HISET Social Studies Practice

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Study for the HISET Social Studies Test. Access practice exams and detailed explanations to boost your confidence. Prepare effectively and succeed in your test!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What was the primary purpose of the Gettysburg Address delivered by Abraham Lincoln?

To announce a new battlefield strategy
To honor Union soldiers and reaffirm commitment to the war
To negotiate peace with Confederate states
To declare independence from Britain

The correct answer is: To honor Union soldiers and reaffirm commitment to the war

The Gettysburg Address, delivered by Abraham Lincoln during the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery on November 19, 1863, primarily served to honor the Union soldiers who fought and died in the Battle of Gettysburg, while also reaffirming the national commitment to the principles for which they fought. In his speech, Lincoln emphasized the significance of the Civil War as a struggle not just for the preservation of the Union, but for the principles of freedom and equality. By framing the war in the context of a test of the nation’s commitment to its founding ideals, he inspired the living to continue the fight for a government "of the people, by the people, for the people." This message elevated the sacrifice of the soldiers, stressing that their deaths should not be in vain and reinforcing the purpose of the war as an effort to ensure a new birth of freedom in the nation. Such a focus on honoring the fallen and galvanizing support for the ongoing struggle encapsulated the essence of Lincoln’s address.