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Appendix A
Name: Period:
Directions: Reading these excerpts from four of President Abraham Lincoln’s most popular speeches,
examine each speech, paying close attention to what he is saying about the existence of slavery. Jot
down key words from the excerpts, and when you are finished write what you think Lincoln’s view on
slavery was as reflected in this speech.
“... all persons held as slaves within any State or 4-5 Key words:
designated part of a State, the people whereof shall
then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be
then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the
Executive Government of the United States, including
the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize
and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do
no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in
any efforts they may make for their actual freedom...
Opinion on Slavery:
“We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are 4-5 Key Words:
better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little
they know, whereof they speak! There is no permanent
class of hired laborers amongst us.
Free labor has the inspiration of hope; pure slavery
has no hope. The power of hope upon human exertion,
and happiness, is wonderful. The slave-master himself
has a conception of it; and hence the system of tasks
among slaves. The slave whom you cannot drive with
the lash to break seventy-five pounds of hemp in a day,
if you will task him to break a hundred, and promise
him pay for all he does over, he will break you a
hundred and fifty. You have substituted hope, for the
rod.”
Opinion on Slavery:
Opinion on Slavery:
“A house divided against itself, cannot stand. I believe 4-5 Key Words:
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. Either the opponents of slavery
will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where
the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the
course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will
push it forward, till it shall become lawful in all the
States, old as well as new — North as well as South.”
Opinion on Slavery:
After analyzing these speeches from President Lincoln, what do you think that his shifting perspective
on slavery shows us about the different perspectives in the North regarding slavery? Why is it
important for us to understand the difference? Think back to our Abolitionist vs. Free-Soil videos.
Appendix B
Name: Period:
Directions: Reading these excerpts from four of President Abraham Lincoln’s most popular speeches,
examine each speech, paying close attention to what he is saying about the existence of slavery. Jot
down key words from the excerpts, and when you are finished write what you think Lincoln’s view on
slavery was as reflected in this speech.
“... all persons held as slaves within any State or 4-5 Key words:
designated part of a State (in the United States), the
people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the
United States, shall be … forever free;
Opinion on Slavery:
“We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are 4-5 Key Words:
better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little
they know, whereof they speak! (The “Southern men”
don’t know what they are talking about). There is no
permanent class of hired laborers (slaves) amongst us.
Free labor has the inspiration of hope; pure slavery has
no hope. The power of hope upon human exertion, and
happiness, is wonderful. The slave-master himself has a
conception of it (hope); and hence the system of tasks
among slaves.
Opinion on Slavery:
Opinion on Slavery:
“A house divided against itself, cannot stand. I believe 4-5 Key Words:
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 (I believe it will come
together). It will become all one thing or all the other
(referring to slavery). Either the opponents of slavery
will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where
the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the
course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push
it forward, till it shall become lawful in all the States,
old as well as new — North as well as South.”
Opinion on Slavery:
What is the difference between free-soil and abolitionists (the two major perspectives in the North
regarding slavery?) Why is it important for us to understand the difference?