House Divided Summary

House Divided Summary: A Comprehensive Overview of Lincoln's Iconic Speech

Are you intrigued by Abraham Lincoln's powerful "House Divided" speech? Do you want a deep understanding of its context, key arguments, and lasting impact? This comprehensive guide provides a detailed House Divided summary, exploring its historical significance and enduring relevance. We'll delve into the speech's core message, analyze its rhetorical strategies, and examine its place within the tumultuous prelude to the American Civil War. Prepare to gain a profound appreciation for this pivotal moment in American history.

The Context of "A House Divided"

Lincoln delivered his "House Divided" speech on June 16, 1858, in Springfield, Illinois, during his acceptance speech for the Republican Party's nomination for the U.S. Senate. The nation was deeply fractured over the issue of slavery, with escalating tensions between the North and the South. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed for popular sovereignty to decide the issue of slavery in those territories, had ignited a fierce debate and led to violent clashes. The Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision of 1857, which declared that enslaved people were not citizens and had no right to sue in federal court, further fueled the flames of sectionalism. This volatile climate formed the backdrop against which Lincoln delivered his stark warning.

The Core Argument: A Nation Cannot Endure Half Slave and Half Free

Lincoln's central thesis, famously articulated in the speech's title, is that the nation cannot long endure half slave and half free. He argued that the existence of slavery created an inherent instability that threatened the very foundation of the Union. He wasn't simply advocating for the abolition of slavery immediately; rather, he was pointing out the logical impossibility of a permanently divided nation grappling with such a fundamental moral and political contradiction. He believed that the expansion of slavery into new territories would inevitably lead to a national crisis, either through a complete triumph of slavery or a final showdown to determine the nation's future.

Lincoln's Rhetorical Mastery: Appeals to Logic and Emotion

Lincoln's speech is a masterclass in rhetoric. He skillfully employed a combination of logical arguments and emotional appeals to persuade his audience. He used historical precedent and legal reasoning to support his claims, while simultaneously evoking a sense of urgency and moral responsibility. His use of biblical allusions, particularly the quote from the Gospel of Matthew ("A house divided against itself cannot stand"), added weight and resonance to his message. The powerful imagery he created, particularly the image of a house divided, effectively captured the fragility of the Union and the impending danger.

The Impact and Legacy of "A House Divided"

The "House Divided" speech had an immediate and lasting impact. It established Lincoln as a major political figure, solidifying his reputation as a thoughtful and persuasive leader. The speech helped to galvanize the Republican Party and frame the central issue of the upcoming senatorial election. While it didn't immediately resolve the slavery crisis, it served as a clear and compelling articulation of the growing threat to national unity. The speech's warning proved tragically prophetic, as the nation ultimately descended into civil war just three years later. However, Lincoln's words remain relevant today, serving as a potent reminder of the dangers of unchecked division and the importance of seeking common ground in the face of profound disagreements.

Stephen Douglas's Response and the Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Lincoln's speech directly challenged Senator Stephen A. Douglas, his opponent in the upcoming senatorial race. Douglas, a proponent of popular sovereignty, responded with his own arguments, leading to a series of seven famous debates between the two men. These debates became pivotal moments in the lead-up to the Civil War, further highlighting the irreconcilable differences between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. The debates allowed Lincoln to reach a wider audience and further refine his arguments against the expansion of slavery.

The Speech's Enduring Relevance

The "House Divided" speech continues to resonate today, offering valuable insights into the nature of political division and the challenges of maintaining national unity. Its message remains relevant in a world grappling with its own divisions along lines of race, religion, and ideology. The speech serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of political polarization and the importance of engaging in thoughtful, respectful dialogue to overcome differences. The core message—that a divided nation cannot endure—holds timeless significance.

Detailed Outline of "A House Divided"

I. Introduction:

Establishes the historical context of the speech (Kansas-Nebraska Act, Dred Scott Decision).
Introduces the central theme: the impossibility of a nation existing half slave and half free.
Sets the tone – one of urgency and concern for the future of the nation.

II. Main Chapters (arguments):

The impossibility of co-existence: Lincoln argues that the fundamental contradiction of slavery and freedom within the same nation cannot be sustained indefinitely.
The inevitability of conflict: He predicts that the issue of slavery will inevitably lead to a crisis, forcing a national reckoning.
The moral implications: Lincoln implicitly and explicitly addresses the moral bankruptcy of slavery, though without advocating immediate abolition in this speech.
Political strategy: The speech is also a strategic political maneuver to position himself against Douglas and the Democrats.

III. Conclusion:

Reiterates the central theme and warning.
Implores listeners to consider the consequences of inaction.
Leaves the audience with a powerful and memorable image of the nation’s precarious state.

Explanation of the Outline Points

I. Introduction: The introduction immediately immerses the audience in the political climate of 1858. Lincoln expertly uses this context to set the stage for his central argument. He doesn’t waste time with pleasantries but dives directly into the urgency of the situation. He highlights the recent legislative acts and court decisions that had exacerbated sectional tensions, creating a sense of foreboding.

