On November 19, 1863, in the wake of the gruesome battle in Gettysburg, PA, President Abraham Lincoln’s remarks cleansed the ground, air, and soul of America. Using fewer than 270 words, Lincoln simultaneously consecrated the soldiers’ sacrifice, purified the country’s mythos, and fostered hope and unity among the American people. Timeless and enduring, the Gettysburg Address provides both retrospective and prospective frames through which to view America’s past, present, and future. What cultural or societal patterns were transmitted between the North and South as a result of the events in Gettysburg, PA in 1863? In what ways did this three‐day battle (July 1‐3, 1863) provide the blueprint for modern warfare? What were the impacts of the decisions—military, political, and governmental—made in Gettysburg, and how did they spread across the country? In surveying one crucial moment within American history, we seek to capture the nation’s atmosphere during the Civil War, analyze the changing meaning of the speech over time, and recognize the remarkable ways in which it has been garbled, misquoted, and woefully and willfully misunderstood.