1. Lesson 57
“A House Divided”

2. The Dred Scott Case In 1857, the Supreme Court decided that…
blacks are not citizens.
Congress could not forbid slavery in the territories.

3. The Rise of Abraham Lincoln
Born in a log cabin in Kentucky in 1809.
Moved to Indiana in 1816.
Moved to Illinois in 1830.
Mostly self-educated, he read a lot of Shakespeare and the Bible.
Was known as “Honest Abe.”

4. He was charming, witty, and a good storyteller.
Became a lawyer in Illinois.
Believing that “all men are created equal,” he became a Whig and sought to keep slavery from spreading.
Was elected to Illinois’ state legislature and to Congress for 1 term.

5. Gave up politics until his dismay over the Dred Scott decision brought him back.
Ran as a Republican for the U.S. Senate against Stephen Douglas in 1858.

6. Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Lincoln began the campaign with his famous “A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand” speech.

7. "A house divided against itself cannot stand
"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.

8. Lincoln was against the further spread of slavery.
Douglas believed in popular sovereignty.
Douglas won reelection, but Lincoln became nationally known.

9. Homework
Read pp
Study notes