Abraham lincoln s the house divided speech 1858 the escalating crisis drew a country lawyer back into the political fray. At milestone documents, we believe that engaging with historys original voices is exciting for students and liberating for. Terms in this set 8 a house divided against itself cannot stand. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. On the previous day the convention had taken the unprecedented move of naming lincoln their candidate for the senate normally senate candidates were chosen in january when the new legislature convened.
What did abraham lincoln mean by a house divided against. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. Abraham lincoln is one of the most revered figures in american history, and only relatively recently have scholars dared to challenge the lincoln as martyr image in the public eye. Senate candidate abraham lincoln on june 16, 1858 at the statehouse in springfield. Pdf in the house divided speech, lincoln warned that the country. Lincoln s nowfamous house divided line, which is drawn from the bible, was actually part of a campaign speech he delivered at the 1858 illinois republican state convention. Lincoln s political career at the time he gave the house divided speech, lincoln, 49, was a lawyer in private practice in springfield, illinois. The title reflects part of the speech s introduction, a house divided against itself cannot stand, a concept familiar to lincoln s audience as a statement by jesus recorded in all three synoptic gospels matthew, mark, luke. Why lincolns house divided speech was so important. Abraham lincolns 1858 house divided speech catapults him into the national consciousness with its bold moral assessment of the future of american slavery. Lincoln spoke at the close of the republican state convention. Nov 26, 2019 lincoln at the lincolndouglas debate in 1858, where he delivered his nowfamous house divided line. Africans in americapart 4lincolns house divided speech. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half.
Abraham lincoln speech the house divided was an address given by abraham lincoln on june 16, 1858, at what was then the illinois state capitol in springfield, upon accepting the illinois republican partys nomination as that states united states senator. Read the following excerpt from abraham lincolns house. Click here to request a free trial account only available to college instructors primary source readers. On june 16, 1858, at the illinois republican convention in springfield, abraham lincoln kicked off his bid for the u. The danger of a divided house is a pretty perfect metaphor for lincoln in this case. But as part of lincolns legacy, the house divided speech marked the point at which abraham lincoln, local politician, firmly planted his stake in the ground on a highlycharged national issue. The origins and purpose of lincolns housedivided speech. A house divided against itself cannot stand actually comes from the book of mark 3. Lincolns house divided speech june 16 marks the anniversary of one of the most important and memorable speeches in american history, one that seems especially poignant for our times, as it comes from a portion of our history in which americans were even more bitterly divided. Even lincoln s friends regarded the speech as too radical for the occasion. Occasion purpose evidence argument this speech was given on june 16, 1858 in springfield, illinois upon receiving the republican nomination for senate. House divided speech excerpts abraham lincoln june 1858 lincoln delivered this famous speech, noted for the phrase a house divided against itself cannot stand, when accepting the republican nomination for u. He predicted that the country eventually would become all one thing, or all the other.
Lincoln at the lincolndouglas debate in 1858, where he delivered his nowfamous house divided line. He had been born in kentucky in 1809 and had moved with his. This video series is aged and the sound cracks occasionally, but it does provide accurate information and visual imagery. Abraham lincoln delivered this speech after receiving the republican nomination to run against stephen douglas, a popular democratic incumbent, for the u. Analysis of abraham lincolns house divided speech essay. A life 2 volumes, originally published by johns hopkins university press, 2008 unedited manuscript by chapters, lincoln studies center, volume 1, chapter 12 pdf, pp. Abraham lincolns image in public memory and the house divided speech 041510. Abraham lincoln delivered the house divided speech in springfield, illinois, on june 16, 1858 after the republican state convention nominated him to run for the illinois senate seat opposite. Abraham lincoln delivered his house divided speech, one of the best known of his career, on june 16, 1858 in the illinois state capitol in springfield. House divided speech 1858 log in to see the full document and commentary. Abraham lincoln 18091865 delivered the socalled house divided speech on june 16th, 1858, at the illinois republican state convention to an audience of around 1,000.