II. Main Chapters (arguments): The core of Lincoln's argument rests on several pillars. First, he systematically dismantles the idea that slavery and freedom can coexist peacefully within a single nation. He presents this as a logical impossibility, not just a moral issue. Second, he predicts the inevitability of conflict. He doesn’t shy away from the prospect of a national crisis, but frames it as a consequence of inaction rather than an inevitable fate. The moral dimension is woven throughout the speech, though Lincoln focuses more on the inherent instability caused by slavery rather than a direct moral condemnation. Finally, the speech serves a clear political purpose. By challenging Douglas, Lincoln positions himself as a leader who can address the critical issue confronting the nation.

III. Conclusion: The conclusion powerfully summarizes the central argument. Lincoln leaves no room for misinterpretation. He restates his warning, urging his audience to confront the impending crisis before it's too late. The memorable image of a house divided serves as a lasting symbol of the nation's vulnerability. The conclusion leaves a lasting impression, urging reflection and action.

FAQs on "A House Divided"

1. What is the main idea of the "House Divided" speech? The main idea is that a nation cannot endure half slave and half free; the inherent conflict between slavery and freedom will ultimately lead to national crisis.

2. When and where was the "House Divided" speech delivered? It was delivered on June 16, 1858, in Springfield, Illinois.

3. Who was Lincoln's main opponent during the period of the speech? His main opponent was Stephen Douglas, the incumbent Senator of Illinois.

4. What was the historical context of the speech? The speech was delivered amidst intense political divisions over the issue of slavery, fueled by the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision.

5. What rhetorical devices did Lincoln use in the speech? Lincoln masterfully employed analogies, metaphors (the house divided analogy), historical references, and appeals to logic and emotion.

6. What impact did the speech have on Lincoln's political career? The speech significantly boosted Lincoln's national profile and solidified his position as a leading figure in the Republican Party.

7. Did the "House Divided" speech immediately lead to the end of slavery? No, the speech didn't immediately abolish slavery, but it highlighted the inherent instability of a nation divided on the issue and helped to frame the debate leading up to the Civil War.

8. How does the "House Divided" speech relate to the Lincoln-Douglas debates? The speech served as the opening salvo in the Lincoln-Douglas debates, which further highlighted their diverging views on the expansion of slavery.

9. What is the lasting relevance of the "House Divided" speech? The speech’s message about the dangers of national division remains profoundly relevant today, reminding us of the importance of seeking common ground and addressing fundamental disagreements constructively.

Related Articles

1. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates: A Summary: A detailed analysis of the famous debates and their impact on the lead-up to the Civil War.

2. The Kansas-Nebraska Act: A Catalyst for Conflict: An examination of the act's role in intensifying sectional tensions.

3. The Dred Scott Decision: A Supreme Court Disaster: An in-depth look at the controversial Supreme Court ruling and its ramifications.

4. Popular Sovereignty and the Slavery Debate: Exploring the concept of popular sovereignty and its role in the controversy.

5. Abraham Lincoln's Presidency: A Timeline: A chronological overview of Lincoln's time in office and his key decisions.

6. The Emancipation Proclamation: A Turning Point in the Civil War: An analysis of the proclamation and its significance.

7. Reconstruction After the Civil War: An examination of the era following the Civil War and its challenges.

8. The Gettysburg Address: A Concise Summary: A short summary and analysis of another famous Lincoln speech.

9. Understanding Sectionalism in Antebellum America: An exploration of the factors that contributed to the growing divide between the North and the South.


