ntsb
Private
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2014
- Location
- northern virginia
I am hoping this forum can help me understand a point of confusion I have regarding the Gettysburg address. As a kid, I memorized the address, and still recite it to myself from time to time. I now am taking time to really understand the speech, as opposed to simply reciting it. In it, Lincoln uses phrases like "Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure." Also "...and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
It is my understanding that the south wanted to secede to form a new nation, but did not have intention of destroying the Union, - or "perish from the earth".
I know I am missing something here. Was the Union truly concerned it would be wiped out?
It is my understanding that the south wanted to secede to form a new nation, but did not have intention of destroying the Union, - or "perish from the earth".
I know I am missing something here. Was the Union truly concerned it would be wiped out?