Lincoln predicted that eventually, slavery would become either legal everywhere or illegal everywhere. He expressed his belief that the nation could not continue to exist as a divided entity with half of the states allowing slavery and half prohibiting it. Thus, he foresaw a resolution to the conflict over slavery, leading to a decisive outcome.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government 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.”
— Abraham Lincoln, 1858
What did Lincoln predict would happen with regard to slavery in the US?
The nation would go to war over the issue.
Eventually, slavery would become legal – or illegal – everywhere.
Slavery would be abolished in the nation.
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