  house divided summary: House Divided Alex Bozikovic, Cheryll Case, John Lorinc, Annabel Vaughan, 2019-06-25 Housing is increasingly unattainable in successful global cities, and Toronto is no exception -- in part because of zoning that protects “stable” residential neighborhoods with high property values. House Divided is a citizen’s guide for changing the way housing can work in big cities. Using Toronto as a case study, this anthology unpacks the affordability crisis and offers innovative ideas for creating housing for all ages and demographic groups. With charts, maps, data, and policy prescriptions, House Divided poses tough questions about the issue that will make or break the global city of the future.
  house divided summary: A House Divided Patience Essah, 1996 Delaware stood outside the primary streams of New World emancipation. Despite slavery's virtual demise in that state during the antebellum years and Delaware's staunch Unionism during the Civil War itself, the state failed to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment, which prohibits slavery, until 1901. Patience Essah takes the reader of A House Divided through the introduction, evolution, demise, and final abolition of slavery in Delaware. In unraveling the enigma of how and why tiny Delaware abstained from the abolition mandated in northern states after the American Revolution, resisted the movement toward abolition in border states during the Civil War, and stubbornly opposed ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment, she offers fresh insight into the history of slavery, race, and racialism in America. The citizens of Delaware voluntarily freed over 90 percent of their slaves, yet they declined Lincoln's 1862 offer of compensation for emancipation, and the legislature persistently foiled all attempts to mandate emancipation. Those arguing against emancipation expressed fears that it inadvertently would alter the delicate balance of political power in the state. What Essah has found at the base of the Delaware paradox is a political discourse stalemated by instrumental appeals to racialism. In showing the persistence of slavery in Delaware, she raises questions about postslavery race relations. Her analysis is vital to an understanding of the African-American experience.
  house divided summary: A Night Divided (Scholastic Gold) Jennifer A. Nielsen, 2015-08-25 From NYT bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen comes a stunning thriller about a girl who must escape to freedom after the Berlin Wall divides her family between east and west. A Night Divided joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!With the rise of the Berlin Wall, Gerta finds her family suddenly divided. She, her mother, and her brother Fritz live on the eastern side, controlled by the Soviets. Her father and middle brother, who had gone west in search of work, cannot return home. Gerta knows it is dangerous to watch the wall, yet she can't help herself. She sees the East German soldiers with their guns trained on their own citizens; she, her family, her neighbors and friends are prisoners in their own city.But one day on her way to school, Gerta spots her father on a viewing platform on the western side, pantomiming a peculiar dance. Gerta concludes that her father wants her and Fritz to tunnel beneath the wall, out of East Berlin. However, if they are caught, the consequences will be deadly. No one can be trusted. Will Gerta and her family find their way to freedom?
  house divided summary: Our House Divided Tomi K. Knaefler, 2021-05-25 How does a man serving in the Imperial Japanese Army feel when he suddenly sees his brother in the uniform of the enemy United States? How does a Japanese mother, surrounded by barbed wire in an American internment camp for enemy aliens, feel when her only son writes: I am now an American soldier. I must fight and, if necessary, die for my country? How does a Hawaii-born youth feel as he lies near death in Hiroshima, a victim of history's first nuclear attack, launched by the United States? Or a twelve-year-old girl on a sugar plantation, whose ailing father returned to the place of his birth just a month earlier, on the morning she hears that yellow Japs have attacked? These are among the moments of excruciating confrontation experienced by Japanese American families, divided geographically and politically between Japan and Hawaii when the Peacific War exploded at Pearl Harbor. Our House Divided focuses on seven personal stories of such families as they struggled with the emotions and events brought on by the war--stories of the dilemma of first-generation Japanese Americans who were strongly attached both to the contry of their birth, and to the land where they had spent most of their lives and raised children in communities they had helped to build; and stories of the dilemma of second-generation Japanese Americans, whose loyalty to the United States was questioned even though they were American citizens. That these citizens turned that distrust into national respect through their celebrated achievements is also part of the poignant story. Our House Divided, an inward journey for the author, will open the eyes and hearts of many readers who have roots in more than one country and culture. Foreword by A. A. Bud Smyser
  house divided summary: Crisis of the House Divided Harry V. Jaffa, 2012-09-21 This definitive analysis of the Lincoln-Douglas debates is “one of the most influential works of American history and political philosophy ever published (National Review). In Crisis of the House Divided, noted conservative scholar and historian Harry V. Jaffa illuminates the political principles that guided Abraham Lincoln from his reentry into politics in 1854 through his Senate campaign against Stephen Douglas in 1858. Through critical analysis of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, Jaffa demonstrates that Lincoln’s political career was grounded in his commitment to constitutionalism, the rule of law, and abolition. A landmark work of American history, it “has shaped the thought of a generation of Abraham Lincoln and Civil War scholars. To mark the fiftieth anniversary of the original publication, Jaffa has provided a new introduction (Civil War History). A searching and provocative analysis of the issues confronted and the ideas expounded in the great debates…A book which displays such learning and insight that it cannot fail to excite the admiration even of scholars who disagree with its major arguments and conclusions.—D. E. Fehrenbacher, American Historical Review
  house divided summary: A House Divided Richard H. Sewell, 1988-02 A well-written, traditional, and brief narrative of the period from the end of the Mexican War to the conclusion of the Civil War... Shows the value of traditional political history which is too often ignored in our rush to reconstruct the social texture of society. -- Civil War History
  house divided summary: The Lost Daughter Haiko Hörnig, 2023-08-01 Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and sentence highlighting for an engaging read aloud experience! Henrietta Achilles is making her last stand. As mysterious stone warriors invade Henrietta's inherited home, she'll use the last traces of the house's magic to protect the friends around her. But even if she survives the battle, nothing can prepare her for the shocking returns of two figures from her past . . .
