Civil War: Gettysburg Address in 4 Minutes Video Worksheet by ... - Free Printable

Let’s go through each question one by one. I’ll answer them clearly and simply, like we’re talking in class.

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1. How many Americans died at the Battle of Gettysburg?
→ About 23,000 American soldiers died during the three days of fighting at Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863). This includes both Union and Confederate troops.

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2. What type of questions did the Union have after the Battle of Gettysburg? Why were these important to ask at this point in the war? In other words, what was the mood among many people at the time?
→ After Gettysburg, many people asked: “Was it worth all those deaths?” or “Will this battle actually end the war?”
These questions were important because even though the Union won, so many lives were lost — over 50,000 total casualties. People were tired of war, scared, and wondering if peace was possible. Some wanted to negotiate with the South. The mood was mixed — hopeful that maybe the tide had turned, but also sad and exhausted.

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3. Why was Lincoln invited to Gettysburg?
→ Lincoln was invited to speak at the dedication of a new cemetery for soldiers who died at Gettysburg. He wasn’t the main speaker — Edward Everett was supposed to give the long speech. But Lincoln was asked to say a few remarks to honor the dead and remind everyone why they were fighting.

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4. How was Lincoln able to be President of the United States during the Gettysburg Address? Lincoln was the United States president when the country split in half.
→ Even though Southern states left the Union (seceded) and formed the Confederacy, Lincoln never accepted that the U.S. was broken. He believed the Union was permanent — you can’t just leave. So he stayed president of the whole country, including the North and the rebellious South. His job was to bring them back together — by force if needed. That’s why he led the war effort.

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5. What are the battlefield sites where the bodies were buried on at the Gettysburg Address? America must have been Civil War free.
→ Wait — this question has a mistake in it. At the time of the Gettysburg Address (November 1863), America was NOT “Civil War free.” The war was still going on! The battlefield sites where bodies were buried were right there in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania — especially around Cemetery Hill, Culp’s Hill, and other key spots from the battle. They started burying soldiers quickly after the fight, but later decided to create a proper national cemetery to honor them. That’s what the ceremony was for.

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6. How many Americans were killed in the Civil War?
→ Around 620,000 to 750,000 soldiers died in the Civil War — more than any other war in U.S. history. That’s almost as many as all other U.S. wars combined up to that point. Many more were wounded or went missing.

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7. What future groups and movements were inspired by Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: Women, African Americans, and Native Americans, Civil Rights Movement, Voting Rights?
→ The Gettysburg Address talked about “a new birth of freedom” and government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” These ideas inspired many future movements:
- African Americans: Used Lincoln’s words to demand full equality and voting rights → helped fuel the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s–60s.
- Women: Fought for suffrage (right to vote) using similar language about democracy and fairness.
- Native Americans: Later used the idea of “all men are created equal” to argue for their own rights and sovereignty.
- Voting Rights Movement: Directly tied to making sure everyone — no matter race or gender — could vote, as Lincoln hoped.

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8. List something you’ve learned about the Gettysburg Address:
→ One big thing I learned: Even though Lincoln’s speech was very short (only 2 minutes!), it became one of the most famous speeches in history. It reminded Americans why the war mattered — not just to save the Union, but to make sure democracy and freedom lasted for everyone.

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Final Answer:
1. ~23,000 Americans died at Gettysburg.
2. People questioned if the cost was worth it; mood was weary but hopeful.
3. To dedicate the Soldiers’ National Cemetery.
4. Lincoln refused to accept secession — he remained president of the entire U.S.
5. Bodies were buried at Gettysburg battlefield sites; war was NOT over yet.
6. ~620,000–750,000 Americans died in the Civil War.
7. Inspired Civil Rights, Women’s Suffrage, Native American rights, and Voting Rights movements.
8. Short speech, huge impact — redefined purpose of war and democracy.