Final answer:
Lincoln's writings provide insight into his views on freedom, equality, and democracy, using phrases like "a new birth of freedom" to mark the Civil War's transformative power on the nation and "government of the people, by the people, for the people" to emphasize democratic ideals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abraham Lincoln's writings and speeches often reflect his views on equality, freedom, and governance but do not directly teach us about God in a religious sense. When he referred to "a new birth of freedom" in the Gettysburg Address, he meant the Civil War was an opportunity for the United States to redefine itself and explicitly ensure that liberty and equality were foundational principles of the nation.
This phrase signifies a transformative era where the principles upon which the nation was founded could be re-embraced and extended to all, not just in the context of ending slavery but in terms of a broader commitment to civil rights.
The expression "government of the people, by the people, for the people," emphasizes the democratic ideal that the government should be made up of representatives chosen by the citizens and work for their benefit. Lincoln was reinforcing the idea that democracy should be preserved and not allow it to be destroyed by civil war or any other forces that might threaten the nation's foundational principles.