago,” referencing the year 1776 and the founding ideals of liberty and equality.

Though it was brief, the speech powerfully redefined the purpose of the war—not just to preserve the Union, but to ensure a “new birth of freedom” where all people are truly equal. At the time, some didn’t realize its impact, but today, it’s considered one of the most important speeches in American history.