The phrase "four score and seven years ago" refers to exactly 87 years. When spoken by Abraham Lincoln during the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, it pointed back to the year 1776. By performing this simple subtraction (1863 minus 87), it becomes clear that Lincoln was not referencing the creation of the U.S. Constitution or the establishment of the federal government, but specifically the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

This opening line is arguably the most famous chronological reference in American history. It served a dual purpose: it established a historical anchor for a nation torn apart by civil war and elevated the conflict from a territorial dispute to a struggle for the fundamental principle that "all men are created equal."

The Mathematics and Etymology of the Word Score

To understand the phrase, one must first define the archaic term "score." In Old English and middle-period English usage, a "score" represents a set of twenty. The term originates from the Old Norse word skor, referring to a notch or tally mark made on a stick to keep count. Counting by twenties (vigesimal counting) was a common practice in various European cultures before the decimal system became universally dominant in daily speech.

When Lincoln chose to say "four score and seven" instead of "eighty-seven," he was employing a deliberate rhetorical strategy. The use of "score" evokes the language of the King James Bible, specifically Psalm 90:10, which states: "The days of our years are threescore years and ten." By using this biblical cadence, Lincoln signaled to his audience that the occasion was solemn, sacred, and of monumental spiritual significance. It transformed a secular political event into a "new birth" of a nation, framed in the language of a sermon.

The Significance of the Year 1776

By calculating back 87 years from 1863, Lincoln intentionally landed on 1776. This choice was politically and philosophically charged. At the time of the American Civil War, there was significant debate over what defined the "United States." Many Southern secessionists argued that the Union was a voluntary compact of states based on the Constitution ratified in 1788.

Lincoln’s opening phrase bypassed the legalistic framework of the Constitution and the 1780s. Instead, he reached back to the "fathers" who "brought forth" the nation in 1776. This move was a masterstroke of political rhetoric:

  1. Prioritizing Equality: The Declaration of Independence (1776) contains the phrase "all men are created equal," whereas the original Constitution (1787) contained compromises regarding the institution of slavery.
  2. Defining the Nation's Soul: By identifying 1776 as the moment of "conception," Lincoln argued that the nation was born out of a revolutionary idea rather than a mere legal agreement between states.
  3. Moral Authority: It allowed Lincoln to frame the Union’s war effort as a defense of the original intent of the Founding Fathers, suggesting that the survival of the nation depended on fulfilling the promise of liberty made in 1776.

Historical Context of the 1863 Gettysburg Dedication

The speech was delivered during the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Only four and a half months prior, the Battle of Gettysburg had ended, leaving behind a staggering 51,000 casualties (killed, wounded, or missing) from both the Union and Confederate armies. The small town of 2,400 residents was left to deal with a landscape littered with the remains of thousands of men and horses.

The initiative for a national cemetery came from David Wills, a local attorney. He invited the most famous orator of the day, Edward Everett, to give the main address. Lincoln was invited almost as an afterthought, asked only to provide "a few appropriate remarks" to formally set apart the grounds.

On November 19, 1863, under a clear autumn sky, Everett spoke for two hours, delivering a 13,000-word academic oration. Lincoln then rose and spoke for less than two minutes, using only about 272 words. While Everett’s speech was the expected standard of 19th-century eloquence, Lincoln’s brief remarks redefined the meaning of the war for the grieving families and the exhausted nation.

Analyzing the Diction of the Opening Sentence

The opening sentence of the Gettysburg Address is a marvel of concise imagery. "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."

Brought Forth and Conceived

Lincoln uses biological and maternal metaphors. The nation was "conceived" and "brought forth." This language suggests that the United States is a living organism rather than a static piece of legislation. By using the term "conceived in Liberty," Lincoln emphasized that liberty was the very DNA of the country from its inception.

The Proposition

Calling the equality of men a "proposition" was a nuanced choice. In geometry and logic, a proposition is a statement that must be proven or demonstrated. By the 1860s, the idea that all men were created equal was being tested by the bloodiest war in the nation’s history. Lincoln’s use of the word acknowledged that equality was not yet a settled fact but a goal that the nation was currently struggling to validate on the battlefield.

