What is it meant by "A house divided against itself cannot stand"? Explain why President Lincoln used this phrase prior to the Civil War.
The quote, "A house divided against itself cannot stand" was said by Abraham Lincoln prior to the Civil War. It means that our nation cannot work together, compromise, and agree on things, then it will fall apart. He used it before the Civil War because at the time, there was arguing about power in the senate between free states and slave states and also about whether or not to allow slavery in the territories. Lincoln wanted to warn us what would happen if a compromise was not made.
Is this a good response? I'm open to any sugestions, thanks!
**that IF our nation cannot work together,.....
This is an excellent response. Congrats!!
Thank you!
Yes, your response is on the right track. Here's an expanded and more detailed answer:
The phrase "A house divided against itself cannot stand" comes from a speech made by Abraham Lincoln in 1858, during a time when the United States was deeply divided on the issue of slavery. Lincoln used this phrase to illustrate the dangers of allowing the growing divide between the free states and the slave states to continue without finding a resolution.
At that time, there were increasing tensions between the Northern states, which were generally against the expansion of slavery, and the Southern states, which relied on slavery as the backbone of their economy. These tensions were exacerbated by the differing political interests and ideologies of the two regions. The conflict came to a head with the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed for the possibility of slavery expanding into new territories.
Lincoln, a staunch opponent of slavery, recognized that if the nation couldn't find a way to overcome its deep divisions, it would ultimately lead to its downfall. He believed that the United States, as a unified nation, needed to address the issue of slavery and work towards a compromise that would be agreeable to both sides. Without such compromise, Lincoln argued, the very foundation of the nation would crumble.
This phrase is particularly significant because just a few years later, the Civil War broke out, proving Lincoln's warning to be tragically true. The war pitted the Northern states against the Southern states, and the nation was indeed "divided against itself". The devastating consequences of the war, including loss of life and destruction, served as a stark reminder of the importance of unity and compromise.
Therefore, Lincoln used this phrase to emphasize the urgent need for the nation to come together and find a middle ground on the issue of slavery. He understood that a refusal to address the growing tensions would ultimately lead to the collapse of the country itself.