The Lincoln and Douglas debates in 1858, were extensively covered by newspapers in both the North and the South. Northerners followed the debates and by doing so, brought to national attention the views of Abraham Lincoln. Abolitionists in the North were impressed with Abraham Lincoln's views on slavery.
Abrham lincoln when he was running for reelection
Whether or not slavery should expand into new territories. Lincoln and Douglas did NOT debate on whether or not to *end* slavery, just whether it should be allowed in the new territories and states being accepted into the U.S. Lincoln, as a member of the Free Soil party, thought that slavery shouldn't be expanded, while Douglass believed it should.
In the mid-1850's Douglas and Lincoln began one of the most famous political feuds in American history, it became known as the Lincoln-Douglas debates but the debates actually had began many years earlier. In Illinois's fourth capital, the Vandalia State House is where Douglas and Lincoln had their first debate around 1837. They continued with more debates in early 1840's above Joshua Speed's dry goods store, "where many aspirants politicians met" in Springfield, Illinois. During the 1840 presidential election Douglas made the decision to take their debates outside in the street, which lasted a week. Douglas enjoyed political fights and that is how he got his nickname the "Little Giant". Another reason was the many debates became more personal over Mary Todd "Lincoln's future wife and Douglas's past girlfriend". The famous Lincoln-Douglas debates was in mid-1850's and began over the Kansas-Nebraska Act, that under-minded the Missouri Compromise. Douglas saw it as "Manifest Destiny" but Lincoln saw it as a deliberate spread of slavery into Kansas and other once free-territories. Lincoln was Illinois Republican Party's nomination for senator, and ran against Douglas but even though Lincoln won the debates he still lost the senate to Douglas. Until the Presidential campaign of 1860. With the Democratic Party split, a Republican was sure to win. Lincoln was reserved in his campaign and stayed at home, allowing his supporters to speak for him. Douglas however did not, he campaigned furiously but Lincoln still won both popular and electoral college votes. I
They debated.
slavery
slavery
Slavery in the territories
The key issue in the Lincoln-Douglas debates was slavery. Lincoln and Douglas were viewed as contenders for the 1860 presidential election.
It was the issue of slavery that Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A Douglas disagreed about during their political debates. Stephen A Douglas supported slavery while Abraham Lincoln opposed it.
For the most part the Lincoln and Douglas debates centered around slavery. Lincoln made it clear how strong his opposition to slavery was. Douglas was not a pro-slavery advocate, but trusted the US Supreme Court decision in 1858 that basically declared slavery legal.
Slavery in the territories
It was the issue of slavery that Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A Douglas disagreed about during their political debates. Stephen A Douglas supported slavery while Abraham Lincoln opposed it.
slavery in the territories
Abraham Lincoln opposed slavery and Douglas wanted states rights
Political Debates Between Lincoln and Douglas.
Abraham Lincoln