Question

Read this excerpt from the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln and answer the question:

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure."
In at least 100 words, discuss the explicit and implicit meanings in the above excerpt. Be sure and point out the differences between the two types of meaning and quote the text that supports your explanation.

Answer 1

Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address holds explicit meaning in detailing the foundation of the United States on principles of liberty and equality, and implicit meaning in questioning the endurance of a nation conceived on such principles amidst the Civil War.

Step-by-step explanation:

The excerpt from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address explores both explicit and implicit meanings surrounding the values and endurance of the American nation. The explicit meaning is clear: Lincoln speaks to the historical act of the United States' creation "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." The nation was founded on principles of liberty and equality. The implicit meaning, however, references the broader implications of the Civil War itself and the questioning of the nation's resilience and moral compass: "Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure." This phrase suggests that the Civil War is more than just a conflict; it is a test of the very ideals upon which the country was founded.