The opening words are etched into the American consciousness. “Four score and seven years ago” immediately signals one of the most pivotal speeches in history. Delivered by Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, this phrase does more than just mark time. It serves as a powerful bridge, connecting a bloody present to a revolutionary past. The math is simple: a “score” is twenty years. Four score (80) plus seven equals 87. Subtracting 87 years from 1863 brings us to 1776, the year the Declaration of Independence was signed. Lincoln masterfully chose this poetic phrasing to frame the Civil War within the context of the nation’s founding ideals.
The Setting at Gettysburg
To understand the speech, one must understand the moment. The Battle of Gettysburg, fought just months earlier in July 1863, was a brutal turning point in the Civil War. It left over 50,000 soldiers dead, wounded, or missing. The nation was reeling from the catastrophic loss of life. Lincoln traveled to Gettysburg not to declare victory, but to help dedicate the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. He was not even the main attraction. The famed orator Edward Everett was the keynote speaker, and he delivered a detailed, two-hour speech before Lincoln took the stage. In contrast, Lincoln spoke for only a few minutes. His brief, 272-word address would ultimately overshadow Everett’s lengthy oration and redefine the purpose of the war.
More Than a Simple Calculation
Lincoln could have said “eighty-seven years ago.” He deliberately chose not to. The phrase “four score and seven” has a distinct, almost biblical cadence. It lends a sense of gravity and timelessness to his words. This archaic language elevated the speech from a political statement to a profound, historical reflection. By starting this way, Lincoln immediately invoked the memory of the “fathers” who founded the nation. He presented the Civil War not as a rebellion, but as a test of whether that original nation, “conceived in Liberty,” could long endure. He was connecting the sacrifices of the Union soldiers at Gettysburg directly to the spirit of the American Revolution.
This connection was revolutionary in itself. Before the Gettysburg Address, many Northerners viewed the war primarily as a fight to preserve the Union. Lincoln used this moment to reframe the conflict. By referencing the Declaration of Independence’s proposition that “all men are created equal,” he explicitly tied the war effort to the abolition of slavery and the broader struggle for human freedom. He argued that the soldiers had died to give the nation a “new birth of freedom,” ensuring that government of the people, by the people, and for the people would not perish.
The Myth of the Envelope
A popular myth suggests Lincoln hastily wrote the speech on the back of an envelope while on the train to Gettysburg. This story, while romantic, is inaccurate. Historians have identified five surviving manuscript copies of the speech, all written in Lincoln’s hand. There are five known manuscript copies of the Gettysburg Address: the Nicolay, Hay, Everett, Bancroft, and Bliss copies, each showing slight variations in wording. These drafts reveal a careful and deliberate writer at work. They show subtle changes in wording that reflect Lincoln’s meticulous effort to craft a message with maximum impact and clarity. The existence of these drafts proves the speech was the product of deep reflection, not a last-minute burst of inspiration.
Reception and Enduring Legacy
The immediate reaction to the address was mixed. Some newspapers, particularly those opposed to Lincoln, dismissed the speech. The Chicago Times, for example, called his remarks “silly, flat and dishwatery.” However, many others recognized its power. Edward Everett himself wrote to Lincoln the next day, stating, “I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes.” Over time, public opinion shifted dramatically. The speech’s concise power and profound message resonated deeply. It became a cornerstone of American civic identity. The opening line, “Four score and seven years ago,” is now a gateway, inviting every generation to reflect on the nation’s origins and the ongoing struggle to live up to its founding ideals.