What was the purpose of Lincoln's house divided speech?

Lincoln's "House Divided" speech, delivered in 1858, aimed to address the growing national division over slavery. He famously stated, "A house divided against itself cannot stand," asserting that the nation could not endure permanently half slave and half free. The speech underscored his belief that the country needed to confront and resolve the issue of slavery, as its existence threatened the union's stability and moral integrity. Ultimately, it framed the political landscape leading up to the Civil War.