Taylor Kelchner
11/26/18
The Lincoln-Douglass Debates
The Lincoln-Douglass debates were a series of seven debates in the year 1858 between Democrat Stephen A. Douglass and Republican Abraham Lincoln. The debates were a battle for one of the Illinois state senate seats. Douglass had already served two terms as a senator of Illinois and was seeking reelection. Lincoln was attempting to take Douglass’ seat as a Republican (History.com editors). There were seven debates in the series. One was held in each congressional district. The
series of debates for the election campaign have been regarded by historians as one of the most significant statements ever made in American political history (History.com editors).
Some of the main issues of the debates were slavery and states’ rights (History.com editors). The northern states wanted slavery abolished and believed it should not be allowed to expand elsewhere. The southern states believed that the states should be able to decide whether slavery could exist within that state. This was a major issue.
Even though the State Legislatures elected the senators all the way until 1913, Lincoln and Douglass brought their arguments and ideas right to the people (History.com editors).
The groundwork of the campaign was laid by Lincoln in his famous House Divided Speech (History.com editors). In the speech Lincoln stated that “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” referring to the Bible verse Mark 3:25. This was in reference to the current issue of slavery in the United States. Lincoln believed that the United States couldn’t last long being divided between slave and free. He stated that one day America would either be all free or all slave. He didn’t believe the threat of the expansion of slavery was because of the slaveholding south, but instead from Douglass’ popular sovereignty position, which would allow for the states and territories to decide themselves if they would allow slavery or prohibit it (History.com editors). Lincoln felt that slavery should be viewed as a moral wrong. It violated the statement in the Declaration of Independence that stated that “all men are created equal.” Lincoln said that the real issue in his campaign against Douglass was the issue of right and wrong. He believed that Douglass’ goal was to uphold a wrong (History.com editors).
Douglass believed that the communities should have the power to decide whether to allow slavery (History.com editors). Douglass was a Jacksonian, so he supported more local power that would reflect the wished of the people (History.com editors).
When election day came, voters chose the members of the state legislatures who then elected the senators in January of 1859 (History.com editors). Stephen Douglass won the election. Although Lincoln lost, the Republicans won the popular vote, which meant a major political shift had occurred in the state of Illinois (History.com editors). This gained the Republicans support and momentum. More important for Lincoln, however, he had gained a big reputation in the North (History.com editors). Lincoln was then invited to campaign for other Republicans in different states for various government positions. He gained a lot of support throughout the Republican party by doing this, and his name was now being mentioned as a Republican candidate for the presidency (History.com editors).
By winning the Illinois senate seat, Douglass then alienated the Buchanan administration and the South. He was also soon to be stripped of his power in the senate, and he contributed to the division of the Democratic party.
For Lincoln, the result of the debate was almost the complete opposite. Douglass had won, but then had lost his power and his party became weaker. Lincoln, on the other hand, had lost the election, but then gained more power within his party and for his party. This led to him being nominated for presidential candidate, winning the primaries and then winning the presidential election. A large part of the reason that he won was because the Democratic party had been divided and the Democrats had a few different people running for president. One of those people was Stephen A. Douglass. So, Lincoln, had gotten his revenge against Douglass in the presidential election, an office far more important that senator. Because Lincoln had won the office of the presidency and proposed a threat to the south and slavery, the south seceded from the union and formed its own country, the Confederate States of America. This led to the civil war fought between the north and the south. The war lasted for five long years and led to the end of slavery and the south rejoined the union. Lincoln had initiated the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves. As president, Lincoln preserved the Union and saved the United States.
Works Cited
History.com editors, “Lincoln-Douglass Debates,” HISTORY
https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/lincoln-douglas-debates. A&E Television Networks, October 29, 2009.