The Five Known Manuscripts and Their Differences

Historical accuracy regarding the Gettysburg Address is complicated by the fact that there is no single "original" copy. There are five known versions written in Lincoln's own hand, named after the people who received them:

  1. The Nicolay Copy: Often called the "First Draft," it was given to John Nicolay, Lincoln's private secretary. The first page is written on Executive Mansion stationery, while the second page is on different paper, suggesting it was finished in Gettysburg.
  2. The Hay Copy: Given to John Hay, another secretary. It contains several differences in wording from the Nicolay copy and is believed to have been written shortly after Lincoln returned to Washington.
  3. The Everett Copy: Requested by Edward Everett in early 1864 to be sold at a fundraiser for soldiers.
  4. The Bancroft Copy: Written for George Bancroft, a historian, in April 1864. Because Lincoln wrote on both sides of the paper, it could not be used for its intended publication, leading to the creation of the final version.
  5. The Bliss Copy: This is the fifth and final version, written for Colonel Alexander Bliss. It is the only version Lincoln signed and dated. Because it was prepared with great care, it has become the standard text used for the inscription on the Lincoln Memorial and most historical reproductions.

One of the most notable differences across these versions is the inclusion of the phrase "under God." Historical accounts suggest Lincoln said these words during the actual delivery, though they do not appear in the Nicolay or Hay drafts. They do, however, appear in the three later versions (Everett, Bancroft, and Bliss).

Reception History: How the World Remembered

The immediate reaction to the speech was divided along partisan lines. The Chicago Times, a Democratic newspaper, mocked the speech, calling it "silly, flat and dish-watery utterances." Many critics at the time felt the speech was too short for such a monumental occasion, expecting a grander display of rhetoric like that of Edward Everett.

However, those with a keen eye for prose recognized its brilliance immediately. Edward Everett himself wrote to Lincoln the next day: "I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes."

Over the decades, the speech’s reputation grew as the "unfinished work" Lincoln spoke of—the struggle for civil rights and true equality—continued. The brevity that was once criticized became its greatest strength, allowing the speech to be easily memorized by school children and quoted by leaders worldwide.

The Global Legacy of the Gettysburg Address

The impact of "four score and seven years ago" extends far beyond American borders. The speech’s concluding phrase—"government of the people, by the people, for the people"—has become the universal definition of democracy.

  • Sun Yat-sen: The founder of the Republic of China cited Lincoln's "of the people, by the people, for the people" as a primary inspiration for his Three Principles of the People.
  • The French Constitution: The 1958 Constitution of the French Fifth Republic explicitly includes the phrase "Gouvernement du peuple, par le peuple et pour le peuple" as its principle.
  • Civil Rights Movement: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. began his "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963 with "Five score years ago," a direct stylistic homage to Lincoln’s opening, delivered exactly 100 years after the Gettysburg Address.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Gettysburg Address

Why did Lincoln use "four score" instead of "87"?

Lincoln used "four score" to create a sense of poetic and biblical solemnity. It mirrored the language of the King James Bible, making the founding of the United States seem like a providential or sacred event rather than just a historical one.

What is the exact date Lincoln was referring to?

By subtracting 87 years from 1863, we arrive at 1776, the year the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Where did Lincoln write the speech?

Contrary to the popular myth that Lincoln wrote the speech on the back of an envelope while on a train to Gettysburg, he actually began writing it in Washington, D.C., at the White House. He finished the final touches at the home of David Wills in Gettysburg the night before the ceremony.

How long did the Gettysburg Address last?

The speech lasted roughly two minutes. It contained approximately 272 words, depending on which manuscript version is used.

Was the speech well-received at the time?

It received mixed reviews. Local and Republican-aligned papers praised it for its "perfect gems," while opposition Democratic papers dismissed it as inadequate and partisan.

Summary of the Gettysburg Address Legacy

The opening phrase "four score and seven years ago" remains a powerful reminder of the enduring nature of democratic ideals. In just ten sentences, Lincoln managed to bridge the gap between the revolutionary past of 1776 and the bloody reality of 1863. He argued that the American Civil War was not just a fight to keep states together, but a "testing" of whether any nation dedicated to equality could survive in the long term. Today, those 272 words stand as a testament to the power of brevity and the idea that a nation's identity is defined not by its borders, but by the principles to which it is dedicated.