Social Issues
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
The campaign for the Illinois Senatorial seat in 1858 pitted the two-term incumbent, Stephen A. Douglas, against a lesser known challenger, Abraham Lincoln. Douglas was the leading Democratic figure of the day, but had suffered political ups and downs. His reputation among Northern Democrats had plummeted after the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the ensuing violence there; however, he recovered his standing through a courageous attack against President Buchanan's plan to recognize a proslavery minority government in Kansas. Lincoln in 1858 was a successful lawyer and state politician, but did not have a national reputation. Douglas, somewhat reluctantly, agreed to meet his opponent in a series of debates throughout the state. The U.S. Constitution, as originally drafted, provided for the election of U.S. Senators by the state legislatures (Article 1, Section 3), not by the general electorate. Therefore, Douglas and Lincoln were actually campaigning for the election of state representatives and senators, who, if elected, would then support their respective senatorial hopefuls. The question of the extension of slavery into the territories acquired from Mexico dominated the seven debates. Crowds in the thousands turned out to witness the exchanges and newspapers provided detailed coverage for people throughout the nation. The most notable exchange occurred at Freeport on August 27, 1858. There Lincoln attempted to exploit the weakness of the popular sovereignty doctrine which had been imposed by the Dred Scott decision and, in the process, put Douglas on the spot. Lincoln asked, "Can the people of a United States Territory [lawfully] . . . exclude slavery from its limits prior to the formation of a state constitution?" Douglas had two choices:
- if he answered in the negative he would be admitting that his pet doctrine of popular sovereignty had been trumped by the Supreme Court and he would probably lose the support of Northern Democrats and his Senate seat
- if he answered in the affirmative, as indeed he did, he would jeopardize his presidential ambitions by alienating Southern Democrats.
Douglas's answer, known as the Freeport Doctrine, achieved its prime objective. He satisfied Democratic politicians in Illinois and was able to defeat Lincoln for the Senate seat. For Lincoln, this was not a devastating political loss; he had emerged as a nationally recognized figure and a leading contender for the Republican nomination in 1860.
Off-site search results for "Lincoln-Douglas Debates"... Lincoln-Douglas Debates
... found the City of Alton the site of the seventh and final debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. The debate was a prelude for the 1858 Congressional elections, in which both men were candidates. Over 6,000 people gathered for the ...
http://www.altonmuseum.com/alincoln.htm
The Lincoln Douglas Debates
The Lincoln Douglas Debates Lincoln was no genius but a familiar and effective politician. Personally known to the common people as railsplitter, flatboatman, storekeeper, country postmaster, surveyor, and captain inLincoln Douglas Debates Lincoln was no genius but a familiar and effective politician. Personally known to the common people as railsplitter, flatboatman, storekeeper, country postmaster, surveyor, and captain in the Black Hawk War ...
http://www.civilwarhome.com/lincolndouglas.htm
Lincoln/Net: Debating Douglas on the National Stage, 1857-1858
... more information on the Lincoln-Douglas Debates visit our companion website, The Lincoln/Douglas Debates of 1858. Bibliography Carwardine, Richard J. Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. DLincoln-Douglas Debates visit our companion website, The Lincoln/Douglas Debates of 1858. Bibliography Carwardine, Richard J. Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. DLincoln/Douglas Debates of 1858. Bibliography Carwardine, Richard J. Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Donald, David. Lincoln.
http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/biography7text.html
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