  house divided summary: Crisis of the House Divided Harry V. Jaffa, 1982 Crisis of the House Divided is the standard historiography of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Harry Jaffa provides the definitive analysis of the political principles that guided Lincoln from his re-entry into politics in 1854 through his Senate campaign against Douglas in 1858. Crisis of the House Divided has shaped the thought of a generation of Abraham Lincoln and Civil War scholars.--Mark E. Needly, Jr., Civil War History An important book about one of the great episodes in the history of the sectional controversy. It breaks new ground and opens a new view of Lincoln's significance as a political thinker.--T. Harry Williams, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences A searching and provocative analysis of the issues confronted and the ideas expounded in the great debates. . . . A book which displays such learning and insight that it cannot fail to excite the admiration even of scholars who disagree with its major arguments and conclusions.--D. E. Fehrenbacher, American Historical Review
  house divided summary: Divided Houses Catherine Clinton, Nina Silber, 1992 Divided Houses is the first book to show how the Civil War transformed gender roles and attitudes toward sexuality among Americans. This unique volume brings together a wide spectrum of critical viewpoints by newly emerging scholars as well as distinguished authors in the field to show how gender became a prism through which the political tensions of antebellum America were filtered and focused. Through the course of the book, many fascinating subjects are explored, from new manly responsibilities both black and white men had thrust upon them as soldiers, to women's roles in the guerrilla fighting, to the wartime dialogue on interracial sex. In addition, an incisive introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James McPherson helps place these various subjects within an overall historical context. Divided House sheds new light on the entire Civil War experience, demonstrating how themes of gender, class, race, and sexuality interacted to forge the beginnings of a new society.
  house divided summary: Political Debates Between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in the Celebrated Campaign of 1858 in Illinois Abraham Lincoln, 1895
  house divided summary: American Republics: A Continental History of the United States, 1783-1850 Alan Taylor, 2021-05-18 Winner of the 2022 New-York Historical Society Book Prize in American History A Washington Post and BookPage Best Nonfiction Book of the Year From a Pulitzer Prize–winning historian, the powerful story of a fragile nation as it expands across a contested continent. In this beautifully written history of America’s formative period, a preeminent historian upends the traditional story of a young nation confidently marching to its continent-spanning destiny. The newly constituted United States actually emerged as a fragile, internally divided union of states contending still with European empires and other independent republics on the North American continent. Native peoples sought to defend their homelands from the flood of American settlers through strategic alliances with the other continental powers. The system of American slavery grew increasingly powerful and expansive, its vigorous internal trade in Black Americans separating parents and children, husbands and wives. Bitter party divisions pitted elites favoring strong government against those, like Andrew Jackson, espousing a democratic populism for white men. Violence was both routine and organized: the United States invaded Canada, Florida, Texas, and much of Mexico, and forcibly removed most of the Native peoples living east of the Mississippi. At the end of the period the United States, its conquered territory reaching the Pacific, remained internally divided, with sectional animosities over slavery growing more intense. Taylor’s elegant history of this tumultuous period offers indelible miniatures of key characters from Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth to Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Margaret Fuller. It captures the high-stakes political drama as Jackson and Adams, Clay, Calhoun, and Webster contend over slavery, the economy, Indian removal, and national expansion. A ground-level account of American industrialization conveys the everyday lives of factory workers and immigrant families. And the immersive narrative puts us on the streets of Port-au-Prince, Mexico City, Quebec, and the Cherokee capital, New Echota. Absorbing and chilling, American Republics illuminates the continuities between our own social and political divisions and the events of this formative period.
  house divided summary: Efrén Divided Ernesto Cisneros, 2020-03-31 Winner of the Pura Belpré Award! “We need books to break open our hearts, so that we might feel more deeply, so that we might be more human in these unkind times. This is a book doing work of the spirit in a time of darkness.” —Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street Efrén Nava’s Amá is his Superwoman—or Soperwoman, named after the delicious Mexican sopes his mother often prepares. Both Amá and Apá work hard all day to provide for the family, making sure Efrén and his younger siblings Max and Mía feel safe and loved. But Efrén worries about his parents; although he’s American-born, his parents are undocumented. His worst nightmare comes true one day when Amá doesn’t return from work and is deported across the border to Tijuana, México. Now more than ever, Efrén must channel his inner Soperboy to help take care of and try to reunite his family. A glossary of Spanish words is included in the back of the book.
  house divided summary: Divided We Fall David French, 2020-09-22 David French warns of the potential dangers to the country—and the world—if we don’t summon the courage to reconcile our political differences. Two decades into the 21st Century, the U.S. is less united than at any time in our history since the Civil War. We are more diverse in our beliefs and culture than ever before. But red and blue states, secular and religious groups, liberal and conservative idealists, and Republican and Democratic representatives all have one thing in common: each believes their distinct cultures and liberties are being threatened by an escalating violent opposition. This polarized tribalism, espoused by the loudest, angriest fringe extremists on both the left and the right, dismisses dialogue as appeasement; if left unchecked, it could very well lead to secession. An engaging mix of cutting edge research and fair-minded analysis, Divided We Fall is an unblinking look at the true dimensions and dangers of this widening ideological gap, and what could happen if we don't take steps toward bridging it. French reveals chilling, plausible scenarios of how the United States could fracture into regions that will not only weaken the country but destabilize the world. But our future is not written in stone. By implementing James Madison’s vision of pluralism—that all people have the right to form communities representing their personal values—we can prevent oppressive factions from seizing absolute power and instead maintain everyone’s beliefs and identities across all fifty states. Reestablishing national unity will require the bravery to commit ourselves to embracing qualities of kindness, decency, and grace towards those we disagree with ideologically. French calls on all of us to demonstrate true tolerance so we can heal the American divide. If we want to remain united, we must learn to stand together again.
