House Divided according to Shmoop

[RJNorton]

Amy, I think some people felt Lincoln was telling the North that the South and the "slave conspiracy" forces (led by Douglas) were trying to nationalize slavery. In other words, they were trying to make slavery legal in all states. Lincoln felt the Republicans simply could not allow for this possibility. He said "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free." I think one interpretation of this was that the North may have to fight to ward off the nationalization of slavery. I think Lincoln meant this mainly in political terms, but some folks chose to think he was calling for a war to prevent the expansion of slavery. Even some of Lincoln's friends thought his speech was too radical.