Premium Essay

House Divided Speech

In:

Submitted By anni2831
Words 1028
Pages 5
A house divided speech by Abraham Lincoln

In 1858 Abraham Lincoln was nominated as a candidate for the senate for the Republican Party in Illinois. This is a well-known speech. It took place as the end of the republicans state convention in the House of Representatives in Illinois. In the speech he makes it extremely clear who the supporters and opponents of slavery are. The background for the speech is the conflict between the Kansas-Nebraska law and the Supreme Courts decision in the Dred Scott case. The Kansas-Nebraska law allowed the states to decide whether they want to abolish slavery or not. The Supreme Court decided that the right of ownership of slaves should not be prevented in any state.

A house divided is a speech by Abraham Lincoln. The speech took place in 1858.
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. He is from the state Illinois. When the American Civil War took place abolishing slavery was not his primary target. It was to save the Union. "A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe this government cannot endure; permanently half slave and half free.
Lincoln does not think that the “house” can stand if it is divided. He does not believe that the government can endure to be half slave and half free. He does not believe the union to be dissolved, he does not want the union to fall, but he wishes that the union wont be divided.
He is speaking to the gentlemen of the convention. The speech took place so he could get voters before the election.
The purpose with the speech is first of all separate him self from Douglas and to show his viewpoints of the situation. The union got only two options; the United States would unavoidable become either a slave state or a free state. Because the north and south had different opinions in the question of slavery, and the difficulty had come to imbue all other political

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

House Divided Speech

...Lincoln's Speech Abraham Lincoln's "House Divided" speech had a specific purpose for it. He was directing it mainly at the congressmen and the President, and it's purpose was to show them how America was hurting itself by fighting endlessley over slavery. His speech was one of the most influential speeches in the history of the US. Lincoln was talking to the congressmen and the President because they were the people who could do something about all of these issues. He pointed out many of the wrongdoings of the government, and how the Dred Scott decision was a major turning point away from the advancement of the US. By treating slaves as property, and not as people, America was slowly destroying itself from the inside out, and that would eventually lead to violence and destruction. He tried to get people to listen to him not by merely making a political speech, but also trying to show them that what was going on wasn't right. He was saying that people need to value the country as a whole over their own specific ideas (whether it be about slavery or another issue.) He talked about "points" gained in favor of slavery in what seemed to be a well timed game on the part of the government. It systematically tried to permit slavery all over the country, and take away any rights that may or may have not been already granted to slaves. In conclusion, Lincoln was trying to appeal to the inner emotions of each delegate...

Words: 317 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Essay

...Huckabee Mrs. Miller English III Honors 21 February 2013 Allusion Report #1: Divided House The Divided House is a historical allusion. It is considered a historical allusion rather than a biblical or classical because the “Divided House” was a speech given in 1858 by Lincoln and has affected today’s society. The purpose of the “Divided House” speech was for Lincoln to tell the public what he thought the future would hold. To him, the idea of the slaves moving westward was a horrible idea, and thought all slavery should be kept in the south. The “Divided House” is important culturally for multiple reasons. First off, the “Divided House” kind of is what set today’s black and white society as we know. Without this important speech, slavery may have moved out west and continued longer that what it had. If Lincoln hadn’t stated, “I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free.” (Lincoln), we may even have slavery today due to the fact that the west is such a vast property to control. Also, the “Divided House” helped with the beginning of the end of slavery. After Lincoln’s speech, segregation had started and eventually the 13th amendment was passed which banned slavery all together. Some important information you may want to know about the “Divided House” is that it was one of Lincolns major speeches told in the year 1858 in Springfield. The purpose of the speech was to convince Americans to keep slavery in the South. By keeping slaves in the...