  house divided summary: Divided House J M Dalgliesh, 2020-12 Investigating the death of an ex-serviceman in police custody, reveals the disappearance of a young family. DI Nathaniel Caslin must put aside his personal demons to uncover the truth.
  house divided summary: The Divided Family in Civil War America Amy Murrell Taylor, 2009-11-04 The Civil War has long been described as a war pitting brother against brother. The divided family is an enduring metaphor for the divided nation, but it also accurately reflects the reality of America's bloodiest war. Connecting the metaphor to the real experiences of families whose households were split by conflicting opinions about the war, Amy Murrell Taylor provides a social and cultural history of the divided family in Civil War America. In hundreds of border state households, brothers--and sisters--really did fight one another, while fathers and sons argued over secession and husbands and wives struggled with opposing national loyalties. Even enslaved men and women found themselves divided over how to respond to the war. Taylor studies letters, diaries, newspapers, and government documents to understand how families coped with the unprecedented intrusion of war into their private lives. Family divisions inflamed the national crisis while simultaneously embodying it on a small scale--something noticed by writers of popular fiction and political rhetoric, who drew explicit connections between the ordeal of divided families and that of the nation. Weaving together an analysis of this popular imagery with the experiences of real families, Taylor demonstrates how the effects of the Civil War went far beyond the battlefield to penetrate many facets of everyday life.
  house divided summary: A House Divided Sally Mirliss Blake, 1968
  house divided summary: A House Divided Mason I. Lowance Jr., 2018-06-05 This anthology brings together under one cover the most important abolitionist and--unique to this volume--proslavery documents written in the United States between the American Revolution and the Civil War. It makes accessible to students, scholars, and general readers the breadth of the slavery debate. Including many previously inaccessible documents, A House Divided is a critical and welcome contribution to a literature that includes only a few volumes of antislavery writings and no volumes of proslavery documents in print. Mason Lowance's introduction is an excellent overview of the antebellum slavery debate and its key issues and participants. Lowance also introduces each selection, locating it historically, culturally, and thematically as well as linking it to other writings. The documents represent the full scope of the varied debates over slavery. They include examples of race theory, Bible-based arguments for and against slavery, constitutional analyses, writings by former slaves and women's rights activists, economic defenses and critiques of slavery, and writings on slavery by such major writers as William Lloyd Garrison, John Greenleaf Whittier, Walt Whitman, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Together they give readers a real sense of the complexity and heat of the vexed conversation that increasingly dominated American discourse as the country moved from early nationhood into its greatest trial.
  house divided summary: The Other Divide Yanna Krupnikov, John Barry Ryan, 2022-01-20 The key to understanding the current wave of American political division is the attention people pay to politics.
  house divided summary: A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini, 2008-09-18 A riveting and powerful story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship and an indestructible love
  house divided summary: The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls, 2007-01-02 A triumphant tale of a young woman and her difficult childhood, The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience, redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and wonderfully vibrant. Jeannette Walls was the second of four children raised by anti-institutional parents in a household of extremes.
  house divided summary: The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood, 2011-09-06 An instant classic and eerily prescient cultural phenomenon, from “the patron saint of feminist dystopian fiction” (New York Times). Now an award-winning Hulu series starring Elizabeth Moss. In this multi-award-winning, bestselling novel, Margaret Atwood has created a stunning Orwellian vision of the near future. This is the story of Offred, one of the unfortunate “Handmaids” under the new social order who have only one purpose: to breed. In Gilead, where women are prohibited from holding jobs, reading, and forming friendships, Offred’s persistent memories of life in the “time before” and her will to survive are acts of rebellion. Provocative, startling, prophetic, and with Margaret Atwood’s devastating irony, wit, and acute perceptive powers in full force, The Handmaid’s Tale is at once a mordant satire and a dire warning.
  house divided summary: My Family Divided Diane Guerrero, Erica Moroz, 2018-07-17 Before landing a spot on the megahit Netflix show Orange is the New Black; before wow-ing audiences as Lina on Jane the Virgin; and before her incredible activism and work on immigration reform, Diane Guerrero was a young girl living in Boston. One day, while Guerrero was at school, her undocumented immigrant parents were taken from their home, detained, and deported. Guerrero's life, which had been full of the support of a loving family, was turned upside down. Reflective of the experiences of millions of undocumented immigrant families in the United States, Guerrero's story in My Family Divided, written with Erica Moroz, is at once heartbreaking and hopeful.
  house divided summary: Divided Loyalties Nilofar Shidmehr, 2019-02-05 Acclaimed poet Nilofar Shidmehr’s debut story collection is an unflinching look at the lives of women in post-revolutionary Iran and the contemporary diaspora in Canada. The stories begin in 1978, the year before the Iranian Revolution. In a neighbourhood in Tehran, a group of affluent girls play a Cinderella game with unexpected consequences. In the mid 1980s, women help their husbands and brothers survive war and political upheaval. In the early 1990s in Vancouver, Canada, a single-mother refugee is harassed by the men she meets on a telephone dating platform. And in 2003, a Canadian woman working for an international aid organization is dispatched to her hometown of Bam to assist in the wake of a devastating earthquake. At once powerful and profound, Divided Loyalties depicts the rich lives of Iranian women and girls in post-revolutionary Iran and the contemporary diaspora in Canada; the enduring complexity of the expectations forced upon them; and the resilience of a community experiencing the turmoil of war, revolution, and migration.
