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Abraham Lincoln Vs. Douglas Debates

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Abraham Lincoln and Douglas competed for the 1858 presidential position. Douglas, the incumbent, had varying ideas about slavery from that of his opponent. Lincoln believed that slavery was morally wrong. Douglas on the other hand thought slavery was fine as long as the people wanted it. It was possible for them to both believe that slavery should not be taking place. “The Lincoln-Douglas Debates were a defining event in American Politics”(Goldfield,389). Lincoln was a prominent lawyer in the years prior to being elected president and returned after his presidency. Lincoln represented blacks in courts where he fought for their rights to remain free, but also during the 1830s and 1840s represented slave owners. He occasionally expressed views that it was wrong to own humans, but as politician during that time, he knew he couldn’t run on a position that emphasized slavery(Black). He even said it to be a minor issue for him prior to 1854. After his switch to the Republican Party, Lincoln brought his ideas to …show more content…

Douglas didn’t believe that his feeling on slavery should have any input on slavery, but rather should reside at the local level. It should be up to the voters (white males) on whether slavery was necessary for that location. Douglas disagreed with Lincoln that trying to resolve this moral issue on the political level was going to create a civil war(Goldfield). It wasn’t up to the state to make over arching decisions on moral issues that should reflect that the wishes of the local people. The Lincoln-Douglas debates took place during the Illinois state election. It was a series of 7 debates that took place all across Illinois. During the debates the two opponents discussed issues that were important to the conflict over slavery and states’ rights(History.com). The topics discussed would continue long after the debates were over. Lincoln’s goal was to keep Illinois republicans from buying into Douglas ideals by showing the moral issues with

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