The medieval era had been one in which the Roman Catholic Church dominated the culture of Europe, and it was thought that no one could successfully challenge such a deeply ingrained institution. However, the Reformation movement by Martin Luther and other Protestant figures showed that even something as entrenched and enduring at the Catholic Church could be challenged, and changes could be accomplished. Even during Martin Luther's lifetime, this idea that change was possible motivated people to launch efforts toward other major changes to powerful systems. The Peasants Revolt that occurred in Germany in 1524-1525 took Luther's push for reform in the church and applied it to make a push for change in feudal society. Martin Luther himself didn't agree with that and opposed the Peasants Revolt, but as Schaff points out, the momentum of the Reformation was a "propelling force" inspiring other "forward movements" to make changes in society.
President Abraham Lincoln emphasized the idea found in the US Constitution that all men are created equal. He paid homage to all the men, dead and alive, who had fought in the terrible battle. The speech was delivered on November 19, 1863, in the battlefield near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