  house divided summary: House of Leaves Mark Z. Danielewski, 2000-03-07 “A novelistic mosaic that simultaneously reads like a thriller and like a strange, dreamlike excursion into the subconscious.” —The New York Times Years ago, when House of Leaves was first being passed around, it was nothing more than a badly bundled heap of paper, parts of which would occasionally surface on the Internet. No one could have anticipated the small but devoted following this terrifying story would soon command. Starting with an odd assortment of marginalized youth -- musicians, tattoo artists, programmers, strippers, environmentalists, and adrenaline junkies -- the book eventually made its way into the hands of older generations, who not only found themselves in those strangely arranged pages but also discovered a way back into the lives of their estranged children. Now this astonishing novel is made available in book form, complete with the original colored words, vertical footnotes, and second and third appendices. The story remains unchanged, focusing on a young family that moves into a small home on Ash Tree Lane where they discover something is terribly wrong: their house is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. Of course, neither Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Will Navidson nor his companion Karen Green was prepared to face the consequences of that impossibility, until the day their two little children wandered off and their voices eerily began to return another story -- of creature darkness, of an ever-growing abyss behind a closet door, and of that unholy growl which soon enough would tear through their walls and consume all their dreams.
  house divided summary: A House in the Sky Amanda Lindhout, Sara Corbett, 2013-09-03 The spectacularly dramatic memoir of a woman whose curiosity about the world led her from rural Canada to imperiled and dangerous countries on every continent, and then into fifteen months of harrowing captivity in Somalia—a story of courage, resilience, and extraordinary grace. The dramatic and redemptive memoir of a woman whose curiosity led her to the world’s most beautiful and remote places, its most imperiled and perilous countries, and then into fifteen months of harrowing captivity—an exquisitely written story of courage, resilience, and grace As a child, Amanda Lindhout escaped a violent household by paging through issues of National Geographic and imagining herself in its exotic locales. At the age of nineteen, working as a cocktail waitress in Calgary, Alberta, she began saving her tips so she could travel the globe. Aspiring to understand the world and live a significant life, she backpacked through Latin America, Laos, Bangladesh, and India, and emboldened by each adventure, went on to Sudan, Syria, and Pakistan. In war-ridden Afghanistan and Iraq she carved out a fledgling career as a television reporter. And then, in August 2008, she traveled to Somalia—“the most dangerous place on earth.” On her fourth day, she was abducted by a group of masked men along a dusty road. Held hostage for 460 days, Amanda converts to Islam as a survival tactic, receives “wife lessons” from one of her captors, and risks a daring escape. Moved between a series of abandoned houses in the desert, she survives on memory—every lush detail of the world she experienced in her life before captivity—and on strategy, fortitude, and hope. When she is most desperate, she visits a house in the sky, high above the woman kept in chains, in the dark, being tortured. Vivid and suspenseful, as artfully written as the finest novel, A House in the Sky is the searingly intimate story of an intrepid young woman and her search for compassion in the face of unimaginable adversity.
  house divided summary: How to Fight Racism Jemar Tisby, 2021-01-05 Winner of the 2022 ECPA Christian Book Award for Faith & Culture How do we effectively confront racial injustice? We need to move beyond talking about racism and start equipping ourselves to fight against it. In this follow-up to the New York Times Bestseller the Color of Compromise, Jemar Tisby offers an array of actionable items to confront racism. How to Fight Racism introduces a simple framework—the A.R.C. Of Racial Justice—that teaches readers to consistently interrogate their own actions and maintain a consistent posture of anti-racist behavior. The A.R.C. Of Racial Justice is a clear model for how to think about race in productive ways: Awareness: educate yourself by studying history, exploring your personal narrative, and grasping what God says about the dignity of the human person. Relationships: understand the spiritual dimension of race relations and how authentic connections make reconciliation real and motivate you to act. Commitment: consistently fight systemic racism and work for racial justice by orienting your life to it. Tisby offers practical tools for following this model and suggests that by applying these principles, we can help dismantle a social hierarchy long stratified by skin color. He encourages rejection passivity and active participation in the struggle for human dignity. There is hope for transforming our nation and the world, and you can be part of the solution.
  house divided summary: Home of the Brave Katherine Applegate, 2014-12-23 Bestselling author Katherine Applegate presents Home of the Brave, a beautifully wrought middle grade novel about an immigrant's journey from hardship to hope. Kek comes from Africa. In America he sees snow for the first time, and feels its sting. He's never walked on ice, and he falls. He wonders if the people in this new place will be like the winter – cold and unkind. In Africa, Kek lived with his mother, father, and brother. But only he and his mother have survived, and now she's missing. Kek is on his own. Slowly, he makes friends: a girl who is in foster care; an old woman who owns a rundown farm, and a cow whose name means family in Kek's native language. As Kek awaits word of his mother's fate, he weathers the tough Minnesota winter by finding warmth in his new friendships, strength in his memories, and belief in his new country. Home of the Brave is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
  house divided summary: These Truths: A History of the United States Jill Lepore, 2018-09-18 “Nothing short of a masterpiece.” —NPR Books A New York Times Bestseller and a Washington Post Notable Book of the Year In the most ambitious one-volume American history in decades, award-winning historian Jill Lepore offers a magisterial account of the origins and rise of a divided nation. Widely hailed for its “sweeping, sobering account of the American past” (New York Times Book Review), Jill Lepore’s one-volume history of America places truth itself—a devotion to facts, proof, and evidence—at the center of the nation’s history. The American experiment rests on three ideas—“these truths,” Jefferson called them—political equality, natural rights, and the sovereignty of the people. But has the nation, and democracy itself, delivered on that promise? These Truths tells this uniquely American story, beginning in 1492, asking whether the course of events over more than five centuries has proven the nation’s truths, or belied them. To answer that question, Lepore wrestles with the state of American politics, the legacy of slavery, the persistence of inequality, and the nature of technological change. “A nation born in contradiction… will fight, forever, over the meaning of its history,” Lepore writes, but engaging in that struggle by studying the past is part of the work of citizenship. With These Truths, Lepore has produced a book that will shape our view of American history for decades to come.
