Why is Stephen Douglas famous?

Answer 1

It was "The Little Giant"... Stephen Douglas got this nickname after a political brawl in 1834 "it was the norm for politicians to fist-fight and even previously have duels"... President John Quincy Adams was shocked to witness the five-foot, four inch Illinoisian, during one of his speeches in the House of Representatives, he ripped off his necktie, unbuttoned his coat and began to brawl in a roaring defense of Andrew Jackson. After Douglas was taken out of that meeting house in Jacksonville, Illinois, by a cheering crowd, who coined him "The Little Giant" and the nickname stuck because of his short stature and powerful political influences.

Answer 2

He claimed he had found a way out of the slavery debate - just let each new state vote whether to be slave or free.

This was tried-out under the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which Douglas introduced, but this led to bloodshed in Kansas.

Yet he was still very popular, and stood against Lincoln for a senatorial seat in Illinois in the mid-term elections of 1858. Although he won the seat, the debates had drawn attention to Lincoln's calibre, and had much to do with Lincoln's election to President.

Answer 3

Stephen A. Douglas was known as the "Little Giant"

Answer 4

*The "Little Giant"