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
sitting infront of him. He was trying to make people see that things could not continue in
the fashion that they were going in now, as it would just cause the downfall of the country
the people before them had worked so hard to...
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