It took place as the end of the republicans state convention in the house of representatives in illinois. Mar 30, 2008 lincoln repeated this speech in peoria, illinois, 12 days later. Senate candidate abraham lincoln on june 16, 1858 at the statehouse in springfield, illinois. I do not expect the union to be dissolved i do not expect the house to fall but i do expect it will cease to be divided. If abraham lincoln didnt decide to address this issue, perhaps. Lincoln issued these statements in acceptance of his nomination to run as the republican candidate for a us senate seat in the 1858 election.
Abraham lincolns house divided speech june 16, 1858 full text available. Abraham lincoln house divided speech hear the full text. At milestone documents, we believe that engaging with historys original voices is exciting for students and liberating for instructors. Lincoln sums up the doctrine of squatter or popular sovereignty. House divided speech excerpts abraham lincoln june 1858.
Senate with a speech that would come to be known as the house divided speech. As an outspoken opponent of the expansion of slavery in the united states, lincoln won the republican party nomination in 1860 and was elected president later that year. A house divided 4 abraham lincoln speeches and writings leading advocate of the nebraska bi ll to state his opinion whether the people of a territory can constitutionally exclude slavery from their limits. Senate he delivered a speech at the state convention on june 16, 1858. Auston moore hist 1 signature assignment the house divided speech 1858, abraham lincoln the house divided speech was a speech given by abraham lincoln who also documented the speech at the republican state convention in springfield on june 16, 1858.
Lincolns house divided speech june 16 marks the anniversary of one of the most important and memorable speeches in american history, one that seems especially poignant for our times, as it comes from a portion of our history in. House divided essay discuss the relevance today of abraham lincolns statement, a house divided against itself cannot stand. Abraham lincoln was the sixteenth president of the united states, serving from march 4, 1861 until his assassination. Acknowledging the nomination that evening, lincoln delivered what became known as the house divided speechthe name being taken from the opening of the speech. We shall not failif we stand firm, we shall not fail. House divided speech full text text of lincolns speech. Lincoln repeated this speech in peoria, illinois, 12 days later. Abraham lincolns the house divided speech 1858 the escalating crisis drew a country lawyer back into the political fray. Stephen douglas and abraham lincoln, first debate, ottawa, illinois. Within weeks, stephen douglas would twist lincoln s meaning and paint him as a warmonger and radical abolitionist.
Abraham lincoln was pretty annoyed with how the debate over slavery was going, so when he had a chance to get up and make a political speech, he did not mince words. A house divided speech legal definition of a house divided. As historians, we are used to nuanced, complex arguments. A house divided speech legal definition of a house. Abraham lincolns house divided speech had an enticing effect on the public and influenced their opinions drastically, when it was given in 1858, as mr. Feb 24, 2014 listen to and read the house divided speech delivered by u. But, said opposition members, let us be more specificlet us amend the bill so as to expressly declare that the people of the territory may exclude slavery. The nomination of lincoln was the final item of business at the convention, which then broke for dinner, meeting again at. The title reflects part of the speechs introduction, a house divided against itself cannot stand, a concept familiar to lincolns audience as a statement by jesus recorded in all three synoptic gospels matthew, mark, luke. Dec 14, 2014 the entirety of lincoln s speech is based on a a specific quote from matthew 12. Lincoln gave the speech to his republican state convention delegates shortly after they endorsed him for the senate seat held by. Abraham lincolns image in public memory and the house. Lincoln hoped to use a wellknown figure of speech to help rouse the people to recognition of the magnitude of the ongoing debates over the legality of slavery. Again and again he insisted that the civil liberties of every u.
Despite his new role as a spokesman for the antislavery forces in illinois, lincoln declined to join the republican party, then being formed on an abolition platform. Abraham lincoln, in his house divided speech pronounced in 1858, claimed that the us would eventually become either a free or a slave nation, but the that the division in two confronted halves could not be sustained and would be disastrous for the union as a whole if a final decision on the issue could not be reached the speech was the beginning of lincolns. Lincolns political career at the time he gave the house divided speech, lincoln, 49, was a lawyer in private practice in springfield, illinois. Manuscript by chapters, lincoln studies center, volume 1, chapter 12 pdf, pp. Buchanan was elected, and the indorsement, such as it was, secured. The most famous line in the speech starts off with a quote that isnt even lincolns. He had always hated the idea of slavery even as a young boy. Abraham lincoln delivered this speech after receiving the. A famous line from lincolns house divided speech, in which he said that the union could not function as half slave and half free, and that. Abraham lincolns house divided speech by corrie byrd on prezi. The house divided speech in the lincolndouglas debates of 1858.
