Aaron Miller
November 19 marked the 160th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln delivering one of the most important speeches in American history — the Gettysburg Address. In fewer words than appear in this column, Lincoln eloquently reminded the nation of its original purpose, to live up to the promises made in the Declaration of Independence. Namely, that we are all created equal. And we all are, as stated in the Declaration, “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The first few years of the Civil War had not been going well for the Union. But in July of 1863, Union armies repulsed an attempted invasion of the North by Confederate forces led by Gen. Robert E. Lee.
It was a turning point in the war. But the price of victory was high. Both armies suffered more than 50,000 casualties combined.
Early in the war, Lincoln’s purported aim was to restore the Union. But slowly, through the Emancipation Proclamation and then the Gettysburg Address and other actions, Lincoln made the war about something higher — ending slavery once and for all while also reuniting the country. The war was now a crusade. Union soldiers fought for freedom for all and to keep one of the only nations on earth with such lofty, yet unrealized ideals, together.
Lincoln was in Gettysburg to dedicate a new national cemetery at one of the bloodiest battles of the war. By the end of the war, the nation would need many new cemeteries. By some estimates, 750,000 Americans died in the war. That includes soldiers from right here in Bartholomew County. And many local families proudly trace their heritage back to soldiers who fought in the Civil War.
Lincoln’s short speech reminds us of the power of eloquence. I know that I am not alone in wishing that we would see a return to such powerful rhetoric. Instead, we get sound bites on cable news. Instead of debates to decide our next elected officials, we are treated to shouting matches that devolve into name calling. Too many politicians blather on television, using teleprompters to give empty promises or go on self-serving tirades.
I wonder how well we remain committed to the words Lincoln spoke. The words may be easy to remember, but it has been much harder for us to live up to their promise. To me, these ideals are what defines us as Americans. This is in sharp distinction to other nations, which are often defined by geography or ethnicity.
We should still hold close Lincoln’s final words to those gathered on the blood-soaked fields in southeastern Pennsylvania. He spoke, “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.”
Will we continue to have elections free of violence? Will changes in our government be decided by the bullet or by the ballot? Can we overcome the political extremism to find solutions to make life better for all Americans? Can we avoid the wannabe petty tyrants and hatred that have torn other nations apart? Are we committed to freedoms for all Americans or just Americans of a certain class, race, or religion?
If we fail now or in the future, that only compounds the tragedy of Gettysburg. And sadly, since 1863, many more Americans have continued to make the ultimate sacrifice to keep our nation free and united. Lincoln’s challenge was not just for those living in 1863. It is up to us if our nation can continue to endure. Yeah, history matters.
Aaron Miller is one of The Republic’s community columnists and all opinions expressed are those of the writer. He has a doctorate in history and is an associate professor of history at Ivy Tech Community College-Columbus. Send comments to [email protected].