Words: 712 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

House Divided

...Sarah Colbaugh February 5, 2015 Language and Composition Burk “House Divided” On June 16, 1858 in Springfield Illinois, the newly nominated Senator, Abraham Lincoln, addresses 1,000 delegates at the Illinois Republican Convention about a future crisis that could further destroy the Union. This was Lincoln's "acceptance speech" after the Republican Party of Illinois nominated him for the Senate seat then held by Stephen Douglas. The issue at stake: slavery. A country that is supposed to stand together has had this difference of slavery and has turned against each other. Lincoln states that the “opponents of slavery, will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become alike lawful in all states”. The South relied on the slaves for economic and lifestyle reasons, while the North didn’t agree with slavery because of moral reasons. Lincoln paraphrased the following passage from the Bible, Matthew 12:25, when he spoke of a house divided: And Jesus knew their [the Pharisees'] thoughts, and said unto them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand." His use of this paraphrased metaphor is perhaps clearer when you look at some more of his speech: "A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe the government cannot endure permanently...

Words: 646 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

A House Divided

...Primary source study of A Hhouse Divided Our 16th President Abraham Lincoln’s speech later titled “A Hhouse Ddivided” was delivered in front of 1,000 rRepublican delegates after who had voting nominated Abraham Lincoln in as their candidate to the U.S sSenate . An issue causing a rift throughout the nation, slavery was had been disputed since the inception of America. Lincoln not only understood the problems created by slavery at his present time, he also for lack of a better term prophesized the oncoming storm that would ensued from both the disagreements between the opponents and proponents of slavery: . “We are now far into the fifth year, since a policy was initiated, with the avowed object, and confident promise, of putting an end to slavery agitation. Under the operation of that policy, that agitation has not only, not ceased, but has constantly augmented. In my opinion, it will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached, and passed. A house divided against its self cannot stand." Abraham Lincoln clearly understood the schism that was taking place across the country, though it was considered politically irresponsible by his peers and fellow party members , Lincoln’s resolve to end this bitter dispute would carry America through its darkest days. Abraham Lincoln's "House Divided" speech had a specific purpose for it. He was directing it mainly at the congressmen and the President, and it's purpose was to show them how America was hurting itself by fighting...

Words: 897 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Lincoln Speech

...Abraham Lincoln: House Divided Will Not Stand Abraham Lincoln,16th President of the United States, made his famous "House Divided Speech" on June 16, 1858 at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. His speech was made for the United States senate in order to mark his nomination by the Republican Party. This speech is known for being such an important event in the history since it exposed clearly Lincoln's position on slavery and its future in the United States. It also predicted events that were to occur in the near future. This speech revolved around Lincoln's debates and his Democratic Party opponent, Stephen A. Douglas. This campaign was consumed by the nationwide debate over slavery and its possible expansion from its historical base in the South into the northern free states. Douglas was representing the pro-slavery Democratic Party, and he argued that slavery would continue to exist in the United States without threatening the existence and stability of the Union. In his view, each state should have the right to determine whether or not slavery should exist in that state. Therefore, the democratic progress would decide slavery's status in each state. Douglas believed that free states and slave states could coexist peacefully with each other. Lincoln was representing the abolitionist, anti-slavery Republican Party, and he argued that slave states and free states could not coexist with each other since the two sides, pro-slavery and anti-slavery...

Words: 478 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

How To Write An Essay On Abraham Lincoln Springfield

...llinois’ Capital, Springfield, is home to our prominent 16th president Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln owned his first and only house in Springfield. He also started his presidential career (Started running for presidency) in Springfield. Three places that are crucial to Lincoln's life are Lincoln’s home, The Old State Capitol and Lincoln’s Tomb. Springfield is filled with amusing historical events and places. Lincoln's career was established in his own house. In the beginning of Lincoln’s years at his first home there were six people living there. There were his three kids, a maid, his wife and Abe himself. After a couple of years in his house, Abe's presidential career was constructed. Lincoln started his career by getting his first job by writing a letter on his desk and sending it to the presidential election. Lincoln lived in that same house all the way until he became president and moved into the white house. Lincoln became president in March 1861 however not all of his family came with him to the whitehouse. One of his sons, Robert, did not live in the white house with the Lincolns because he was attending at Harvard University. Lincoln had a lot of important marks in history, however an abundance of the important marks happened at the Old State Capitol. The Old State Capitol...

