DANNY MINGO THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES OF 1858

BACKGROUND The debates were held in various cities around Illinois. These debates were held to give voters insight before they made their decisions. For the position of Senator. =0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.history.com%2Ftopics%2Flincoln-douglas-debates&ei=- Tt_VJuAAseiNoK6hKgM&bvm=bv ,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNGOLhp8zgY0YxwHHZas6nROQCPBJA&ust=

LOCATIONS OF DEBATES First Debate: Ottawa, Illinois August 21, 1858 Second Debate: Freeport, Illinois August 27, 1858 Third Debate: Jonesboro, Illinois September 15, 1858 Fourth Debate: Charleston, Illinois September 18, 1858 Fifth Debate: Galesburg, Illinois October 7, 1858 Sixth Debate: Quincy, Illinois October 13, 1858 Seventh Debate: Alton, Illinois October 15, =0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nps.gov%2Fliho%2Fhistoryculture%2Fdebates.htm&ei=GTx_VL6hOYilNpG- gtAL&bvm=bv ,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNHzSV3WLrH6vSiLm2aHzql-AxTzmg&ust=

ABRAHAM LINCOLN Born February 12, 1809 Raised on a farm, but was still educated Was an officer in the Black Hawk War Eventually became the 16 th president of the United States url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biography.com%2Fpeople%2Fabraham-lincoln &ei=1zp_VMCjBYamNrTcguAO&bvm=bv ,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNFw3XJkuncjY5NVqzJku2N1Yj88sQ&ust=

STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS Born in 1813 in Vermont Studied law in New York Moved to Illinois and held several congressional positions House of Representatives ( ) Senate ( ) Drafted the Kansas and Nebraska Act &cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwik i%2FLincoln%25E2%2580%2593Douglas_debates&ei=Gzt_VKmWNsijNqqXgdgN&bvm= bv ,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNEfgPYMj_Qm2gs6fP35PTKolhewFw&ust=

ORGANIZATION OF THE DEBATES The debates were held in a very orderly fashion. The first speaker was given an hour to construct his side of the argument. The second speaker was then given an hour and a half to state his side and rebut his opponent’s. The first speaker was then finally given an extra thirty minutes to rebut his opponent’s arguments and close the debate. =0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcornellreading.typepad.com%2Fgettysblog%2F2008%2F08%2F150th- anniversa.html&ei=Pjx_VPW9CYyWNv-WgvAJ&bvm=bv ,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNHzSV3WLrH6vSiLm2aHzql- AxTzmg&ust=

TOPICS OF THE DEBATES The most relevant and controversial issue of the time was slavery. This was discussed more than any other issue during these debates Party politics Other issues relevant mostly only in Illinois =0CAcQjRw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sblincoln.com%2Flincoln- memorabilia.htm&ei=njx_VOi5H4GVNrHMgLAP&bvm=bv ,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNFIxOs5HPUXIp1_OJJmKSOkfLHqf w&ust=

TECHNIQUES USED BY DEBATERS The debaters, from the beginning, attempted to appeal to their audience by saying things that they knew the audience would enjoy. They eventually resorted to slander, Douglas in particular. Lincoln especially attempted to speak neutrally when discussing his views on slavery. =0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FLincoln%25E2%2580%2593Douglas_debates&ei=9jx_VKfLJIO egwTgzYDwCw&bvm=bv ,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNH2oBlPd8F9KWiZtE3w8ElOdfIXSw&ust=

FIRST DEBATE Began with Douglas speaking first, accusing Lincoln of being an abolitionist and conspiring to create an abolitionist party. Also asked Lincoln seven questions. Lincoln then went on to deny these accusations, and failed to answer the questions. Douglas concluded the debate by harping on the fact that Lincoln was present while the abolitionist ideas of the Republican Party were created.

SECOND DEBATE Lincoln, having spoken second in the first debate, was the first speaker in the second debate. He opened by addressing the seven questions that Douglas asked of him in the first debate. He later went on to ask Douglas four questions of his own. Douglas answered those questions during his speech, and his speech went on to be known as the Freeport Doctrine.

THIRD DEBATE Douglas opens by accusing the Republican party of changing their platform throughout different parts of the state. He also said that Lincoln was a man who was in favor of racial equality. Lincoln denies this, then states multiple quotes in which democrats had made conflicting statements throughout multiple parts of the state.

FOURTH DEBATE Lincoln began by denying any accusation of being in favor of racial equality, while also accusing Douglas of attempting to create a constitution for Kansas without allowing the people to vote, and accuses him of conspiring with James Buchanan and others. Discusses the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Douglas denies all accusations of conspiring with James Buchanan and simply resorts to the fact that Lincoln wants to create racial equality.

FIFTH DEBATE Douglas discusses that the Declaration of Independence, having only been written by white men, only applies to white men when it discusses citizens of the United States. He also opposes the Lecompton Compromise. Lincoln then discusses the fact that the Declaration applies to all men in the United States and does not discriminate by race.

SIXTH DEBATE Lincoln eventually gave up his neutral stand on slavery, and stated that the Republicans would attack slavery in the territories. He also argues the morality of slavery. Douglas then stated that he would not argue the morality of slavery, and refused to admit that there was a plan to nationalize slavery. He also argued that territories should have popular sovereignty when discussing the matter of slavery.

SEVENTH DEBATE Douglas focused on Lincoln’s speech about a House Divided and then reinforced the idea of popular sovereignty. Lincoln states that the Kansas-Nebraska Act and quotes Henry Clay on the fact that slavery is evil. He also discusses that not including blacks in the Declaration of Independence is immoral.

RESULT OF THE ELECTION Lincoln lost this election for the senate seat, and the incumbent Douglas served another term as the senator of Illinois However, Lincoln was placed into national politics because of these debates and ended up winning the presidency in 1860.

FUN FACTS Douglas won in the senate election against Lincoln, but lost in the presidential election in Stephen Douglas courted Mary Todd for a short time, who later went on to be Lincoln’s wife. cQjRw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F %40N07%2F %2F&ei=pj5_VLm9Oc3TgwTs2o HQCQ&bvm=bv ,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNEHsnw_EXdL27Psl1Kk65FZ_h7tsQ&ust=

REFERENCES "The Lincoln-Douglas Debates 1st Debate | Teaching American History." Teaching American History. Accessed November 23, "The Lincoln-Douglas Debates 2nd Debate | Teaching American History." Teaching American History. Accessed November 25, "The Lincoln-Douglas Debates 3rd Debate Part I | Teaching American History." Teaching American History. Accessed November 23, i/. i/ United States. National Park Service. "The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858." National Parks Service. November 15, Accessed November 23,