Reflecting the beliefs of his party at the time, the opposition to the spread of slavery, he intended to speak of how the nation had slave states and free. If we could just know where we are and whither we appear to be tending, we could all better judge of what to do, and how to. Republican nomination to run against stephen douglas, a popular. I do not expect the union to be dissolvedi do not expect the house to fallbut i do expect it will cease to be divided. Abraham lincoln was practicing rather than making law when the decade opened, but as acts he considered dangerous were passed, he was drawn out of the courtroom and onto convention floors and speakers platforms. House divided speech june 16, 1858 lincolns writings. Listen to and read the house divided speech delivered by u. He used this speech to rally republican supporters around what he saw to be the most important issue in the campaign. But as part of lincoln s legacy, the house divided speech marked the point at which abraham lincoln, local politician, firmly planted his stake in the ground on a highlycharged national issue. He had won the republican partys nomination as illinois us senator. Early life he was born in kentucky in 1809 he was very uneducated through his teenage years because only went to school for 18 months. Illinois republican state convention, springfield, illinois june 16, 1858.
In my opinion, it will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached and passed. Lincoln was outraged at the kansasnebraska act of 1854 and the dred scott decision. Abraham lincolns house divided speech raises some questions about him. It is apparent that lincoln had a mastery of the english language. Our flexible, affordable, entirely digital readers help you focus your classroom on primary sources. President lincoln implemented some very effective arguments and rhetorical devices to create a hypnotic sway in his speech. His use of this paraphrased metaphor is perhaps clearer when you look at some more of his speech. The true story behind uncle toms cabin, the book that rocked precivil war america duration. All of lincolns political associates warned him he must remove the quotation. The most famous line in the speech starts off with a quote that isnt even lincoln s. When lincoln was nominated to be the candidate of the illinois republican party for u. Abraham lincoln s 1858 house divided speech catapults him into the national consciousness with its bold moral assessment of the future of american slavery.
House divided speech, 1858 the landmark speech which kicked off lincolns campaign for the u. Within weeks, stephen douglas would twist lincolns meaning and paint him as a warmonger and radical abolitionist. The house divided speech was an address given by abraham lincoln, later president of the united states, on june 16, 1858, at what was then the illinois state capitol in springfield, after he had accepted the illinois republican partys nomination as that states us senator. Bettmann archivesgetty images the speech certainly got republicans attention. Abraham lincoln, june 16, 1858 in 1856 abraham lincoln, an illinois lawyer and politician, left the whig party over the issue of slavery and joined the newlyformed, antislavery republican party. Home precivil war house divided speech speech at chicago, july 10, 1858 abraham lincoln senator stephen a. Even lincolns friends regarded the speech as too radical for the occasion. 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. In july of that year, he challenged his democrat opponent, stephen. Mar 03, 2014 the true story behind uncle toms cabin, the book that rocked precivil war america duration. Abraham lincoln house divided speech hear the full.
Abraham lincolns house divided speechrhetorical analysis. If we could first know where we are and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do and how to do it. Douglas kicked off his 1858 reelection campaign with a speech in chicago on july 16, 1858. House divided speech, 1858 the landmark speech which kicked off lincoln s campaign for the u. The house divided speech was an address given by abraham lincoln, later president of the united states, on june 16, 1858, at what was then the illinois state. Lincoln introduces the house divided theme in the first section of his speech to illustrate just how bad the situation was in america. The nomination of lincoln was the final item of business at the. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free. 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. A house divided against itself cannot stand, abraham lincoln famously said. The chronology of abraham lincolns sudden rise from relative obscurity to a presidential nomination. A house divided speech at the illinois state capitol.
892 247 62 685 602 755 1231 388 585 1265 849 209 1579 1004 20 993 808 1629 1587 418 1451 1247 925 1439 1611 911 842 34 358 163 398 1449 807 1140 353 351