USA HISTORY

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR(1861 1865)

GETTYSBURG ADDRESS

[SOURCES]
In his opening statements, which President does MLK make an allusion to?

(A) George Washington

(B) Jimmy Carter

(C) James Madison

(D) ** Abraham Lincoln

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -Martin Luther King, Jr. used the phrase “Five score years ago…” in his “I Have a Dream” speech . This is a reference to President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, which originally began with “Four score and seven years ago…” As you can see, King’s phrasing is a subtle reference, hence an allusion!

Concept note-2: -Right at the start of the speech, MLK makes an allusion, or reference to history, recalling the Emancipation Proclamation (2.1). In historical texts as well as literature, specific references to other texts or events can help place the document in a larger context.

Concept note-3: -The first allusion was to Independence Day. He described the Declaration of Independence as a ‘’promissory note” that ‘’was a promise that all men–yes, black men as well as white men–would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Concept note-4: -Many students know that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his historic speech on August 28, 1963, at the march on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. But they may not realize that the leaders of the March arranged to meet with President Kennedy in the White House on the day of the March.