Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, during the American Civil War. The primary audience for this speech was the crowd gathered at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This audience included a mix of people such as government officials, military personnel, families of the fallen soldiers, and local residents.
Lincoln’s speech was also intended for a broader audience, including the entire nation. He aimed to honor the soldiers who had died in the Battle of Gettysburg and to remind the living of the importance of continuing the fight for the principles of liberty and equality. The Gettysburg Address was a call to action, urging Americans to ensure that the sacrifices made by these soldiers would not be in vain.
In essence, Lincoln’s audience was both the immediate crowd at Gettysburg and the entire United States, as he sought to unify and inspire the nation during a time of great division and loss.