Objective: To examine the importance of the Lincoln – Douglas debates.

Abraham Lincoln

Stephen Douglas

Lincoln – Douglas Debates

In 1858, Abraham Lincoln challenged incumbent Stephen Douglas for his seat in the Senate.

(Incumbent – the holder of an office or position)

Lincoln – Douglas Debates

• A series of 7 face-to-face debates held throughout Illinois.

Thousands gathered to watch - bands, parades & fireworks & scenes like this were common

• Debates followed familiar themes – Douglas defended slavery while Lincoln opposed it

Debates were as much about the men as it was about slavery.

“The Little Giant”Refined, passionate speakerTraveled in high style in a private rail car, surrounded by advisers & his beautiful wife

“Honest Abe”“He was gawky, unkempt, and unassuming. He traveled alone, a forlorn figure with a tattered carpetbag on his lap, lost in silent contemplation.”

• Associate Justice of Illinois Supreme Court, elected twice to Congress, and three times in the Senate.

• Married into wealth – wife inherited a Mississippi plantation

Resume – STEPHEN DOUGLAS

• Chairman of the Committee on Territories

• Helped create the Compromise of 1850

• Ran unsuccessfully twice for US Senate but served in House

• Outspoken critic of the Mexican War

• First Republican Party candidate –

Resume – ABRAHAM LINCOLN

• Self-taught lawyer

• Elected to the Illinois State Legislature

• Douglas believed that each territory should be able to decide on its’ own whether or not to allow slavery by using popular sovereignty.

Lincoln – Douglas Debates

Stephen Douglas:

• Lincoln was wrong for wanting to end slavery.

• If Lincoln tried to end slavery, the U.S. could face a civil war.

• Lincoln believed that slavery was a “moral wrong" and should be kept out of new territories.

• He did not believe in ending slavery where it already existed, but nevertheless believed that African Americans were guaranteed “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as stated in the Declaration of Independence.

Lincoln – Douglas Debates

Abraham Lincoln:

• Argued that it was the national government’s role to prevent the expansion of slavery.

• Douglas was conflicted: since the Supreme Court ruled popular sovereignty unconstitutional to take away slaveholder’s property. In saying so, he left an opening for Lincoln to win the debate.

•Douglas won the election by a slim margin

• However, Lincoln became well known throughout the nation. Lincoln’s won the support of the new Republican Party, and eventually won the presidency in 1860.

Lincoln Gains the Advantage

Home Learning:Describe who these men are and why they were important before,

during, and after the Civil War