Final answer:
Abraham Lincoln declared that the government 'of the people, by the people, for the people' should not perish from the earth, reflecting his commitment to democracy and the permanent nature of the Union during the Civil War.
Step-by-step explanation:
In his Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln declared that the government should be "of the people, by the people, for the people", and that this form of government should not perish from the earth. Lincoln's words expressed his deep conviction that the Union must be preserved and that the democratic principles upon which the nation was founded should continue to endure. At the time of the Civil War, this statement underscored the importance of the fight against the Confederacy and the need to uphold the Union so that democracy itself could survive.
This idea aligns with Lincoln’s broader views about the Union and democracy. In his various speeches and addresses, Lincoln emphasized the permanent nature of the Union and his belief that the United States must remain united, despite the divisive issue of slavery. His famous aphorism that "a house divided against itself cannot stand" reflects his understanding that the nation could not continue half slave and half free without compromising its democratic values.
In summary, Lincoln’s dedication to maintaining a government that is democratic and indissoluble, which would continue to serve the ideals of freedom and equality, is at the heart of his declaration. He believed in an America where the will of the people was sovereign and that the sacrifices being made during the Civil War were essential to ensure that this vision of government "shall not perish from the earth".