On this episode of Dave Does History we travel back to November 19, 1863, when Abraham Lincoln rose at Gettysburg to deliver what would become one of the most enduring speeches in American history. Lincoln was not the featured speaker that day, yet his brief two minutes transformed the way the nation understood itself. With 272 words he tied the bloodshed of the Civil War to the promise made in 1776, reminding Americans that liberty and equality are not passing ideas but permanent propositions.

We explore why Lincoln reached back to Jefferson’s Declaration rather than the Constitution, why “all men are created equal” remains a challenge for every generation, and how the pursuit of happiness reshaped political philosophy. Along the way, we connect the timeless ideals of the founding to the struggles of today, pressing the question Lincoln left for us all: can government of the people truly endure?