  house divided summary: Democracies Divided Thomas Carothers, Andrew O'Donohue, 2019-09-24 “A must-read for anyone concerned about the fate of contemporary democracies.”—Steven Levitsky, co-author of How Democracies Die 2020 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title Why divisions have deepened and what can be done to heal them As one part of the global democratic recession, severe political polarization is increasingly afflicting old and new democracies alike, producing the erosion of democratic norms and rising societal anger. This volume is the first book-length comparative analysis of this troubling global phenomenon, offering in-depth case studies of countries as wide-ranging and important as Brazil, India, Kenya, Poland, Turkey, and the United States. The case study authors are a diverse group of country and regional experts, each with deep local knowledge and experience. Democracies Divided identifies and examines the fissures that are dividing societies and the factors bringing polarization to a boil. In nearly every case under study, political entrepreneurs have exploited and exacerbated long-simmering divisions for their own purposes—in the process undermining the prospects for democratic consensus and productive governance. But this book is not simply a diagnosis of what has gone wrong. Each case study discusses actions that concerned citizens and organizations are taking to counter polarizing forces, whether through reforms to political parties, institutions, or the media. The book’s editors distill from the case studies a range of possible ways for restoring consensus and defeating polarization in the world’s democracies. Timely, rigorous, and accessible, this book is of compelling interest to civic activists, political actors, scholars, and ordinary citizens in societies beset by increasingly rancorous partisanship.
  house divided summary: King Lear Jeffrey Kahan, 2008-04-18 Is King Lear an autonomous text, or a rewrite of the earlier and anonymous play King Leir? Should we refer to Shakespeare’s original quarto when discussing the play, the revised folio text, or the popular composite version, stitched together by Alexander Pope in 1725? What of its stage variations? When turning from page to stage, the critical view on King Lear is skewed by the fact that for almost half of the four hundred years the play has been performed, audiences preferred Naham Tate's optimistic adaptation, in which Lear and Cordelia live happily ever after. When discussing King Lear, the question of what comprises ‘the play’ is both complex and fragmentary. These issues of identity and authenticity across time and across mediums are outlined, debated, and considered critically by the contributors to this volume. Using a variety of approaches, from postcolonialism and New Historicism to psychoanalysis and gender studies, the leading international contributors to King Lear: New Critical Essays offer major new interpretations on the conception and writing, editing, and cultural productions of King Lear. This book is an up-to-date and comprehensive anthology of textual scholarship, performance research, and critical writing on one of Shakespeare's most important and perplexing tragedies. Contributors Include: R.A. Foakes, Richard Knowles, Tom Clayton, Cynthia Clegg, Edward L. Rocklin, Christy Desmet, Paul Cantor, Robert V. Young, Stanley Stewart and Jean R. Brink
  house divided summary: The Divided City Alan Mallach, 2018-06-12 In The Divided City, urban practitioner and scholar Alan Mallach presents a detailed picture of what has happened over the past 15 to 20 years in industrial cities like Pittsburgh and Baltimore, as they have undergone unprecedented, unexpected revival. He spotlights these changes while placing them in their larger economic, social and political context. Most importantly, he explores the pervasive significance of race in American cities, and looks closely at the successes and failures of city governments, nonprofit entities, and citizens as they have tried to address the challenges of change. The Divided City concludes with strategies to foster greater equality and opportunity, firmly grounding them in the cities' economic and political realities.
  house divided summary: House of Earth and Blood Sarah J. Maas, 2020-03-03 A #1 New York Times bestseller! Sarah J. Maas's brand-new CRESCENT CITY series begins with House of Earth and Blood: the story of half-Fae and half-human Bryce Quinlan as she seeks revenge in a contemporary fantasy world of magic, danger, and searing romance. Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She'll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths. Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-to assassinate his boss's enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he's offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach. As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City's underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion-one that could set them both free, if they'd only let it. With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom-and the power of love.
  house divided summary: A House Divided Kimberla Lawson Roby, 2013-05-07 Times of trouble are descending upon the Black family in more ways than one in the Reverend Curtis Black book from New York Times bestselling author Kimberla Lawson Roby. Life is close to perfect for the Reverend Curtis Black and his wife, Charlotte--except their son Matthew and his girlfriend, Racquel, are about to become parents at the tender age of eighteen. Even though Curtis and Charlotte wish Matthew could focus on Harvard instead of fatherhood, they are determined to welcome their new grandson with open arms. But for Charlotte, welcoming her future in-laws is another story. Try as she might, Charlotte can't stand Racquel's mother, Vanessa--and the feeling appears to be mutual. When the tension between Charlotte and Vanessa finally erupts, the stress sends an already-fragile Racquel into early labor. Everyone is quick to blame Charlotte, including Matthew and Curtis. That her own husband would side with someone else infuriates Charlotte and strains the relationship they've only recently been able to repair. Her one ally is Racquel's father, but that brings problems of its own. While Charlotte schemes against Vanessa, Curtis is consumed with his own concerns about Deliverance Outreach. A mysterious figure from his past has been sending Curtis cryptic messages threatening to take away Curtis's coveted position as senior pastor and destroy everything he has worked so hard for. But who could hate Curtis that much? And how can he fight an enemy he can't even name?
