Question

How long was fourscore and seven years ago: 47 years, 87 years, or 107 years?

Answer 1

Fourscore and seven years ago was 87 years ago. The phrase "fourscore and seven years ago" is a reference to the Gettysburg Address, a speech given by US President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. In the speech, Lincoln said "Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

Answer 2

Fourscore and seven years ago refers to 87 years ago. A score is equal to 20, so four score is 80. Adding seven, we get 87 years. This phrase is famously used in Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address to refer to the time since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.