The Noble Lie

1. The Noble Lie Papers, Comments, and Suggestions

2. Two Parts To Every Good Paper • The Paper’s Content • Does it deal with the real issue? • Does it indicate careful reading of the required materials? • The Paper’s Style • Are there spelling errors? • Are there grammatical errors? • Are there stylistic errors? (notes, pagination)

3. Pulling down of the statue of King George

4. Declaration • Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

5. We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved;

6. and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

7. While none of the members of the Continental Congress was actually tried for treason, fifteen who signed the Declaration of Independence had their homes destroyed, four were taken captive, and one spent the winter of 1776 in the woods, pursued by British soldiers who had burned his home. Before the end of the Revolutionary War, many of those who served in the Continental Congress suffered direct, personal consequences for their support of American liberty and independence.

9. Background to Gettysburg • Battle was the South’s second attempt to move into Northern territory • First attempt (Antietam) was a disaster for the South, for many reasons, not least of which was lost battle plans by Lee, found by the North (wrapped around cigars) • Gettysburg was as much of a disaster for the South and showed that they were not going to be able to win the war

10. Day 3- July 3, Picket’s Charge- perhaps the worst decision of the war July 1, 2, 3, 1863

11. The Address • The Address was given to dedicate a cemetery on the battlefield • Lincoln was officially invited about two weeks before the event • He may have been spoken to about the event earlier and have been thinking about what to say at the dedication • Lincoln was not the main speaker

12. Sources for the Speech • The King James Bible- See Psalm 90 • Thucydides • Others of Lincoln’s own speechs

13. Gettysburg Address, 11/19/1863 • Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation: conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war. . .testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated. . . can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. • We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

14. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate. . .we cannot consecrate. . . we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. • It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. . .that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . . and that government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . . shall not perish from the earth.

15. The Noble Lie • The lie is told so well that it is not even seen by the second generation • The lie sounds so true that it seems as if it has always been that way • The lie accomplishes what seems to be very important tasks for the government • Is one justified in telling the noble lie?