Gettysburg: War, Words, and Legacy

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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The Battle of Gettysburg was a very important fight during the Civil War.

The Civil War was a time when the United States of America was divided into two sides: the North (called the Union) and the South (called the Confederacy).

The war happened because the two sides had very different ideas about how the country should be run, especially about slavery.

Three-Day Battle

The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the most important battles of the Civil War, and it took place over three days—July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 1863—in the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Imagine you are traveling back in time to those days to see what happened!

For three days, the soldiers on both sides fought hard.

The Confederate army, led by General Robert E. Lee, wanted to win a big victory in the North to show they were strong and maybe even end the war. But the Union army, led by General George Meade, fought back and stopped them.

Turning Point in the Civil War

This battle was a turning point in the Civil War, which means it changed the direction of the war in a big way. The Civil War was not the same before or after this battle.

Gettysburg was also one of the deadliest battles in American history, with over 50,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing in just three days.

The huge loss of life on both sides showed how hard and painful the Civil War was, and it reminded everyone of the sacrifices made to fight for their beliefs.

Gettysburg Address

Later that year, on November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln traveled to Gettysburg to dedicate a new cemetery for the soldiers who had died in the battle. This cemetery was created to honor the thousands of men who had sacrificed their lives during the fight.

At the dedication ceremony, Lincoln gave a short but powerful speech called "The Gettysburg Address," which became one of the most famous speeches in American history.

In his speech, Lincoln reminded everyone why the war was being fought. He spoke about the founding principles of the United States, especially the idea that "all men are created equal."

He said the Civil War tested whether a nation built on freedom and equality could survive. Lincoln called on the living to continue the fight so that those who had died at Gettysburg would not have died in vain.

"The Gettysburg Address" was only about two minutes long but filled with powerful ideas. The speech was so influential to American history that it was included on the wall inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Gettysburg Today

Today, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is a National Military Park. You can visit and see where the battle happened, learn about the soldiers, and remember how this battle helped shape America’s future.

Now, travel to the Got It? section to test your knowledge of the Battle of Gettysburg!