Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858
From Freepedia
Image:5th Lincoln Douglas debate Knox College.jpg The Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 were a series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas for an Illinois seat in the United States Senate. The debates presaged the issues that Lincoln faced in the 1860 Presidential campaign and are remembered partially for the eloquence of both sides.
The debates were held in seven towns in the state of Illinois: Ottawa, Freeport, Jonesboro, Charleston, Galesburg, Quincy, and Alton.
Notable among the most important issues were the two contenders' views on slavery, and African-American equality in general. Lincoln was opposed to any expansion of slavery into new United States territories, while Douglas supported the doctrine of popular sovereignty, believing that a territory's residents should vote on whether or not to allow slavery. Douglas could no longer support this doctrine legally, because of the Dred Scott Desicion. Instead, he stated that the people could still control slavery in the territories by not passing laws to protect slave ownersandreturn run away slaves. Because Douglas articulated this position while he was in the debate in Freeport, this position became known as the Freeport Doctrine. These debates characterized the sectionalized political dichotomy at the time between Democrats and "new" Republicans. The Democratic party at the time assumed a position like Douglas, in support of Popular Sovereignty; whereas the Republicans ascribed to the school of thought presented by Lincoln at these debates which supported a virtual containment of slavery.
Primary Sources
- Bartleby Etext: Political Debates Between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas
- The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858
- Mr. Lincoln and Freedom: Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Extra
Stephen A. Douglas actually believed in popular sovereignty, but he had promised the Supreme Court that he would allow them to rule on the legality of slavery in the territories, and that he would support their decision. After the Dred Scott case, Douglas was put in a difficult spot. He was asked to make a speech about his opinion of the Dred Scott ruling on June 12, 1857. The is when he came up with the ideas, but they were not publicized until the Freeport Debate and called the Freeport Doctrine.
