Question

Explain, in your own words, what Lincoln meant when he said: "A house divided against itself cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. 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. It will become all one thing, or all the other."

Answer 1

In this statement, Lincoln is addressing the deep divisions within the United States regarding slavery. He suggests that a nation, like a house, cannot survive if it is split in such a fundamental way. The phrase "half slave and half free" refers to the fact that some states allowed slavery while others did not. Lincoln emphasizes that this division is unsustainable; he believes that the country will eventually have to choose one path or the other—either fully embrace slavery or abolish it entirely.

Lincoln is confident that the Union will not simply fall apart, but he acknowledges that something must change. The status quo of coexistence, where slavery and freedom exist side by side, cannot continue indefinitely. He implies that a resolution is necessary; the country will eventually unify under one principle, either fully supporting slavery or fully rejecting it. In essence, he is calling for a definitive stance on the issue of slavery, as the ongoing division threatens the very existence of the nation.