Historical1858
Lincoln's "House Divided" Speech
Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous "House Divided" speech upon accepting the Illinois Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, declaring that "a house divided against itself cannot stand" and that the nation could not permanently endure half slave and half free.
Why It Matters
Lincoln's speech articulated the moral and constitutional crisis of slavery with unforgettable clarity, framing the debate that would define the nation's future and lead to the Civil War.