Ahouse 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.

—abraham lincoln, springfield, illinois, june 16, 1858

what is a historical idea or event that supports lincoln’s point
of view?