This speech was given on June 16, 1858 in Springfield, Illinois by Abraham Lincoln for the Republican State Convention. Lincoln was chosen to run for the Senate against Democratic candidate Stephen A. Douglas. Although Lincoln did not win the election for Senator, some say this speech did help him become president.
When Lincoln gave his speech " A House Divided," he was addressing an issue that no one had before. Looking back, the United States would not have been able to function if the South was pro slavery, and the North was against slavery because its obvious the slaves would have run to the North to be free, and that wouldn't have helped the South as an economy. Lincoln's speech is divided into three parts; the first part addresses the issue of slavery, the second part addresses the Northern Democratic view on slavery, and the third portion talks about how he is more qualified than Douglas himself. Lincoln uses many rhetorical strategies to capture the attention of the nation.
In Lincoln's speech, he states "A house divided against itself shall not stand." When he said this, he was paraphrasing a passage from the Bible, Matthew 12:25; "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." By speaking from the Bible, Lincoln was able to appeal to emotions, or also known as ethos. He hoped to use this well known speech to help people recognize the ongoing debate over slavery. Lincoln also refers to the Union as a "House", which makes it more realistic to people, that their home could perhaps be in danger if the issue over slavery was not resolved.
When Lincoln gave his speech " A House Divided," he was addressing an issue that no one had before. Looking back, the United States would not have been able to function if the South was pro slavery, and the North was against slavery because its obvious the slaves would have run to the North to be free, and that wouldn't have helped the South as an economy. Lincoln's speech is divided into three parts; the first part addresses the issue of slavery, the second part addresses the Northern Democratic view on slavery, and the third portion talks about how he is more qualified than Douglas himself. Lincoln uses many rhetorical strategies to capture the attention of the nation.
In Lincoln's speech, he states "A house divided against itself shall not stand." When he said this, he was paraphrasing a passage from the Bible, Matthew 12:25; "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." By speaking from the Bible, Lincoln was able to appeal to emotions, or also known as ethos. He hoped to use this well known speech to help people recognize the ongoing debate over slavery. Lincoln also refers to the Union as a "House", which makes it more realistic to people, that their home could perhaps be in danger if the issue over slavery was not resolved.