“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”—Abraham Lincoln, 1858
Before he became the 16th President, Abraham Lincoln delivered these famous words in a moment of national tension and moral crisis. He was not predicting disunion—he was warning against it. Lincoln believed that the strength of the Republic depended on a shared sense of purpose, rooted in the principle that all people are created equal.
This short video tribute to Lincoln is the fifth installment in our “Who Does We Mean to You?” series, which explores how America’s most iconic figures help us reflect on the enduring meaning of We the People.
In this piece, Lincoln asks us a deceptively simple question: “What does the word We mean to you?” The question cuts through the noise of partisanship and division. It reminds us that democracy is not something we inherit — it’s something we must continually create.
Lincoln’s presidency was defined by conflict, but also by clarity. He held fast to the Constitution while pushing the nation to fulfill its deeper promise. His leadership during the Civil War and his call for “a new birth of freedom” forever shaped the American story. His address in Gettysburg, delivered November 19, 1863 is one most remembered by history.
Yet Lincoln never saw unity as automatic. He knew that freedom and equality demand effort, sacrifice, and above all — collective will. Those apposed conspired to assassinate him April 15, 1865.
So what does We mean to you? To Lincoln, it meant a people brave enough to stay united — even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
Explore More:
Abraham Lincoln Biography – National Archives
https://www.archives.gov/person/abraham-lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Papers – Library of Congress
https://www.loc.gov/collections/abraham-lincoln-papers/about-this-collection/
Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln – University of Michigan
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/
Lincoln’s Writings – Lehrman Institute (via Ashbrook Center)
https://lincoln-writings.org/
Explore More
For a deeper dive into Lincoln’s role in shaping American democracy, visit the National Constitution Center:
https://constitutioncenter.org/
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