  house divided summary: Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury, 2003-09-23 Set in the future when firemen burn books forbidden by the totalitarian brave new world regime.
  house divided summary: The House on Diamond Hill Tiya Miles, 2010 House on Diamond Hill: A Cherokee Plantation Story
  house divided summary: Divided We Fall (Divided We Fall, Book 1) Trent Reedy, 2014-01-28 DIVIDED WE FALL delivers cover-to-cover action, intrigue and suspense, all with a gut-punch of an ending that'll leave you begging for the next installment. -- Brad Thor, author of THE LAST PATRIOT Danny Wright never thought he'd be the man to bring down the United States of America. In fact, he enlisted in the Idaho National Guard because he wanted to serve his country the way his father did. When the Guard is called up on the governor's orders to police a protest in Boise, it seems like a routine crowd-control mission ... but then Danny's gun misfires, spooking the other soldiers and the already fractious crowd, and by the time the smoke clears, twelve people are dead. The president wants the soldiers arrested. The governor swears to protect them. And as tensions build on both sides, the conflict slowly escalates toward the unthinkable: a second American civil war.With political questions that are popular in American culture yet rare in YA fiction, and a provocative plot that asks what happens when the states are no longer united, Divided We FAll is Trent Reedy's very timely YA debut.
  house divided summary: The Righteous Mind Jonathan Haidt, 2013-02-12 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The acclaimed social psychologist challenges conventional thinking about morality, politics, and religion in a way that speaks to conservatives and liberals alike—a “landmark contribution to humanity’s understanding of itself” (The New York Times Book Review). Drawing on his twenty-five years of groundbreaking research on moral psychology, Jonathan Haidt shows how moral judgments arise not from reason but from gut feelings. He shows why liberals, conservatives, and libertarians have such different intuitions about right and wrong, and he shows why each side is actually right about many of its central concerns. In this subtle yet accessible book, Haidt gives you the key to understanding the miracle of human cooperation, as well as the curse of our eternal divisions and conflicts. If you’re ready to trade in anger for understanding, read The Righteous Mind.
  house divided summary: The Politics of Resentment Katherine J. Cramer, 2016-03-23 “An important contribution to the literature on contemporary American politics. Both methodologically and substantively, it breaks new ground.” —Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare When Scott Walker was elected Governor of Wisconsin, the state became the focus of debate about the appropriate role of government. In a time of rising inequality, Walker not only survived a bitterly contested recall, he was subsequently reelected. But why were the very people who would benefit from strong government services so vehemently against the idea of big government? With The Politics of Resentment, Katherine J. Cramer uncovers an oft-overlooked piece of the puzzle: rural political consciousness and the resentment of the “liberal elite.” Rural voters are distrustful that politicians will respect the distinct values of their communities and allocate a fair share of resources. What can look like disagreements about basic political principles are therefore actually rooted in something even more fundamental: who we are as people and how closely a candidate’s social identity matches our own. Taking a deep dive into Wisconsin’s political climate, Cramer illuminates the contours of rural consciousness, showing how place-based identities profoundly influence how people understand politics. The Politics of Resentment shows that rural resentment—no less than partisanship, race, or class—plays a major role in dividing America against itself.
  house divided summary: Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861-1865 James Oakes, 2012-12-10 Winner of the Lincoln Prize Oakes brilliantly succeeds in [clarifying] the aims of the war with a wholly new perspective. —David Brion Davis, New York Review of Books Freedom National is a groundbreaking history of emancipation that joins the political initiatives of Lincoln and the Republicans in Congress with the courageous actions of Union soldiers and runaway slaves in the South. It shatters the widespread conviction that the Civil War was first and foremost a war to restore the Union and only gradually, when it became a military necessity, a war to end slavery. These two aims—Liberty and Union, one and inseparable—were intertwined in Republican policy from the very start of the war. By summer 1861 the federal government invoked military authority to begin freeing slaves, immediately and without slaveholder compensation, as they fled to Union lines in the disloyal South. In the loyal Border States the Republicans tried coaxing officials into gradual abolition with promises of compensation and the colonization abroad of freed blacks. James Oakes shows that Lincoln’s landmark 1863 proclamation marked neither the beginning nor the end of emancipation: it triggered a more aggressive phase of military emancipation, sending Union soldiers onto plantations to entice slaves away and enlist the men in the army. But slavery proved deeply entrenched, with slaveholders determined to re-enslave freedmen left behind the shifting Union lines. Lincoln feared that the war could end in Union victory with slavery still intact. The Thirteenth Amendment that so succinctly abolished slavery was no formality: it was the final act in a saga of immense war, social upheaval, and determined political leadership. Fresh and compelling, this magisterial history offers a new understanding of the death of slavery and the rebirth of a nation.
  house divided summary: Abortion Politics Ziad Munson, 2018-05-21 Abortion has remained one of the most volatile and polarizing issues in the United States for over four decades. Americans are more divided today than ever over abortion, and this debate colors the political, economic, and social dynamics of the country. This book provides a balanced, clear-eyed overview of the abortion debate, including the perspectives of both the pro-life and pro-choice movements. It covers the history of the debate from colonial times to the present, the mobilization of mass movements around the issue, the ways it is understood by ordinary Americans, the impact it has had on US political development, and the differences between the abortion conflict in the US and the rest of the world. Throughout these discussions, Ziad Munson demonstrates how the meaning of abortion has shifted to reflect the changing anxieties and cultural divides which it has come to represent. Abortion Politics is an invaluable companion for exploring the abortion issue and what it has to say about American society, as well as the dramatic changes in public understanding of women’s rights, medicine, religion, and partisanship.