Words: 543 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Civil War Inevitable Dbq

...The speech’s historical context was slavery existing in half of the states. This foreshadows a civil war as Lincoln is saying we cannot have such a deeply divided country. Either slavery will spread completely, or it will be stopped and become extinct. This would be achieved with one side winning a war, as the divisions were deep and violent, as seen in Bleeding Kansas. In other words, Lincoln believed the civil war was inevitable. An example of anti- slavery beliefs was shown in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, document 2. It was written when slavery was still legal in many states and was written against the fugitive slave act. The author felt that they were being forced to continue slavery even in free states, as they were with runaway slaves. This led to more polar beliefs in people who read it, and the book was very popular. Her audience was Christians; she wanted them to know slavery was evil, and against their faith. As a result, many more people strongly opposed slavery. Another example of extreme beliefs in America was with John Brown. John Brown was an abolitionist who attempted to lead a slave revolt by giving weapons to slaves. Fredrick Douglas spoke about this in his speech at storer college in document 6 “...

Words: 929 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Abraham Lincoln Research Paper

...Mr. Abraham Lincoln, You made this document, the Emancipation Proclamation, to free slaves from the brutal and serious conditions they have been through. You wanted all people to be free, but you call slaves property. Why would you call something property and not free them all. I find this document a lie of your words. You said yourself, “All persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State; shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” This document makes no sense to me or to many of your fellow Americans. I do certainly agree with Jefferson Davis that this document should be recorded in history for being guilty. From your document, “A House Divided” Speech, you believed that this government cannot endure permanently...

Words: 298 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Abraham Lincoln Research Paper

...he was not in school, he worked on the frontier farm clearing out forests with his axe. When Abraham Lincoln was 21 he and his family moved to Illinois. There he worked on a farm growing corn. But more importantly here was where he gave his first political speech. In 1830, the same year his family moved to Illinois, he went to a political rally and was convinced to talk for a candidate on his behalf. According to a witness there, Lincoln "was frightened but got warmed up and made the best speech of the day. (Encarta)." Abraham Lincoln's political career started in the spring of 1832 by running for a seat in the Illinois' House of Representatives. However an unusual turn of events happened a month after he announced he was running. The store he was working at went bankrupt and he lost his job. Very shortly thereafter Native Americans rebelled and the governor of Illinois asked for volunteers to help put this down to which Lincoln promptly volunteered for. He never experienced actual combat, but during his 3 month time period he served as a captain and a private. Lincoln enjoyed his his short stay in the military. When the brief uprising was over, Lincoln returned to Illinois to campaign for a spot in the Illinois House of Representatives. He spoke on tree stumps to groups of people, went to farms and talked to farmers at their homes, and greeted people on the street and started...

Words: 1552 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

How Did Reconstruction Succeed

...needed fixing. The question is did Reconstruction succeed in doing so? Some may say that the Reconstruction was a failure and didn't actually put an end to slavery and still left the country divided. Others may say that it still took a step towards the right direction and fixed issues. When we assess the outcomes, the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment would now take a step towards ending slavery and giving African American the rights they deserved. However many groups like the KKK arose because of this and White...

Words: 1011 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

A House Divided Can Not Stand

...House divided cannot stand Jermaine Morehead Herzing             House divided cannot stand Abraham Lincoln, who was a president in the United States, insisted on the saying “a house divided cannot stand.” Based on the issue of slavery, that was a sign of lack of unity among the Americans when it had gone to the extent that it was seen as a reasonable thing to enslave others. Citizens were given the right to decide to enslave the less fortunate and no third party that would question the act. According to Lincoln, the nation was having half slaves and half free people. The nation at large will have to have been united and work in one direction. For those who were against the slavery to push forward to make sure they attain their goal of making the nation slavery free. The government will have a difficult time handling the disunited state of the citizens; they have to come to an agreement for the country to stand (DiLorenzo, 2009). Thesis statement: it is an inductive argument based on Abraham Lincoln speech on” the house divided cannot stand.” It is inductive because the evidence is presented first, and then a conclusion is drawn from them. There was an argument on whether to let those who were enslaved to be free or the slavery persist in the territory. Congress tried to eliminate slavery among the people but after few days it was rekindled, and all territories were freely practicing slavery. It was declared that...

