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Interesting US History
A Website Devoted to Interesting Events in U.S. History

 

 
 

 

ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY

June 16, 1858

Abraham Lincoln Delivers His House Divided Speech

On this day in 1858, Abraham Lincoln Delivers His House Divided Speech upon accepting the Illinois Republican Party's nomination as Senator. Although Lincoln's campaign against Stephen A. Douglas was unsuccessful, this speech pointed out the danger of the breakup of the Union due to slavery.

The House Divided Speech turned out to be one of his more famous speeches along with the Gettysburg Address in 1863 and his Second Inaugural Address in 1865. His final public speech was delivered on April 11, 1865 just two days after the surrender of Robert E. Lee which effectively ended the American Civil War and was meant to strike a conciliatory tone. Three days later, Lincoln would fall victim to an assassin's bullet.