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Primary Sources - Famous Speeches: Abraham Lincoln’s “House Divided” speech, excerpts

Last updated 11 months ago

3 questions

Note from the author:

Read the passage Abraham Lincoln’s “House Divided” speech. Then answer the questions below.

Instructions

Read the passage Abraham Lincoln’s “House Divided” speech. Then answer the questions below.

Required

1

Required

1

Required

2

Question 1

1.

What historical question does Lincoln's speech address?

What percentage of U.S. citizens supported Lincoln's ideas?

What were the main points of the Dred Scott case?

What were the main events leading up to the Civil War in the United States?

How did enslaved African Americans feel about the Dred Scott decision?

Question 2

2.

Which statements best reveal Lincoln's perspective on the state of the Union at that time?

The division on the issue of slavery has had a negative impact on the Union.

The Union will cease to exist if the country can not compromise on slavery. 

The issue of slavery has not yet affected the Union.

Conflict is necessary to decide how the United States should move forward.

The United States will need to fully support slavery or fully reject it. 

Question 3

3.

Drag each quote to the correct box to identify whether it is a fact or opinon.

"In 1854, slavery was excluded from more than half the state constitutions. It was excluded from most of the national territories by congressional prevention of it."
"Thirdly, the United States courts will not decide whether holding a negro in slavery in a free State makes him free. They will leave the courts of any slave State the negro may be forced into by the master to decide."
"Either the opponents of slavery will arrest its further spread. Or, its supporters will push it forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new — North as well as South."
"In his inaugural address, the incoming President urged the people to follow the court’s decision, whatever it might be."
"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."

Fact
Opinion