Question

What was so signifcant about Lincoln’s speech: "A house divided against itself cannot stand. Ibelieve this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect theUnion to be dissolved -- I do not expect the house to fall -- but I do expect it will cease to bedivided."?
a. That the government was divided over tax increases in the Southern and Northern states and it wouldcause turmoil.
b. The underlying meaning was that the na±on was vulnerable to Foreign invasion iF they remained dividedover slavery.
c. He was declaring war on the southern states.
d. That the na±on could not stand iF it remained divided over the issue oF slavery.

Answer 1

Answer:

d. That the nation could not stand if it remained divided over the issue of slavery.

Explanation:

Lincoln gave this speech at the Illinois Republican State Convention, while he was not a very popular politician. But at this stage when he used the phrase "house divided", it tried to portrait the situation of the United States which was divided economically and geographically on the issue of slavery. His firm stand was not to compromise, end the dilemma forever. The republican stand to no compromise showcased that everyone has to be on either side of the issue. His statement is well analyzed by the latter historian as it shows the early sign of civil war.