Lincoln-Douglas+Debates

by Sarah Wesinger and Ben McGrath, USH 7



Lincoln-Douglas Debates In **1858** Stephen Douglas (Democrat) and Abraham Lincoln (Republican) campaigned for a U.S Senate seat from Illinois. Doulgas campaigned saying that Lincoln's goal was to start a Civil War, emancipate the slaves, and make blacks and social and political equal to whites. Lincoln opposed this by saying that he was not radical and supported the Fugitive Slave Law. Douglas and Lincoln criss-crossed across the state and debated face to face in front of over 15,000 people and debated on the topics stated below. **Links:** [] Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "Great Debate Between Lincoln and Douglas At Ottawa," August 23, 1858

**Topics that were disscused during the debates:**
 * Lecompton Constitution- An article that would allow slavery in Kansas, free blacks could not live in Kansas, and only white males could vote Lincoln wanted the slave states to remain as is so he opposed this document Douglas wanted states to choose on their own so he supported the document.
 * Missouri Compromise- Missouri wanted to enter the Union as a slave state but the northern states didn't want another slave state so the comprimise was that Maine would enter as a free state while Missouri would enter as a free state and there would be a line where states below it are slave states while states above are free states. Lincoln didn't want another slave state so he was opposed to more slave states joining the union. Douglas wanted the states to choose whether the states would be free or not so he was for the Missouri comprimise.
 * Kansas-Nebraska Act- It allowed people in ther territories of Kansas and Nebraksa to choose whether they should be free or slave states. Lincoln opposed this act passed by the U.S Congress. This act shows a good example of what Douglas believed what the government should do comcerning the free and slave issue.
 * Dread Scott Case - A slave that sued for his freedom, but the court over ruled saying that slaves could never become citizens of the U.S, therefore they could not sue for freedom. Lincoln did not want to cause trouble between slave owners and slaves themselves. This would be a result of what Douglas wanted.
 * Fugative Slave Law - Any runaway slaves regardless of the location with in the Union were to be captured. Lincoln said that he supported this in one of his speeches. Douglas would support this.
 * Compromise of 1850-The Missouri comprimise cut California into two parts the north and the south, so when it wanted to join the Union the other states had a fight over whether it should be a slave state or free state. The comprimise was that the northern part would be free while the southern part would be slave. Lincoln opposed the use of slavery so he didn't want the south part of the Union. Douglas wanted the states to choose so he was perfectly fine with the comprimise of 1850.

**The effects leading to the civil war:** Both Licoln and Douglas were supported by many people in the north and the south respectively. These arguments got passed on from Lincoln and Douglas to the North and South causing many arguments respecting the slaves. These arguments can easily turn into fights which turn into violence and hatred. Which finally lead to the Civil War. After these debates got transferred from person to region there was no stopping it because the arguing wouldn't stop on either side.