Lincoln Gettysburg Address Transcript (1863) – Full Text, Analysis & Historical Context
Lincoln Gettysburg Address Transcript (1863) – Full Text, Analysis & Historical Context
Complete transcript of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, delivered November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
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Historical Context
On November 19, 1863, four and a half months after the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863), President Abraham Lincoln traveled to Pennsylvania to dedicate a new military cemetery for the Union soldiers who died in the battle. The address, which lasted just over two minutes, contained only 271 words but has become one of the most influential speeches in American history.
Coming at a time when the Civil War's outcome was still uncertain, Lincoln's speech reframed the conflict as a struggle for the principle of human equality—a vision articulated in the Declaration of Independence. The address elevated the war from a fight for Union to a struggle for the ideals of liberty and equality that defined the American experiment.
Video: The Gettysburg Address
Watch a modern reading on YouTube (no original audio exists from 1863):
Full Transcript with Timestamps
Video source: YouTube – Gettysburg Address Reading (Note: No original audio recording exists from 1863; this is a high-quality modern reading for reference) | Transcribed using: Wisprs AI transcription with speaker diarization
\*[00:00 - Introduction]
Abraham Lincoln (President of the United States):
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.
\*[00:30 - "Now we are engaged in a great civil war"]
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
\*[01:30 - "The brave men, living and dead"]
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
\*[02:00 - "It is for us the living"]
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
_[02:30 - End of Speech]_
Total duration: Approximately 2 minutes, 15 seconds Total word count: 271 words
The Three Manuscripts
Lincoln's speech is preserved in five copies (known as the "Nicolay," "Hay," "Everett," " Bancroft," and "Bliss" copies), each with slight variations. The most famous is the Bliss copy, which is the text most commonly reproduced and the one inscribed on the walls of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.
The text above reflects the most widely accepted version based on these manuscripts.
Why This Speech Matters
The Gettysburg Address is studied in American schools, history courses, and rhetoric programs for its:
- Brevity and impact: Only 271 words that fundamentally reframed the Civil War
- Rhetorical excellence: Masterful use of parallel structure, biblical cadence, and inclusive language
- Historical context: Delivered during the nation's greatest internal crisis
- Universal principles: The phrase "government of the people, by the people, for the people" has been translated into dozens of languages
- Linguistic analysis: The speech's use of anaphora, antithesis, and repetition provides a template for persuasive communication
Frequently Quoted Passages
"Four score and seven years ago" (Opening)
> _"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."_
"Government of the people" (Closing)
> _"That government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."_
"The world will little note"
> _"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here."_
"New birth of freedom"
> _"That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom."_
Transcript Quality & Speaker Diarization
Note on original recording: The Gettysburg Address was delivered in 1863, before the invention of audio recording technology. No original recording exists. The transcript above is based on the official written manuscripts and modern readings for educational purposes.
For practical purposes, our transcription service can process modern readings of historical speeches, academic lectures discussing the address, and any audio content related to Civil War history. Speaker diarization handles both Lincoln's words and any contextual introductions or commentary.
Related Historical Speeches
- MLK "I Have a Dream" (1963)
- JFK Inaugural Address (1961)
- More famous speeches
- Obama 2008 Victory Speech
Export Formats Available
Download this transcript in your preferred format:
- TXT – Plain text for reading and analysis
- SRT – Subtitles with timestamps for documentary work
- VTT – WebVTT for online educational platforms
- DOCX – Formatted document for academic citation
- JSON – Structured data for research databases
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long was the Gettysburg Address?
The speech lasted approximately 2 minutes and 15 seconds—making it one of the shortest presidential speeches in American history. Despite its brevity, it contained 271 carefully chosen words.
Q: Why is the Gettysburg Address so famous?
The address is famous for its brevity, rhetorical power, and historical significance. It redefined the Civil War as a struggle for the principle of equality, articulated a vision of democracy that has resonated worldwide, and provided some of the most quoted language in American political discourse.
Q: When was it delivered?
Lincoln delivered the address on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This was four and a half months after the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863).
Q: Are there different versions of the speech?
Yes. The address survives in five manuscript copies (the Nicolay, Hay, Everett, Bancroft, and Bliss copies), each with slight variations. The text above represents the most commonly accepted version based on these manuscripts.
Q: Can I cite this transcript in academic work?
Yes. The text of the Gettysburg Address is in the public domain. For academic citation, you can reference the Bliss copy held by the Library of Congress or any of the other officially preserved manuscripts.
Q: How can I transcribe modern recordings of historical speeches?
Wisprs handles modern audio recordings, lectures, and readings of historical speeches with high accuracy. Upload your audio file to get timestamped transcripts in multiple formats, with optional speaker diarization for multi-speaker recordings.
Technical Details
| Feature | Specification | | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------- | | Transcription engine | ElevenLabs Scribe | | Speaker diarization | ✓ Single speaker identified | | Timestamps | ✓ Word-level precision | | Accuracy | 99% (clear professional audio) | | Duration | ~2 minutes, 271 words | | Source material | Written manuscripts + modern readings | | Export formats | TXT, SRT, VTT, DOCX, JSON |
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Related Reading
- How to transcribe audio to text
- What is speaker diarization?
- SRT vs VTT vs TXT format guide
- Transcription accuracy explained
_This transcript was generated August 26, 2026 using Wisprs AI transcription. The original speech was delivered November 19, 1863, at the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Note: No original audio recording exists; the transcript is based on the official written manuscripts and modern high-quality readings._
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