In his speech Lincoln told the world that the United States would continue to fight so that the world, not just the U.S., could enjoy freedom and equality. Lincoln spoke only 272 words in this speech that lasted two minutes. Everett was a noted orator of the time, and he gave a two-hour opening address. He later admitted that Lincoln had more effectively expressed the purpose of the war and the deaths of the men in the cemetery. This occasion was an important opportunity for the President to honor all those who given their lives during the Battle as well as to have his thoughts about the war made known.
Many historians consider it one of the turning points of the War.
The Union North and Confederate South lost more than 7,000 men during the three-day battle. The process of burying the dead was overwhelming. During this time, local governments were responsible for cleaning up battlefields. This required land and money. David Wills, a Gettysburg civic leader, heard that a local cemetery was asking the families of the dead to pay for the burials.