|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
| |
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858
The debates between Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln were held during the 1858 campaign for a US Senate seat from Illinois. The debates were held at 7 sites throughout Illinois, one in each of the 7 Congressional Districts. The debates between Douglas and Lincoln have been described as "the most famous war of words in history."
Douglas, a Democrat, was the incumbent Senator, having been elected in 1847. He had chaired the Senate Committee on Territories. He helped enact the Compromise of 1850. Douglas then was a proponent of Popular Sovereignty, and was responsible for the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. The legislation led to the violence in Kansas, hence the name "Bleeding Kansas"
Lincoln was a relative unknown at the beginning of the debates. In contrast to Douglas' Popular Sovereignty stance, Lincoln stated that the US could not survive as half-slave and half-free states. The Lincoln-Douglas debates drew the attention of the entire nation.
Although Lincoln would lose the Senate race in 1858, he would beat Douglas out in the 1860 race for the US Presidency.
The Lincoln-Douglas debates were re-enacted in the Fall of 1994 with live coverage by CSPAN. List of Debates - Washington Square, Ottawa, Illinois
- Freeport, Illinois
Over 15,000 people attended the original debate in Freeport, then a town of 5,000. Freeport Doctrine, which was the result of the debate, states people had the right to choose whether or not to exclude slavery from their limits. - Union County Fairgrounds, Jonesboro, Illinois
Union County Fairgrounds is today part of Shawnee National Forest's Lincoln Park) Union County is south of the Mason-Dixon Line. The debate subject split families into Confederate & Union factions. Over 50 cemeteries throughout Union County tell of many who lost their lives in the War Between the States - Coles County Fairgrounds, Charleston, Illinois
This was area was very familiar to Lincoln. Lincoln's father had lived and died here. Lincoln's stepmother & many relatives & friends lived here too. Lincoln had a thriving law practice in the community. A majority of the townspeople had come from Kentucky and Tennessee, moving north to avoid competition with slave labor. Most were poor and believed they had no chance to win out in the competition with slave labor. - Old Main, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois The east side on East South St. between Cedar and South Cherry Streets was the site of the original debate. This location has the only currently remain structure from the original debates.
- Washington Park, Quincy, Illinois
- Broadway & Market Streets, Alton, Illinois
First Joint Debate: Speeches at Ottawa, August 21, 1858
Second Joint Debate: Speeches at Freeport, August 27, 1858
Third Joint Debate: Speeches at Jonesboro, September 15, 1858
Fourth Joint Debate: Speeches at Charleston, September 18, 1858
Fifth Joint Debate: Speeches at Galesburg, October 7, 1858
Sixth Joint Debate: Speeches at Quincy, October 13, 1858
Seventh Joint Debate: Speeches at Alton, October 15, 1858
Stephen Arnold Douglas
Lawyer - Orator - Political Leader - Born 23 Apr 1813 near Brandon, Vermont
- nicknamed "The Little Giant" for his short stature, large head, & broad shoulders
- migrated to Illinois at age 20
- joined the bar (became a lawyer) at Jacksonville, Illinois
- Democrat
- Wealthy land speculator
- Helped make Chicago a major hub of railroads
- Elected to Illinois legislature in 1836
- Judge of Supreme Court of Illinois 1841-1843
- Elected to US House of Representatives in 1843
- Elected to US Senate in 1847 [Senator until 1861]
- Supported the Compromise of 1850 (Missouri Compromise)
- In US Senate, sponsored the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
which was Popular Sovereignty
[Right of People in each state to choose between slave state - free state status]
Resulted in "Bleeding Kansas" - Series of Debates with Abraham Lincoln during US Senate election campaign in 1858
- Nominated for US Presidency in 1860
[not supported by southern Democrats who nominated John C. Breckenridge] - Offered his services to President Lincoln after the outbreak of the Civil War
Douglas toured border states to arose enthusiasm for Union cause - Stricken with typhoid in 1861
- Died 3 June 1861 in Chicago, two months after Fort Sumter Incident
- Buried at 36th Street near Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois [Douglas Tomb State Historic Site]
- Douglas County, Illinois [formed 8 Feb 1850] is named for him.
Old Main Building Knox College
Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, USA Site of Lincoln-Douglas Debate of October 7, 1858
 East End of College Building, Galesburg, Illinois
The debating stand was erected against this end of the building.
This photo was published in 1908
|
|
|
|
|
|
The U. S. Constitution
