Speech On Slavery

Name: Class:
Speech on Slavery
By Abraham Lincoln
1854
Abraham Lincoln wrote this speech six years before he was elected the 16th President of the United States.
Lincoln was well-known for his opposition to slavery, and this piece reinforces his belief that slavery went
against the core principles of the nation’s Founding Fathers. In this text, Lincoln contrasts slavery with "free
labor." Free labor is a system that lets paid workers have the freedom and ability to earn wages and rise
towards property-owning independence. As you read, note the language Lincoln uses to describe free labor
as well as slave labor.
[1] Equality in society alike beats inequality, whether

1
the latter be of the British aristocratic sort or of
the domestic slavery sort.
We know Southern men declare that their slaves

are better off than hired laborers amongst us.
2
How little they know whereof they speak! There
is no permanent class of hired laborers amongst
us. Twenty-five years ago I was a hired laborer.
The hired laborer of yesterday labors on his own
account to-day, and will hire others to labor for
him to-morrow.
Advancement — improvement in condition — is

the order of things in a society of equals. As labor
is the common burden of our race, so the effort
of some to shift their share of the burden on to
3
the shoulders of others is the great durable
curse of the race. Originally a curse for
4
transgression upon the whole race, when, as by
slavery, it is concentrated on a part only, it
becomes the double-refined curse of God upon "Abraham Lincoln" by Alexander Gardner is in the public domain.
5
his creatures.
Free labor has the inspiration of hope; pure slavery has no hope. The power of hope upon human
exertion and happiness is wonderful. The slave-master himself has a conception of it, and hence the
6
system of tasks among slaves. The slave whom you cannot drive with the lash to break seventy-five
7
pounds of hemp in a day, if you will task him to break a hundred, and promise him pay for all he does
8
over, he will break you and hundred and fifty. You have substituted hope for the rod.
1. Aristocratic (adjective): of or relating to the highest class in certain societies, especially those holding hereditary
titles
2. of what or which
3. Durable (adjective): able to withstand wear, pressure, or damage
4. Transgression (noun): an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct
5. This sentence is a bibical allusion to when God expels the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, from the Garden of
Eden and punishes them and their descendents to till the soil as laborers for the rest of time.
1
[5] And yet perhaps it does not occur to you that, to the extent of your gain in the case, you have given up
on the slave system and adopted the free system of labor.
"Speech on Slavery" by Abraham Lincoln (1854) is in the public domain.
6. "Drive with the lash" refers to motivating through the threat of violent lashings.
7. a common crop used in products such as cloth, rope, oil, wax, etc.
8. The rod is a simple tool used to beat others.
2
Text-Dependent Questions
Directions: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete sentences.
1. Which of the following best describes the central idea of the speech?
A. Free labor is preferable to slavery because it costs less money to pay a laborer
than to house a slave.
B. Free labor is preferable to slavery because it allows for equality in society.
C. Free labor is actually a new form of slavery that does not allow laborers to reach
equality.
D. Free labor is not as productive or cost-effective as slavery, but it is morally right.
2. Which of the following best describes the meaning of “substituted hope for the rod”?
(Paragraph 4)
A. given hope to slaves who want to be free
B. made free laborers hopeful they will no longer be beaten
C. replaced hope with the threat of violence
D. replaced the threat of violence with hope
3. PART A: What primary method does Lincoln use to appeal to readers to make his argument
against slavery?
A. Logos: He appeals to readers’ sense of logic and reason.
B. Ethos: He uses his authority and expertise to appeal to readers.
C. Pathos: He appeals to readers’ emotions.
D. Allusion: He references God to appeal to the religious morality of his readers.
4. PART B: Which phrase from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “Twenty-five years ago I was a hired laborer.” (Paragraph 2)
B. “Originally a curse for transgression upon the whole race, when, as by slavery, it
is concentrated on a part only, it becomes the double-refined curse of God upon
his creatures.” (Paragraph 3)
C. “The power of hope upon human exertion and happiness is wonderful.”
(Paragraph 4)
D. “The slave whom you cannot drive with the lash to break seventy-five pounds of
hemp in a day, if you will task him to break a hundred, and promise him pay for
all he does over, he will break you and hundred and fifty.” (Paragraph 4)
3
5. Describe how Lincoln contrasts “free labor” with slave labor to further the purpose of his
speech. Cite evidence from the text in your answer.
4
Discussion Questions
Directions: Brainstorm your answers to the following questions in the space provided. Be prepared to
share your original ideas in a class discussion.
1. Based on this passage, does Lincoln seem morally opposed to slavery or does he see it as
an issue of impracticality? Which reason would be more persuasive?
2. Do you think Lincoln’s argument would have been convincing to Southern slaveholders?
Why or why not?
3. In what areas is equality important? Are there any cases in which equality should be
denied? Explain.
4. Use what you know about slavery and the time period to answer the question “how has
America changed over time”?

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[1] Equality in society alike beats inequality, whether

We know Southern men declare that their slaves

Advancement — improvement in condition — is

"Speech on Slavery" by Abraham Lincoln (1854) is in the public domain.

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