The “Background” section of this guide comments on the way climate affected the slavery controversy. Besides climate, what other geographic factors affected the politics of slavery? What evidence for this can you find in “A House Divided” or other texts (e.g., Dred Scott v. Sanford, the Kansas-Nebraska Act) it mentions?

A major aspect of the speech is Lincoln’s condemnation of Senator Douglas’s apathy. To what extent does Lincoln’s attitude toward slavery change once he becomes president? What are the reasons for any change?

Politicians have historically mentioned faith or God in political speeches. Although he references several passages from scripture, Lincoln does not explicitly mention God anywhere in the speech. Why do you think this is?