We begin in the summer of 1863 in Gettysburg, then a small farming and market town in the eastern state of Pennsylvania. On July 1, 2, and 3, two huge armies clashed at Gettysburg. They fought one of the most important battles of the American Civil War. Because of that battle, Gettysburg became an extremely important part of American history. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Five months earlier, General Robert E. Lee had marched the Southern Army of the Confederate States from Virginia to Pennsylvania. He went North in hopes of winning a major victory, one that would help the Confederate cause. Southern states – where slavery was legal – were trying to form their own country. They wanted the right to govern themselves. The Northern states did not want to let them leave the Union. Little Round Top, Cemetery Ridge, Devil's Den, Pickett's Charge... American history books are full of place names in and around Gettysburg where soldiers fought. These were the places where thousands of them died defending the idea of ​​the United States of America. General Lee and the Confederate Army fought fiercely at the Battle of Gettysburg. But they faced defeat. The Northern soldiers refused to give up. Lee eventually had to stop fighting. The Confederate Army suffered great losses and was forced to return to the South. Many more battles would be fought during the Civil War. Some were just as terrible as the one at Gettysburg. Yet few are remembered so well. Gettysburg was the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on the North American continent. More than 3,000 Confederate soldiers were killed. Two thousand five hundred Union soldiers were killed. Many thousands on both sides were injured. The terrible task of clearing the battlefield was left to the Union soldiers who had won the battle. Five months later, the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, gave his memorable speech at Gettysburg Cemetery. President Lincoln felt it was his duty to speak at the inauguration ceremony. He hoped his words could ease the pain of the loss of so many people. He knew he had to lift the spirits of the nation. For a few moments, we imagine that it is November 19, 1863. The weather is cool. There are clouds in the sky. An immense crowd awaits the ceremony. Military bands play. It's almost noon. We arrived at Gettysburg Cemetery. Fifteen thousand people came to hear a famous speaker – Edward Everett – and President Abraham Lincoln. A prayer is said and Mr. Everett begins to speak. He talks for two hours. Talk about ancient funeral ceremonies. It tells how the young soldiers who had died here should be honored. Eventually, Edward Everett runs out. Moments later a man stands and announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, His Excellency, the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln." The president leaves his chair and walks slowly forward. He looks at the valley, then at the cards in his hand. The immense crowd is silent. Abraham Lincoln begins to speak. "Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the principle that all men are created equal. "We are now engaged in a great civil battle. war, to test whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can last long. We meet on a large battlefield of that war. “We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who have here.