The Gettysburg Address
How long is four score and seven years?
87 Years
Was this speech given before or after the Emancipation Proclamation’s adoption on January 1, 1863?
This speech was given before the Emancipation Proclamation was adopted. Date: July 5, 1852
What was the main purpose of Eleanor Roosevelt’s address?
She wanted to inform the people and provide comfort.
What was the primary goal of FDR’s speech?
FDR's primary goal was to convince Congress that it was time to join the allies in the war effort against the axis powers.
JFK was the second of how many children? Hint: His brother, Bobby, was number 8.
9
What historical event that happened “four score and seven years ago” is Lincoln referring to?
The Declaration of Independence was signed.
Why did Frederick Douglass find Independence Day (the fourth of July) to be hypocritical?
He found Independence Day to be hypocritical because African Americans were still enslaved at this time.
What audience was Eleanor Roosevelt speaking to? What about FDR?
Eleanor Roosevelt was speaking to her radio audience while FDR was addressing 80% of the public (via radio broadcast) and Congress.
How many presidential elections did FDR win?
He won four presidential elections.
What global circumstances were going on during the time of JFK’s presidency?
The Cold War, The Space Race, Bay of Pigs Invasion, The Berlin Crisis, The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, The Vietnam War, etc.
What was Lincoln’s purpose in giving the Gettysburg Address? Hint: What event was he at Gettysburg for?
Lincoln was there for the dedication of Gettysburg's Soldiers' National Cemetery.
How did Frederick Douglass gain his freedom? Be sure to refer to both his initial escape to the north and his official gain of freedom.
Initially, he gained his freedom after Anna Murray (later Anna Murray Douglass) helped him to escape to the north under the guise of being a sailor. Following his slave narrative's popularity, he was concerned that he would be found by his owner and forced back into enslavement. This caused him to flee to the Ireland and England. His friends in Britain eventually helped him to buy his freedom.
What information does Eleanor provide her audience in order to better relate to them? Hint: Think about her family.
She tells her audience about her son that is out at sea and on a destroyer, as well as two of her other children who live in coastal cities.
What childhood disease did FDR contract at the age of 39?
Polio
Examine the famous line "ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." Why has this line remained memorable, and what does it reveal about Kennedy's vision of citizenship?
JFK was encouraging people to do their part and hold leaders accountable for their actions. Kennedy believed that all citizens should be involved in making the country a better place.
According to the speech, why does Lincoln say they (those gathered there for this occasion) cannot "dedicate" or "consecrate" the ground?
He says that the ground has already been dedicated by those who died there in the battle.
Even though he is critical of American practices and institutions, Douglass expresses hope for the future at the end of his speech. What reasons does he give for this optimism?
Towards the end of his speech he says, "There are forces in operation, which must inevitably, work the downfall of slavery. 'The arm of the Lord is not shortened,' and the doom of slavery is certain."
Why does Eleanor specifically address the younger population at the end of her speech?
The younger folk, being of draft age, are the people most likely to be personally affected by the possibility of war. She speaks to encourage them.
How might FDR’s speech have been received by various groups within American society? Be specific as to the groups you are referring to.
People of draft age were probably nervous, parents and family of servicemen were likely scared, and Congress was fired up bout this opportunity to go in and defeat our attackers.
How does Kennedy address the threat of nuclear weapons without explicitly mentioning them?
Kennedy states, " But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course—both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind’s final war."
In what ways does the Gettysburg Address shift from honoring the dead to presenting a vision for the nation's future?
Lincoln goes from talking about how those who died there will not die in vain to how it is the job of those who remain to work towards building a better future.
Identify and explain three rhetorical devices Douglass uses to strengthen his argument. Provide specific examples from the text.
Responses may vary.
Why is it significant that Eleanor Roosevelt was the first person from the White House to address Pearl Harbor?
Women were not usually seen in the forefront at that time. This showed her significance as a public figure.
In FDR’s speech, he mentions several different places that were also attacked by the Japanese forces. What were they?
The Hawaiian Islands, American ships between Hawaii and San Francisco, CA, Malaya, Hong Kong, Guam, Philippine Islands, Wake Island, and Midway Island
In what ways does Kennedy acknowledge both the limitations and possibilities of his presidency in this speech?
Kennedy believes that with the involvement of all people, the nation can do great things, but he also mentions that they may not see the full result during his presidency or during his lifetime.