Words: 622 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Hillary Clinton

...IS HILLARY CLINTON preparing a run for the White House? Before pondering that timely question, consider another which may matter just as much. Why would any Democrat want to become president in 2016? Mrs Clinton is certainly giving people cause to ask the first question. Before too long, she will need to answer the second. On September 14th she headed to Iowa for the first time since her wounding defeat by Barack Obama in that state’s 2008 Democratic caucus. The former secretary of state, senator and First Lady made her return in a friendly, controlled setting. Accompanied by her husband, Bill, she was the guest star at the Harkin Steak Fry, a combined picnic, fundraiser and clan gathering for fans and friends of Tom Harkin, Iowa’s Democratic senator and an old-school New Deal populist. No national politician heads to Iowa on a whim. Winning Iowa’s first-in-the-nation presidential contest does not sew up the nomination. But losing Iowa badly (in 2008 Mrs Clinton came third behind Mr Obama and John Edwards, a caddish lawyer) can derail a campaign built round inevitability. Senator Harkin tried to consign that rejection to history, calling the Clintons America’s “comeback couple” and, to Iowa Democrats, “family”. Mr Harkin is retiring after 40 years in Congress. The Clintons were at pains not to overshadow their host. They used his-and-hers speeches to heap praise on Mr Harkin, bash Republicans and urge Democrats to vote in November’s mid-term elections. The lovely setting, a...

Words: 987 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Comparing King's Speech And A Raisin In The Sun

...Dr. King’s speech and the play A Raisin in the Sun have many similarities including dreams, segregation, and racial prejudice against African-Americans. Firstly, the concept of having dreams is very evident in Dr. King’s speech. He talks extensively about the future of his family (especially his children) and of the nation as a whole, expressing his opinion of how it should be. As Dr. King talks about the dreams that he has, he says: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but but by the content of their character.” (King) He is talking about how he dreams for his children to live in a time where people will not create opinions based on what people...

Words: 540 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Ronald Regan

...Ronald Reagan, My American Hero October 5, 2014 English 101 Ronald Reagan was more than just our nation’s 40th President, he was a remarkable leader. Winning the Governor election by more than 1 million votes, and President of the United States for two terms, America was needing a fearless figure in front of economic, domestic and international threats this nation was experiencing. He brought lower tax rates, negotiated the nuclear arms treaty with the Soviet Union, and influenced the tear down of the Berlin wall and the ending the Cold War without firing a shot. Reagan left Office in 1989 and said, “We meant to change the nation, but instead we changed the world” (cardigan, 1995). Spending his last years with Alzheimer’s and never removing himself from the nation he had great passion for, Ronald Reagan arguably became the greatest President America has ever had. In the early days of Ronald Reagan’s career in acting, he took a very keen interest in his first political endeavor as President of the Screen Actors Guild in 1947. The SAG According to Cardigan (1995), was a labor organization much like other older unions during World War I. When the War was over, Reagan was at the helm of one of the toughest trials and even bigger strikes than before he became President of the SAG (Cardigan, 1995).  Ronald Reagan Stated that dispute was hideously complicated. When the eider ideological issue of a possible communist takeover arise was he able to exert his full...

Words: 1023 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

The Senate Campaing of 1858

...The Senate Campaign of 1858 Introduction The Senate Campaign of 1858 was called the one of greatest Campaign of the century. In the summer of 1858, two candidates campaigned across the state of Illinois for a seat in the United States Senate. That belonged to Stephen Douglas from the Democratic Party. He was seeking reelection. His opponent was a lawyer from the newly established Republican Party. His name was Abraham Lincoln. Out of this great campaign birth the Lincoln-Douglas debates which was a series of formal political debates in 1858 between the two candidates, but also received national importance. The Lincoln-Douglas debates were a defining moment in American political history, affording Abraham Lincoln a major opportunity to create an image for himself on the wider public stage. Stephen Douglas was an established political figure and had distinguished himself in numerous congressional battles, while Lincoln was not known in this arena. Discussion In 1832, Lincoln decided to run for the Illinois State Legislature. Lincoln was to campaign for local improvements such as better roads and canals. However, a war with the Black Hawk Indians broke out before Lincoln’s campaign could get going, in response he joined the Army. After his...

Words: 3258 - Pages: 14